Maharashtra Cabinet Minister Aaditya Thackeray wrote a letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi on August 24, seeking his intervention to defer the exams of NEET UG and JEE Main. The Shiv Sena leader called the Education Ministry's decision to hold exams amid the COVID-19 pandemic as infeasible and impractical. Thackeray appealed to the Indian PM to take cognisance of the plight of students, who are battling mental stress amid the health crises. At a time when COVID-19 cases are still increasing, students appearing for exams will pose a major risk to their safety. A similar letter seeking postponement of examinations was written to the Prime Minister by Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal. West Bengal counterpart Mamata Banerjee and BJP MP Subramaniam Swamy also wrote a similar letter to PM Modi. NEET UG exams are scheduled to be held on September 13. JEE Main exam would be held between September 1 to 6.