What went wrong with NEET SS 2023 Exam? Doctors complain about painful experience

New Delhi: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Super-speciality (NEET-SS) examination 2023, scheduled for September 29 and September 30, 2023, was delayed by two hours at various centres across India because of alleged technical glitches.

Apart from the delay in the exam, the students also complained about mismanagement in the exam and demanded a return of the thousands of exam fees that the National Board of Examinations (NBE) collected from the candidates.

NEET SS is the common centralised entrance test for admission to DM, MCh, and DNB SS courses. Although previously the exam was scheduled to be held on 9th and 10th September 2023, the exam was postponed due to the G20 Summit and the travel restrictions imposed due to this.

Exam Delayed by 2 Hours:

Thereafter the exam was rescheduled for September 29 and September 30, 2023. Although the morning shift of the exam was scheduled to commence at 9 a.m. and continue until 11 a.m., candidates from several parts of the country have alleged that the exam did not begin until 11 a.m. in the morning.

The second shift of the exam was scheduled to commence at 2 p.m. and continue till 4.30 p.m. in the afternoon. However, even those who appeared in the exam in the second shift complained regarding the delay in the exam alleging that they came out of the centre only after 5.40 p.m.

Also Read: NEET SS 2023 Postponed Due to G20 Summit, NBE Issues Notice

Raising this issue, an aspirant stated in X (formerly Twitter), "NEET SS was delayed by almost 2 hours. I napped, stretched, and then decided to chat with the invigilator. He asked, 'How come you all are not creating a fuss? Very calm, you doctors are.' I said, 'Yes, our medical board never fails to teach us tolerance.'"

Mismanagement in the Exam:

Apart from the delayed commencement of the exam, the doctors have also complained of severe mismanagement in the examination. Several candidates have alleged that there was no Air conditioner or cooler in the examination hall and even the fans were not working.

Taking to X (formerly Twitter), one such candidate raised the issue of mismanagement in the examination and stated, "@NbeIndia Today's NEET SS EXAM was conducted in utter inhuman condition at one centre of Bhubaneswar. ION DIGITAL ZONE PATIA is a centre where about 200-250 candidates were cramped in a room with inadequate ventilation and air conditioning. Whole afternoon it was very hot , humid."

"Very poor arrangement , thousands of fee by @NbeIndia but students r facing only scorching heat , no proper facility , morning inning just finished now ;time for afternoon inning torture @mansukhmandviya #neetss," mentioned another candidate.

Demanding the thousands of rupees that the NBE collected from the candidates as exam fees, an user stated in X, "Most of the neet ss exam center were in pathetic condition. Not to speak of AC and coolers, even exhaust fans were not working. NBE took 4500 from each candidate for the exam. They need to answer where all the money goes ?"

The issue was also raised by the Federation of Resident Doctors' Association (FORDA). Taking up the issue, the association mentioned in a Tweet, "Gross mismanagement by NBEMS for #NEETSS2023 Morning session delayed by 2 hours today at @GangaIntlll school. Charging so much money and acting so callously is not acceptable. Atleast these doctors deserve a smooth & hassle free exam process! @MoHFW_INDIA @OfficeOf_MM @ANI."

Taking up the issue, Dr. Lakshya Mittal, National President of the United Doctors Front Association (UDFA) wrote on X (formerly Twitter), "Poor arrangements by @NTA_Exams NBEMS for #NEETSS2023 Both sessions delayed approx. by 1-2 hrs in entire nation. Due to misconduct & unnecessary delay alot of #NEET aspirants get effected. Atleast MD/MS specialists deserve a smooth & hassle free exam process @MoHFW_INDIA @ANI."

Referring to the issue, former president of Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), Dr. Rakesh Bagdi mentioned in an X post, "Very poor arrangement , thousands of fee by @NbeIndia but students r facing only scorching heat , no proper facility , morning inning just finished now ;time for afternoon inning torture @mansukhmandviya #neetss @FAIMA_INDIA_ @IMAIndiaOrg."

Dr. Keerthy Varman, the President of Tamil Nadu Medical Students' Association (TNMSA) also appeared in the examination. Speaking to Medical Dialogues regarding the mismanagement in the exam, he said, "There was no AC, no proper arrangements for parents or guardians who were standing outside. On top of everything, the exam was delayed. Parents and guardians had to wait outside without food and water for more than six hours. Most of the exam centers are out of the residential area and there were no shops outside also."

Sharing his experience, Dr. Varman, who appeared in the test in the morning shift, added, "The entry time was 7:30 a.m and the entry was closed at 8.30 a.m. I went before 7.30 a.m. Most of the parents and guardians also came along with the candidates at around 6.30 a.m. At 1.30 p.m. we came out of the exam centre. I reached home at 3.30 p.m. since my exam center was 20 km away. Think of other candidates who travelled 200 km for the exam."

As per the revised schedule for the NEET-SS 2023 exam, the results of the exam shall be declared by 15 October, 2023. The revised schedule for admissions to DM/MCh courses shall be notified in consultation with the National Medical Commission and DGHS (MoHFW).

Also Read: NEET SS 2023: NBE Announces Revised Schedule for candidates, details