Doctors demand postponement of NEET PG 2025, INI CET exams amid India-Pakistan Conflict
NEET PG 2025 & INICET
New Delhi: Amid the rapidly escalating tension between India and Pakistan, doctors have urged the Government to postpone the postgraduate medical entrance examination,s such as National Eligibility-Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) and INICET, and schedule them only when the "war is over".
Members of the medical fraternity, including health and medical education activist Dr Dhruv Chauhan, the National President of United Doctors Front (UDF), Dr. Lakshya Mittal highlighted the risks of continuing with the pre-fixed schedule of these examinations, including issues in transportation and most importantly the concerns regarding the safety and security of the candidates.
As per the schedule announced by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the date of NEET PG 2025 is June 15, 2025. Meanwhile, the AIIMS INICET 2025 examination is going to be held on May 17, and the INISS July 2025 session is scheduled to be conducted on May 24, 2025.
Dr. Chauhan, who is also the National Spokesperson of the Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors' Network (IMA-JDN) mentioned in an X (Twitter) post that when events like Indian Premier League (IPL) and CA exam have been cancelled and many of the Universities have also cancelled their exams over the security issue, the Government should also cancel major exams like NEET PG and INICET and reschedule them only when the war between India and Pakistan is over.
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"IPL cancelled , CA exam cancelled and Many University exams cancelled all due to security issues so it’s high time the Government should cancel the major examinations like NEET PG and INICET as there are various states with Flights cancelled and security threat on head which is affecting their mental peace as well as academics and many have chosen “high alert states” as their Exam centres . It’s high time for @MoHFW_INDIA to take prompt action and make sure the exams are scheduled only when the war is over !" Dr. Chauhan's X post read.
Speaking to Medical Dialogues, Dr. Chauhan said, "That exams including INICET and NEET PG should be postponed because situation at various states including Jammu Punjab Haryana Rajasthan Gujarat, Delhi are tense due to the ongoing situation and blackouts, sirens, missile attacks, and hence the candidates are not able to focus on academic. Another major reason is that 34 flights are cancelled and travel issues, as the guidelines of the government don’t allow them to go outside in some states like Jammu and Punjab, which is precautionary."
Meanwhile, Dr. Lakshya Mittal has written to the Director of AIIMS Delhi and urged to postpone the upcoming INI-CET PG and INI-SS exam scheduled on 17th May and 24th May respectively amid the war emergency.
"Given the unprecedented escalation of hostilities at the Indo-Pak border and the resultant national emergency measures, candidates across multiple states are facing grave challenges that are directly affecting their ability to safely appear for the exam," Dr. Mittal mentioned in the letter.
He pointed out that the key concerns that the aspirants would face include security and travel restrictions, psychological distress, transport and communication disruptions, etc. According to him, many regions near the border and sensitive zones are already under curfew or restricted movement orders, making it unsafe and nearly impossible for candidates to commute to the exam centers.
Further, he stressed how the war-like situation has triggered widespread anxiety, especially among students with family in affected zones. He also pointed out that reports of suspended transport, lockdown, blocked roads and intermittent internet or network blackouts are affecting last-mile connectivity, digital access to admit cards, and exam-related updates.
"In this environment, local and state administrations are rightly focused on security, health, and relief efforts. Holding a national exam at this time may overstretch already burdened infrastructure," Dr. Mittal's letter directed to the AIIMS Director read.
"In light of these compelling reasons, we sincerely urge your esteemed office to kindly consider postponing these exams to a more stable and secure date. Such a decision would reflect compassion, fairness, and a prioritization of student welfare during this extraordinary time," it further added.
An X user named Dr. Nawazish Khan also opined that NEET PG and INICET exams should be deferred considering the security risks of the candidates. He said, "The situation in India can be unpredictable, and the safety and well-being of citizens, especially students, are of utmost importance. Given the current circumstances, it's reasonable to consider postponing exams like NEET PG and INICET to ensure the candidates’ safety & reduce stress. The government might weigh the pros and cons, considering factors like exam preparedness, academic calendars, and the impact on the medical education system. Let's hope for a swift resolution and minimal disruption."
