New Delhi: The National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has opted to avoid private entrepreneur institutes as exam centres for the NEET-PG 2024, focusing instead on better monitoring, as reported by news agency PTI. The exam will be held in two shifts on August 11 to minimize the risk of malpractice, according to NBEMS President Dr. Abhijat Sheth.
The NEET-PG exam, organised by NBEMS in partnership with TCS, has faced controversy due to past allegations of paper leaks, both of which were dismissed by authorities. The exam was originally scheduled for June 22 but was canceled a day before the date.
"We are relying on TCS iON centres and AICTE-affiliated institutes this time to enhance supervision and prevent any malpractice. However, a few private centres have been included in locations where TCS iON or AICTE-affiliated institutes are unavailable," Dr. Sheth told PTI.
The decision to conduct the exam in two shifts also aims to reduce the travel burden on students, ensuring that most candidates have exam centres within their home states. "We have tried to allocate exam centres in the same state as the candidates' addresses provided during registration, wherever possible," Dr. Sheth added.
The NEET-PG 2024 will be conducted nationwide for 2,28,542 candidates at 416 exam centres across 170 cities. The exam will be held in two shifts, and candidates' scores will be normalized, Dr. Sheth stated.
centres flagged as high-risk by TCS, based on their audit, have been excluded. "Conducting exams in shifts with score normalization is a well-established practice in India, followed by institutions like IITs and AIIMS," Dr. Sheth remarked.
Regarding the reassignment of exam centres on August 4, Dr. Sheth explained that it was done to minimize inter-state travel for some candidates, following recommendations from the health ministry. He noted that 90% of students have been assigned test centres within their home state, with the remainder placed in nearby states due to seat limitations.
Admit cards for the exam were released on August 8, Dr. Sheth confirmed.
NBEMS also addressed claims circulating on social media about a purported leak of NEET-PG 2024 exam questions. In response, the board has filed a police complaint against "unscrupulous agents" who claimed to have access to the exam paper. NBEMS emphasized that the questions for NEET-PG 2024 have not yet been prepared, dismissing the leak claims as false.
Also Read: NEET PG 2024: Shashi Tharoor Writes To Nadda, Says 'Aspirants Made To Travel To Faraway Distances'
On August 1, NBEMS wrote to district administrations to ensure the smooth and secure conduct of NEET-PG 2024 on August 11. Official sources clarified that the letter contained general instructions and dismissed concerns about its alleged leak as unwarranted.
In a related development, the Supreme Court will hear a plea today seeking the postponement of the NEET-PG 2024 exam. The petition argues that some candidates have been assigned exam centres that are difficult to reach, necessitating the normalization of scores. A bench comprising Chief Justice of India D. Y. Chandrachud and Justices J. B. Pardiwala and Manoj Misra took note of the submissions from lawyer Anas Tanwir on the matter.
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