NBE assures availability of NEET PG 2021 testing centres to Tamil Nadu, Puducherry Candidates

The confirmation to this effect comes from a recent reply dated March 3 by Prof. Dr Pawanindra Lal, Executive Director at National Board of Examinations (NBE) to the Madurai MP Venkatesan who had moved the authority with a complaint of lesser testing centres for NEET PG aspirants from the state of Tamil Nadu and UT of Puducherry.

The minister sought more examination centres in the state and UT as the existing centres in these two regions were filled in less than four hours after the NEET PG 2021 applications were opened online. This evidently made it difficult for the candidates to choose nearby centres.

Among the 255 total NEET-PG centres around the country, only 28 are situated in the State. This has led to a situation where the natives of Tamil Nadu are being forced to choose centres outside the State.

In the letter to Natboard, the MP had also stated that NEET PG exam centres in neighbouring states too were filled up in the first two days making it all the more difficult for the candidates.

Now assuring all possible efforts for the accommodation of Tamil Nadu and Puducherry based NEET PG candidates, the NBE Director stated:

"NBE will try its best to accommodate the candidates having their correspondence address in the State of Tamil Nadu & UT of Puducherry and those who have chosen the 'OTHERS' option within the State/UT of their correspondence address if the required number of nodes are available."- the NBE Executive Director assured.

In his reply, Dr Lal pointed out that since the examination is being conducted in the SD-50 model considering the social distancing norms, every alternate seat is vacant.

The NBE had earlier assured all endeavours to ensure that the candidate is allotted a testing centre in the State of correspondence address of the candidate who has opted for 'OTHERS' option, based on the availability of the testing seats. In case the testing seat is not available in the concerned State due to logistic, administrative or other reasons, testing centre in a nearby State shall be allocated.

In terms of Clause 7.5 and 8.18 of the Information Bulletin for NEET-PG 2021 and NBE notice dated 01.03.2021,

"In case testing seat is not available in the State/UT in which the candidate prefers to appear in NEET-PG 2021, he/she can choose the option OTHERS from the list of States/UTs at the time of selection of the State/UT during online submission of the application form."

Also Read:NEET PG 2021: NBE notifies on selection of test centers

Meanwhile, urgency in action has been further sought by the MP.

TOI reports that as March 15 is the last date for applying for the exam to be held on April 18, Venkatesan once again wrote to Pawanindra Lal on Tuesday. The MP sought an explanation for not taking proactive measures to increase examination centres in order to accommodate candidates in the same state.

The MP pointed out that travelling to other states during the pandemic was risky for the aspirants and for those accompanying them as restrictions have been tightened again by making e-pass mandatory for travellers from other states including Kerala. Saying so, he once again stressed taking urgent steps to accommodate all the aspirants in their home states, so that candidates can focus on preparing for the exams.

Medical Dialogues had recently reported about the Public Interest Litigation that has been filed at the Madras High Court requesting to increase the number of NEET-PG examination centres in the State/UT.

Read Also: PIL in Madras HC demanding to increase NEET PG 2021 Exam Centres