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

New Delhi: Amid the demands from the aspirants to postpone the NEET MDS exam, official sources have informed ANI that the entrance examination for admission to postgraduate dental courses is likely to be held in the third week of March. As per the sources, the exam is likely to be conducted on March 18, 2024.

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).

Recently, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) postponed the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (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.

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

Responses of the MDS aspirants: 

Demanding immediate postponement of the exam, a user wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Postpone NEET MDS 2024 to July. Enough injustice against dental fraternity. Release the notice."

The aspirants are demanding that the exam should be postponed to July. In this regard, an user mentioned in an X post, "Advocating for a delayed NEET MDS exam isn't just about time; it's about creating a conducive environment for success. Join the movement!"

"Let's emphasize the importance of mental and physical health in the pursuit of knowledge. Support the call for a July NEET MDS date," wrote another.

Some of the aspirants have pointed out that back in 2020 and 2021, the NEET MDS exam was held earlier. However, the NEET PG exam was delayed and the MDS students had to wait for the counseling, which was conducted along with NEET PG counselling.

"That just a thought. They can conduct exams separately and so counseling together. this has happened earlier also in 2021. Dec 2020 ws neet mds and sept 2021 was neet pg and counseling was conducted in nov 2021," a user called Dental Surgeon wrote on X.

"Just coz we r less in number doesn't mean our exams will be conducted earlier & we will be made to sit till counseling of neet pg take solace! Injustice 2 mds aspirants," wrote another user. 

Meanwhile, some of the students have slammed the authorities for remaining silent on the matter. Taking to X, a user termed it to be "pure discrimination" and wrote, "How can the authorities stay silent for so long after giving the notification for NEET PG?! It's like we do not exist!! This is pure discrimination!!"

"We need maximum support for a community that has faced unfair decisions time and again. Postpone NEET MDS 2024 to July," wrote a user.

Recently, the Federation of All India Medical Associations (FAIMA) also requested the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) and the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), New Delhi, to release the official date for the NEET-MDS examination.