The Union health ministry on Thursday issued a revised SOP for conducting examinations during the COVID-19 pandemic, removing the provision that allowed symptomatic candidates who insist on taking an exam in isolation.
According to the revised guidelines, a symptomatic candidate should be referred to the nearest health centre and given an opportunity to take the examination through other means, or the university or educational institution shall arrange for taking the exam at a later date.
Appropriate arrangements should be made at exam centres for personal protection gear like face covers or masks, and hand sanitisers, soap, for students and exam centre staff.
For pen and paper-based tests, the SOP outlines that the invigilator will sanitise his or her hands before distribution of question papers or answer sheets and examinees will also sanitise their hands before receiving or handing back them back.
Use of spit or saliva for counting and distributing sheets shall not be allowed, the SOP said.