Postpone NEET PG 2021: Demand for deferment of exam gains momentum

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) recently released the conduct of NEET PG 2021 with COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour. However, soon afterwards, the hashtag, #postponeneetpg started trending on social media platforms. Many took to Twitter to express their concern regarding appearing for the examination when the country is reporting more than 1.5 lakh cases every day.

Also Read: NEET PG 2021: NBE releases directions for conduct with COVID-19 Appropriate Behaviour

NEET PG 2021 had been scheduled to be held on April 18 for admission to 10,821 Master of Surgery (MS) seats, 19,953 Doctor of Medicine (MD) seats, and 1,979 PG Diploma seats offered by 6,102 government, private, deemed and central universities.

In view of the recent unanticipated surge in COVID 19 cases throughout the country, with the exponential rise of patients in the last seven days, the NBE decided not to defer the examination, as the peak of cases remained unpredictable.

Considering the importance of the examination in admitting post-graduates in their respective subjects for further training, NBE found it to be in the best interest of candidates to continue holding the examination on the announced date. Therefore, NBE decided to add further protective measures for the candidates, towards the safe conduct of the examination.

NBE mentioned taking steps like ensuring same state centre, issuing Covid e-pass, arranging for staggered entry of candidates at the test centre, arranging isolations labs, making usage of masks mandatory among others for the smooth and safe conduct of the NEET PG 2021 examination.

However, the protests from the aspirants started flooding in and many expressed their objections on their Twitter handles.

Expressing his concern over the situation, Indian author, public speaker and advisor to former President Dr A. P. J. Abdul Kalam, Srijan Pal Singh wrote on his Twitter handle, "#NEETPG2021 is scheduled to be held on 18th April across India. We are seeing record numbers of COVID infections now, this will put a lot of risk & stress on 2 lakh candidates & their parents. @PMOIndia must consider postponing it by 2 weeks to save students."

In another tweet, he further added, "Young doctors are critical to lives of citizens in #coronavirusIndia times. They feel tremendous work stress. We need to do everything to ensure they aren't exposed to unnecessary health risks&extra burden in these times Absolutely urgent to #postponeneetpg till this surge goes down."

Expressing concern of spreading the infection to others, another user wrote, "Just one asymptomatic / symptomatic positive case at exam centre and when we "ll return to our homes and our respective hospitals we"ll endanger the whole community !! #postponeneetpg #neetpg2021 #NEETPG"

Addressing the Prime Minister of the country, another Tweet said, "@drharshvardhan @PMOIndia We are NOT asking to postpone beyond May. What we are requesting is to please conduct exam after the peak of the second wave subsides 2-3 weeks before result (May 31). How to travel for long with a parent via public transport now? SirFolded hands #postponeneetpg"

NEET-PG is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination for admission to various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses as per Section 61(2) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 read with 10 (D) of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. No other entrance examination, either at the state or the Institution level, shall be valid for entry to MD/MS/PG Diploma courses. Qualifying NEET-PG is mandatory for entry to MD/MS/PG Diploma courses under various Universities/ Institutions in the country. NEET PG is mandatory even for foreign nationals seeking admission in medical courses in India.

Also Read: NEET PG 2021: Understand the Marking Scheme