320 skip NEET exam in Coimbatore; 95.95% turnout in Tirupur

Coimbatore/Tirupur: As many as 320 candidates were absent for the NEET-UG exam held across 16 centres in Coimbatore district on Sunday. Of the 7,181 candidates who had registered, 6,861 appeared for the test.The national-level entrance examination for undergraduate MBBS and BDS courses was conducted from 2pm to 5.20pm, with candidates allowed entry between 11am and 1.30pm. Authorities enforced strict guidelines at all centres, with candidates undergoing thorough frisking before being permitted inside. Digital watches, jewellery and other restricted items were removed by parents outside the centres in accordance with exam regulations. Electronic gadgets, including mobile phones and calculators, were not allowed, prompting many candidates to hand them over to their parents and relatives, before entering the premises. Officials said elaborate security arrangements were put in place across all 16 centres to ensure smooth and fair conduct of the examination. In neighbouring Tirupur district, 3,462 candidates appeared for the exam out of 3,608 allotted. The district recorded an attendance rate of 95.95%.