Will the NMC comply with the demands of thousands of students to postpone NEET PG 2023? Experts disagree. They assert that students would have been informed by now if such a plan was in the works. However, they also state that they are making efforts to have the NBE—the National Board of Examination—reconsider a postponement.
How things stand:
RTI and health activist Dr. Vivek Pandey says, “I sent an RTI query to NBE on January 17 to ask if any discussions are being held regarding a postponement.” I was supposed to get a response within 48 hours, but I haven’t yet (January 23). I have tried unsuccessfully to get in touch with the authorities. Therefore, I believe the exam will not be postponed.”
“NEET PG will not be postponed as of now,” tweeted Dr. Rohan Krishnan, Chairman of FAIMA (Federation of All India Medical Association). We try to convince the ministry to do the same, but sometimes we are powerless. Therefore, I ask you to concentrate on your studies and will keep you informed of any positive developments. Similar to NEET PG, NEET MDS may receive an extension of eligibility.
Flashback to the NEET PG postponement The NEET PG exam was announced to be held on March 5 this year, whereas it was held on May 21 in 2022, in order to align the academic calendar with the pre-pandemic schedule. The internship eligibility date was initially extended from March 31 to June 30, as requested by students. The demand for a delay came next.
The following are the reasons given by students seeking a delay in the exam:
1. The fact that many will not have finished their internship by the time the exam starts puts them under even more pressure.
2. Because their internship ends after the June 30 deadline, many are still unable to take the exam.
3. Students claim that they require additional time to prepare for the NEET PG 2023 exam, and the stray vacancy round for the position has just come to an end on January 10.
4. Aspirants will be idle during the possible four-month delay in counseling after the exam.
The last reason is often overlooked. A number of organizations representing students, parents, and even medical professionals, such as FAIMA and the United Doctors Front Association, have written to the authorities to request a postponement. #neepg2023 has become a popular hashtag as a result of the fact that many people regularly post this request to social media in an effort to get the attention of the relevant authorities.
According to experts, “The counseling is likely to be delayed, as a batch has just been admitted following the stray-vacancy round. “It will be difficult for colleges to admit a second batch of students within a gap of four months if counselling is conducted immediately after the exam in April,” Dr. Pandey stated. He went on to say that the same issue arose with NEET UG admissions the year before, when schools were forced to admit two batches of students at once.
On the other hand, Dr. Aviral Mathur, President of FORDA (Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association), states that the counseling date cannot be predicted at this time. After the results and seat matrix are released, it can only be determined,” he explains.
Isn’t it better to postpone NEET?
Dr. Pandey affirms. However, Dr. Mathur points out that FORDA requested polls to determine how many students desired a postponement in order to gain a better understanding of the situation. The attendance was very low; “Only approximately 10,000 students took part,” he stated. He explained that this was because, even though the polls were conducted online, the majority of students preparing for the NEET PG avoided social media. Despite this, we received a variety of responses,” he continued.
Dr. Mathur says that some students, especially post-interns (those who have finished their internship), wanted the exam to be held in March as planned because they wanted to finish it as soon as possible. The third group of students requested a postponement, while another group of students did not want to postpone the exam because they believed that preparing for a few more months would only increase the pressure.
On the other hand, a Twitter poll that FAIMA has been conducting since January 21 shows that out of 6,456 participants, 85.6 percent favor a postponement and 12.5% oppose it. About 1.9% of students do not want FAIMA to intervene in the situation.
“As a result, we want the government to examine the situation from every angle before making a decision.” However, “the authorities should consider the sentiments of all the students if there is a possibility of delay in the counseling, and no student should suffer,” Dr. Mathur states.
Some sound advice for students: “Now that it is unlikely that the exam will be postponed, the experts advise students to concentrate on properly preparing.” Discussion of postponement is inappropriate at this time. Rumors have a negative impact on students’ preparation because they easily become distracted. They will be informed if the exam is postponed. However, Dr. Mathur states, “It is time to buckle up and give their best with only a month to go until the exam.”
Additionally, in a video that was shared on Twitter, Dr. Pandey addresses students who are considering filing a lawsuit. He suggests that doing so at this time would be premature. However, students must first approach their local state authorities and request an intervention if they are interested. A legal route can be pursued if nothing comes of it,” he states. In addition, rather than directly submitting a case to the Supreme Court, he suggests contacting a High Court.
