NEET MDS 2024: No Change in Exam Date, NBE extends BDS Internship Deadline, eligible candidates can apply from tomorrow
New Delhi: Amid the demands of the aspirants to postpone the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) MDS 2024 exam, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has now confirmed that there will be no change in the schedule of the exam and it will be conducted on 18th March 2024, as announced earlier.
However, based on the directions issued by the Union Health Ministry, NBE has extended the deadline for completion of the BDS internship to 30th June 2024.
Clarifying that the aspirants who are completing their BDS internship between 01.04.2024 and 30.06.2024 are now eligible to appear in the exam, the NBE has further announced its decision to open an online window for submission of applications for NEET MDS 2024 aspirants from 9th March 2024 (10 AM onwards) to 11th March 2024 till 11:55 PM.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the NEET MDS aspirants had recently approached the Supreme Court bench highlighting the grievances of the aspirants regarding the BDS internship completion deadline.
At that time, the Union Health Ministry had informed the Apex Court bench that it was looking into the matter. Recently while responding to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by All India Students' Union (AISU), the Union Health Ministry informed the representations for the postponement of the NEET MDS examination are "under process".
Finally, NBE has extended the internship completion deadline based on the directions issued by the Union Health Ministry. Issuing a notice in this regard on 07.04.2024, NBE mentioned, "Pursuant to the directions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt. of India vide its letter no. V.12025/158/2022-DE dated 07.03.2024, the cut-off date for completion of internship has been extended to 30th June 2024 for the purpose of eligibility for NEET-MDS 2024."
"Accordingly, desirous candidates who are completing their internship during 01.04.2024 to 30.06.2024 and are fulfilling all other criteria as prescribed in the Information Bulletin of NEET-MDS 2024 can apply for NEET-MDS 2024," it further mentioned.
Inviting applications from the candidates who have now become eligible to appear in the exam due to extension of internship completion deadline, NBE mentioned, "An online window for submission of applications for NEET-MDS 2024 shall be opened for such candidates from 9th March 2024 (10 AM onwards) to 11th March 2024 (till 11:55PM). Online Registration Window can be accessed at NBEMS website."
NBE mentioned in the notice that such candidates who will apply shall be able to choose their preferred ststa for taking the examination and NBEMS shall allocate them the test city within the State chosen or in a nearby State as per availability only.
"No edit window shall be available to the candidates who will submit their applications during the aforesaid online registration window. Candidates are advised to exercise caution while filling in their applications in order to avoid any errors as there shall be no opportunity later to edit/modify/change any information submitted," clarified NBE.
However, NBE has made it clear that there is no change in the exam date. In this regard, the notice mentioned, "The NEET-MDS 2024 shall be conducted as per the pre-notified schedule on 18thMarch 2024."
"Admit cards for NEET-MDS 2024 shall now be issued on 15.03.2024," NBE added in the notice, adding "For any query, please contact NBEMS Candidate Care Support or write to NBEMS at its helpline portal accessible through the applicant login or its Communication Web Portal"
Although the NEET MDS 2024 examination is scheduled to be conducted on March 18, 2024 by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), the NEET MDS aspirants had been demanding the postponement of the exam to July. Taking to social media, they have highlighted 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 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 had been demanding that the NEET MDS exam also get postponed till July.
Meanwhile, recently, the Dental Council of India (DCI) issued a notice and announced that the counselling session will be held separately for NEET MDS 2024 before NEET PG Medical Counselling.
The DCI notice stated, "It is hereby informed to all MDS aspirants that the Govt. of India may conduct the counselling session for NEET-MDS 2024 separately and before NEET PG Medical Counselling."
To view the NBE notice, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/nbe-notice-neet-mds-233876.pdf
