Where are NEET PG 2025 dates? Doctors question NBE

New Delhi: There was no mention of the date of the upcoming National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) examination in the recently released academic calendar by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NBE released the schedule of the upcoming NBE exams including FDST, NEET-SS 2024, NEET-MDS 2025, FET for FNB Courses-2023 admission session, DNB- Post Diploma Centralized Entrance Test (PDCET) 2025, FNB Exit Examination 2024, DrNB Final Practical Examinations- January 2025, etc.

However, regarding the date for NEET-PG 2025, NBEMS mentioned in the notice dated 27.11.2024, "to be announced in due course". Amid the postponement of NEET PG 2024 exam, delay in the commencement of counselling and the pending case seeking transparency in the NEET-PG exam before the Supreme Court, the lack of clarity regarding the NEET-PG 2025 exam date has raised concerns.

Doctors have expressed their opinion that the NEET PG 2025 exam might also be delayed.

Commenting on the matter, Dr. Aviral Mathur, the President of the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) pointed out, "Except NEET PG every other exam seems to have been streamlined as per their intentions. But still there are varying batches across the country who would finish at different timelines thereby making it difficult to conduct it in March (if that’s their stipulated month)."

Also Read: NEET SS 2024, NEET MDS 2025, DNB, Fellowship exams: Check NBE schedule for all forthcoming exams

When asked how it may affect the students, Dr. Mathur explained to Medical Dialogues that it grows uncertainty among the borderline rankers about whether to sit in the exam or to take up a seat during this round.

"Current interns don’t know if they’ll be eligible. The arbitrary cut offs for Internship completion since last three years has created a lot of chaos. Students end up losing almost a whole year within even giving one exam! Current counselling also is still stuck up in legal troubles. A lot will depend on its timely completion," he added.

"The whole preparation blueprint goes for a toss due to unprecedented delays and preponement/postponement debate and agitation. Also the existing post graduates have uneven training periods as a result of the ripples created by neet pg mismanagement," he added,

Dr. Dhruv Chauhan, a National Council member of the Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors' Netwoek (IMA-JDN) and also a health activist, said, "We already know that NEET PG students are the ones suffering for the last one year regarding the schedule and issues like preponement and postponement. So, this is very important for such students to know when the exam is going to happen."

"The schedule should be released at least six months before the date of exam, so that the students get enough time to prepare. However, NBEMS has left the NEET PG aspirants into this dilemma that the date is still pending. If all the exam dates are scheduled, why can't they release the NEET PG dates in which maximum number of the aspirants appearm" he added.

When asked about the National Exit Test (NExT), which is set to replace the NEET PG 2024 exam from the next academic year, he added, "I don't think that NEXT would ever come. Those who cannot hold a single exam on time, how can they arrange a completely different and new exam. It is practically not possible that they would be able to do it in the next 2-3 years."

Also Read: NEET PG Counselling 2024: MCC Issues notice on zero reporting at medical colleges, details