NEET MDS 2024 likely in March: Aspirants call it unfair, say counselling will be delayed

New Delhi: Disappointed over the news reports claiming that the NEET MDS exam would be held in the third week of March, the aspirants have termed it to be 'unfair'.

They are demanding the postponement of the exam to July while highlighting the fact that even if the exam is conducted in March, the counselling would not commence soon.

According to the MDS aspirants, the counselling process for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination and NEET MDS are always conducted together. Therefore, with the NEET PG getting postponed to July, it is unlikely that NEET MDS counselling would be held anytime soon.

Terming it to be an "injustice", the aspirants have demanded that the NEET MDS exam also get postponed till July. Responding to the issue, an X (formerly Twitter) user wrote, "Counselling process of NEETMDS and NEETPG are always together yet they haven't officially notified us, but a news article claims that our exam is scheduled on 18th march which is just injustice towards us. We don't get 0 cutoff unlike NEETPG."

The NEET-MDS 2024 is the eligibility cum ranking examination for admission to various MDS courses for 2024-2025 admissions. It is conducted by the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).

Also Read: After NEET PG Postponement, aspirants urge NBE to defer NEET MDS 2024 Exam till July

Recently, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) postponed the NEET-PG examination from March to July. Issuing an official notice in this regard, NBE mentioned, "The conduct of the NEET-PG 2024 examination, which was earlier notified to be tentatively held on March 3, 2024, has been rescheduled. The NEET-PG 2024 shall now be conducted on July 7, 2024."

After the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination, the MDS aspirants were also demanding a postponement of their exam.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that as per the examination calendar, which was earlier released by NBE, the NEET MDS exam was scheduled to be held on February 9, 2024. However, there was no clarity regarding the final date for the examination, even as March was knocking at the door. 

Meanwhile, taking to social media platforms, the MDS aspirants started urging the authorities to defer the exam till July 2024, just like the entrance examination for the PG medical courses. Some of the aspirants demanded to know the exact date for the exam.

Amid these conjectures regarding the dates for the NEET MDS exam, the official sources informed ANI that the entrance test for admission to PG dental courses is likely to be conducted in the third week of March, on 18th March to be specific. However, there is no official announcement from NBE yet.

Responding to the issue, a dentist Dr. Yash Tiwari mentioned in an X post, "If you're a dental student concerned about the NEET MDS 2024 exam being scheduled for March instead of July, you're not alone! There has been no official notification of this change, and it's unclear why the exam dates are still not out ! However, we believe that this change is unfair to students who have been preparing for the exam without clear dates and schedule. We urge everyone reading this to help the aspirants by joining our voices in calling for the exam to be postponed to July. This way, all students can have a fair chance at success."

Slamming the authorities for failing to provide any clarity regarding the matter, another user wrote on X, "Such a shame!! 15 days and still no clarity. Just because we are less in Number and less on X we are unheard! DCI says contact @MoHFW_INDIA , it says contact NBE and it says contact DCI again !. #neetmds is also important @mansukhmandviya."

Some of the dental professionals expressed their frustration by saying that due to all these reasons, dentists leave this country. One dentist mentioned in this regard, "silence from last 2 weeks shows how they value our profession . Is it our fault that we are dentists? Is it wrong to be dentist in this country? Is it true that democracy has ended in this country?"

"Why NEET MDS aspirants will wait for 3-4months extra for counseling? Why we get 240 question in 3 hours and in pg 200 questions in 3.5 hours? The seats for MDS as compared to pg are also so less in no why..?," questioned another X user.

Also Read: NEET MDS 2024 likely to be held in March, demand for postponement escalates