Allotted DNB Seat Withdrawn! NBE Cites 'Unexpected Faculty Resignation' as Reason

New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations (NBE) is facing a new controversy after a National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 candidate alleged that the DNB seat, allotted to him during the first round of All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, was unexpectedly withdrawn by NBE.

Soon, the members of the medical community criticised NBE for such a decision. Later, NBE, the exam conducting body, clarified that the decision was taken due to the shortage of faculty.

The issue concerned a NEET-PG candidate who was allotted a Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seat in Ruby General Hospital, Kolkata, for General Surgery.

However, the candidate alleged that on January 13, NBEMS sent him an email stating that the DNB seat allotted to him was withdrawn from the NEET-PG 2024 counselling process.

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"Accordingly, your candidature for the allotted seat has been cancelled as the said seat no longer exists. This information has already been communicated to MCC, which has been requested to facilitate your participation in the Third Round of the Counseling which is already in progress," read the email.

As per Careers360, the same incident happened to another PG medical aspirant, who also was allotted a General Surgery seat at Ruby General Hospital, Kolkata under the All India Quota.

Speaking about the issue, one of the candidates, told Careers 360 on the condition of anonymity that after they were allotted seats in the hospital, they confirmed the allocation by completing the formalities. While they had opted for an upgrade in the second round, they could not get a more preferred option and therefore they had to retain those seats. However, later those seats were removed from the seat matrix.

Even though NBE has said that the candidates would be able to seek a different spot in the subsequent rounds of NEET PG Counselling, there is now a risk that they lose an entire year if they do not find any seat in these rounds.

Terming the cancellation of their allotment "unlawful", the doctor further added, "I believe that it’s the responsibility of MCC that if we are allotted seats that are canceled for no fault of ours, we should have been given alternative seats from a hospital down the choice list. And then we could have participated in the third round and applied for a better option. Now we are no more guaranteed a seat."

When the members of the medical fraternity started criticising the NBE for this decision, Edex has reported that NBE justified the decision citing unexpected resignation of a senior faculty of the concerned department at the said hospital.

Speaking to Edex, a member of NBEMS said, "There were some issues with the management and the department’s faculty, and for some reason, two of the department’s senior faculty members resigned unexpectedly in December 2024. Despite being given the opportunity to recruit replacements, the department failed to do so in time. As a result, they have been penalised and barred from participating in NEET counselling for one year."

Mentioning that such penalties are rare and are imposed only in unavoidable circumstances, the official further added, "This is an exceptional situation and occurs only in rare, unavoidable cases. However, candidates need not worry, as they will be assured a good seat in the next counselling round."