GATE Exam 2022: Over 23,000 Candidates Sign Online Petition, Demand Postponement of Exam Amid COVID Cases. Will Authorities Listen?

The candidates must note that the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) was scheduled to be held from 4-13 February. The result of the examination will be declared on 17 March.

GATE Exam 2022 Latest Update: Amid rise in the coronavirus cases, over 23,000 candidates on Tuesday signed an online petition and demanded postponement of GATE Exam 2022. The candidates must note that the Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) was scheduled to be held from 4-13 February. The result of the examination will be declared on 17 March. This time, the exam is being conducted by Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kahargpur.

In the online petition, the students have demanded that the exam be postponed keeping in mind the safety of the examinees due to the COVID Third wave in the country. Notably, the students are signing the petition on www.change.org/p/iit-kgp-postpone-gate2022-exam-date-due-to-covid-19-3rd-wave

“With the current third wave, COVID-19 due to its new variant Omicron has spread severely in several states, cities. Several studies including one done by IIT Kanpur predict that the peak of the 3rd wave is expected in early February and the wave will end by April. Therefore, the peak is most likely to coincide with the usual exam dates of GATE,” the petition read.

It needs to be mentioned that the GATE Exam 2022 is conducted for admission to various postgraduate courses in science and engineering, and several PSUs also use its score in their recruitment process.

Priyanshu, a candidate from Haryana’s Narnaul district, told a news portal that his examination center is at a distance of 140 km from his place. “If I travel during this third wave, I will not only risk my safety but my family’s as well. Ironically, IIT-Kharagpur has postponed its upcoming alumni meet in view of the pandemic situation. But the GATE exam will be held putting our safety at risk,” he said.

I don't understand , still what they reviewing#Gate2022#postponegate2022@tewari_virendra sir kindly Postpone #Gate2022 and let us know by today itself. https://t.co/3lENv7K0xB pic.twitter.com/b36PCE6pNu

— Piyush (@Piyush_9925) January 13, 2022

What a joke??☹️ @IITKgp If somebody is infected,then they aren't allowed to write the exam?It means that they would lose the chance to write the GATE this year?Imagine conducting an exam during peak is predicted & no one should have symptoms.#Gate2022 #postponegate2022 pic.twitter.com/sfJZiwrjOH

— Manikant Singh (@Manikan49444785) January 14, 2022

Dear gate aspirants….please support this campaign so that you can give your exam with healthy mind and body…#Gate2022 pic.twitter.com/hmKVaShrnB

— Sahil paliwal (@Krishy114) January 15, 2022

Please sir postpone Gate exam 2022 #Gate2022 #postponegate2022 pic.twitter.com/EYFBjNLN6G

— DHIRAJ RAJ (@DHIRAJR33461211) January 14, 2022

Amid continuous protest from the students, the IIT-Kharagpur is yet to respond to the petition. Meanwhile, a senior official at the ministry of education told a news portal that there is no talk about postponing the exam. “The exam will be held with taking all precautionary measures and a large majority of the population is already vaccinated against Covid-19 infection. Postponing the exam will put the careers of lakhs of students at stake,” he said.

On January 17, the  Indian Institute of Technology, Kharagpur had released GATE 2022 admit card at gate.iitkgp.ac.in. Along with the IIT GOAPS hall ticket, the institute has also released the GATE 2022 exam day instructions.