As many as 18,000 students appeared in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate professional courses in the summer capital, Srinagar on Sunday.

The examination, which was held by the National Testing Agency, was conducted across Srinagar district at 57 centres established at various colleges and schools, an official spokesperson said here on Sunday.

He said elaborate arrangements for observance of Standard Operating Procedures in wake of Covid-19 were put in place by the district administration and managements of respective institutions, adding security arrangements were also in place for smooth conduct of examination at all centres.

He said District Magistrate, Srinagar, Shahid Iqbal Choudhary along with Additional Deputy Commissioner Syed Hanief Balkhi and senior officers from Civil Administration and Police visited several centres to oversee smooth conduct of examination and arrangements put in place at examination centres.

He said a total of 20,137 students had enrolled for the NEET examination, out of which 18,689 reported at examination centres while 1448 were absent, making an overall attendance of 92.80 per cent.

He said District Administration had deputed more than 40 Executive Magistrates and Nodal officers for smooth conduct of examination and facilitating the students. “The examination was conducted strictly as per guidelines issued by the National Testing Agency including 6Ft physical distancing, availability of hand sanitisers, checking of health parameters, separate rooms for symptomatic candidates and other measures,” he added.