Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 for NExT Mock Test: Doctors, Students Slam NMC for Charging Huge Fees

New Delhi:The medical fraternity is upset over the decision of the authorities to charge Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 fees for appearing in the mock test of the National Exit Test (NExT).

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that after addressing apprehensions regarding the conduction of NExT, NMC released the information brochure for the mock/practice test of the NExT exam. The test is going to be conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS).

According to the Information Brochure, the Mock Test is going to be conducted on July 28, 2023, and the registration for this started on 28th June. The application fee for the test is Rs 2,000 for the candidates belonging to the General and OBC Categories. For the applicants belonging to SC, ST, and EWS categories, the application fee is Rs 1,000. Persons with Disabilities are not being charged any fees for appearing in the mock test.

Soon after the Information Brochure was published, the medical students who are going to appear in the NExT exam and the doctors expressed how upset they are with this rule of charging fees for appearing in the mock test.

"2000 Rs for a mock test on NEXT exam is being charged by NMC which was nowhere mentioned in NMC webinar . NMC has given half baked information on almost every aspect including the month of conducting exam for both 19 batch and it’s prior batches when only few months are left for the exam . This uncertainty of a New exam is stressing and cherry on the top is such expensive price for a mock test is astonishing . Earning over emotions is a badass policy !" Dr. Dhruv Chauhan mentioned in a Tweet.

Expressing the possibility of an upcoming scam in the NExT exam, social and political activist Dr. Vivek Pandey expressed in Twitter, "Why taking money from students on the name of mock test ? This exam is another way to earn money ? Am a sure that like #NEETPG & #NEETUG we will see big scams in this upcoming next exam.This exam is just Waste of money,time & mental peace of students #NEXTExam #MedTwitter #MBBS"

Dinesh Yadav, a doctor by profession Tweeted, "Mock test should be free and it should be allowed from home only. Why charging just for appearing in a mock test??? #NMC #MedTwitter #NEXT #NEXTEXAM."

An MBBS student criticised the authorities for charging such a huge fees for just the mock test. Calling it a "mockery test", the student argued, "It seems govt is trying to recover 15lac from final year medicos. Or the money people looted from nation and flew away. Or the loan they took from world bank ? Rs.2000 just for mock (mockery) test."

“Charging ₹2000 for a mock test for which students don't even signed up is a huge mockery of medical education in india. It's just like adding wind to the full blown fire. We don't expect such stupidity,” mentioned a Twitter user.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues in this regard, Dr. Karan Juneja, National Standing Committee member of IMA JDN said, "This is indeed sad. It can only be termed as organised loot and legalised plunder. This is devaluation of medical profession like currency earlier during demonetisation."

"Mock test can be made online and accessible to all. Everyone can give exams using their Computer or laptop. Similar free mock test was down by AIIMS during UG entrance test. In this case also, the authorities should have done the same," he added.

Also Read: NMC releases information brochure for mock test of NExT exam