Doctors demand centre correction facility as NBE opens registration, edit window

This move would benefit the candidates who have completed their MBBS internship during 01.07.2021 to 30.09.2021 and who fulfil all the other eligibility criteria as well.

However, doctors have started demanding that the Edit Window should be extended to everyone so that the candidates who had already applied for the exam gets to change their Exam Centers according to their current place of residence. This would help the already registered candidates avoid the hassle of travel to other States or Cities amidst the ongoing pandemic, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) pointed out in a letter to the Director of the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS).

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that while considering a plea by an MBBS student, the Delhi High Court had directed the NBE, Union Health Ministry, and other concerned authorities to consider whether the last date of submitting NEET PG applications and completing the MBBS internship could be extended in view of the postponement of the exam.

Such a direction on the part of the High Court had come at a context where an MBBS graduate had contended before the court that since the date of the examination has been delayed from April to September, the concerned authorities should consider extending the last date of completing the internship as well, and give the petitioner student a chance to appear at the examination.

Now, NBE, in a notice dated 06.08.2021 has mentioned opening of the Registration and Edit window for NEET-PG 2021 during 16.08.2021 to 20.08.2021.

"Pursuant to the directions of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW), Govt. of India vide its letter no. C.18018/24/2021-MEP {FTS No. 8121780} dated 05.08.2021, it has been decided to open following online windows during 16.08.2021 to 20.08.2021," NBE mentioned in the notice.

A. Registration Window:

i. The National Medical Commission in its meeting held on 24.05.2021 has decided to extend the cut-off date for completion of internship to 30.09.2021 for the purpose of eligibility for NEET-PG 2021.

ii. Accordingly, desirous candidates who are completing their internship during 01.07.2021 to 30.09.2021 and are fulfilling all other criteria as prescribed in the Information Bulletin of NEET-PG 2021 can apply for NEET-PG 2021 during this window.

iii. Such candidates shall be able to choose the preferred state for taking the examination. NBEMS shall allocate them the test city as per availability within the state chosen.

B. Edit Window:

i. The Government of India vide its letter No. MoHFW C.18018/18/2015-ME-II dated 30.07.2021 has communicated the decision regarding implementation of the OBC and EWS reservation in All India Quota scheme.

ii. Therefore, candidates who are already registered for NEET-PG 2021 examination can change their category and EWS status during this window, if they desire to do so. The window will not allow change to any other information already provided in the application form.

"Both Registration Window and Edit Window will open on 16.08.2021 (3PM onwards) and will close on 20.08.2021 (at 11:55PM). Same can be accessed through NBEMS website https://nbe.edu.in under NEET-PG 2021 weblink," the notice further mentioned.

Although NBEMS has decided to extend the cut-off date for Internship completion to 30.09.2021, and has also allowed the already registered candidates to change their category and EWS status, it has not allowed change in the examination centres.

"Candidates who are already registered for NEET-PG 2021 examination can change their category and EWS status during this window, if they desire to do so. The window will not allow change to any other information already provided in the application form," NBE clearly mentioned in the notice.

Demand for opening Edit Window for changing Examination Centre:

Stressing upon the need to let the already registered candidates change their examination centers, the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA) has recently written to the NBEMS. Although they have thanked the NBE for extending the cut-off date of Internship completion to 30.09.2021, they have also requested to let the already registered candidates change their preferred examination center to their current place of residence.

Pointing out that thousands of NEET-PG candidates had previously registered for the exam which was supposed to be conducted on 18.04.2021, FORDA mentioned in their letter that after the exam was postponed due to the Second Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic, many such candidates had to move to different States and Cities due to various reasons related to family, job etc.

"Amidst the ongoing Pandemic & with the possibility of a future wave as predicted by experts, it will be extremely difficult for these candidates to travel to the States or Cities they had opted earlier, for appearing for the Exam," FORDA pointed out in their letter.

Thus, FORDA has requested NBEMS to "kindly open the Edit Window for all candidates so that candidates who had applied earlier, can edit their NEET-PG 2021 Exam Centres according to their current place of residence & every candidate gets a fair chance of appearing in the upcoming Exam, without any hurdle, in view of the ongoing COVID-19 Pandemic."

Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the matter, Dr. Manish, President of FORDA said, "Previously, when the candidates had applied for the examination, the Covid-scenario was altogether different, the case counts were low and we hadn't faced the second wave till then. However, after the postponement of the examination, the situation has changed a lot and it would be really problematic for the candidates to travel to different cities amidst the pandemic. So, if the NBEMS could consider allowing the candidates to change their examination centers as well, that would be really helpful for all."

Several doctors took to Twitter and voiced their concerns regarding the examination centres amidst the pandemic.

One such aspirant wrote, "After NeetPG2021 got postponed many of the candidates have gone back to their hometown and would like to get their exam centre changed. Please let us do the same as travel during Covid is a risk.Hoping for a positive response."

"@MoHFW_INDIA I am an applicant of NEET PG 2021. As per the new notice issued by NBE we are not allowed to change our exam centre . I was previously in Uttar Pradesh but currently (after 5 months) at West Bengal. Please allow me and others to change exam centre," wrote another candidate.

To view the NBEMS notice, click on the link below.

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