NEET PG: Doctors' Body Urges JP Nadda To Re-Evaluate Exam Centre Allocations Nationwide

FAIMA has urgently called on Union Health Minister JP Nadda to address the significant challenges NEET PG aspirants face regarding distant examination centers.

NEET PG 2024 exam is scheduled for August 11, 2024

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NEET PG 2024 Exam: The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), a doctors' body has urgently called upon Union Health Minister JP Nadda to address the significant challenges faced by NEET PG aspirants regarding the allocation of examination centers. FAIMA highlighted the critical issues and called for immediate intervention. "We are writing to bring to your immediate and urgent attention the significant challenges NEET PG aspirants are encountering regarding the allocation of examination centers," FAIMA said in a letter.

The NEET PG exam, initially scheduled for June 23, 2024, was postponed to August 11, 2024. Aspirants were instructed to select their preferred test cities during an online window from July 19, 2024, to July 22, 2024, with the allotted city centers being communicated via email on July 31, 2024. Numerous candidates have reported being assigned centers far from their home states, leading to undue stress and logistical challenges.

FAIMA's letter to JP Nadda included three key requests:

1. Re-evaluation of Exam Center Allocation: "We urge for the reassignment of exam centers within reasonable distances from students' home states to mitigate excessive travel costs and logistical issues," the letter emphasized.

2. Enhanced Communication: "It is crucial to provide timely and clear information about exam centers, schedules, normalization procedures, result announcements, and counseling dates to avoid confusion and anxiety among aspirants," FAIMA stressed.

3. Administrative Reforms: The letter highlighted the need to "address inconsistencies in center allocations to ensure that students are not unduly burdened by long-distance travel."

Key Concerns Of NEET PG Aspirants:

The allocation of distant examination centres for the National Eligibility Entrance Test - Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2024 has sparked outrage among students. Many have been assigned centres up to 1000 km from their homes, leading to widespread frustration and calls for change.

Several candidates have taken to social media to share their experiences, criticizing the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for what they describe as mental harassment. They are demanding that the exam be conducted in a single shift with centres located within their home states. Key concerns of NEET PG aspirants includes:

1) Travel Costs and Accommodation:

Travel Costs: Numerous students have been assigned centers that are geographically distant from their homes, leading to high travel costs, including last-minute bookings for flights, trains, or buses.

Accommodation Costs: The late announcement of exam centers compels students to make expensive last-minute hotel bookings, often for multiple nights.

2) Impact of Weather Conditions: The monsoon season has caused severe disruptions in transportation, making it challenging for students to book flights and train tickets. This uncertainty adds another layer of stress and financial strain.

3) Lack of Transparency: Crucial information regarding exam results, normalisation of scores, exact dates for results, and counseling schedules has not been provided, leading to significant anxiety among students.

4) Geographical and Administrative Anomalies: Instances have been reported where students are allocated centers in regions not geographically aligned with their state of residence, further complicating their travel and accommodation arrangements.