New Delhi: Hundreds of medical graduates aspiring to pursue post-graduate course in the next academic year are worried as the date of the entrance examination clashes with the counselling for the delayed 2021-22 admission process.
The National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduate (NEET-PG) admissions has been scheduled on March 12. However, the admission process based on the same exam that was held in 2021 would be completed only on March 16.
The NEET-PG counselling got delayed because of the court hearings over the income cap for seat reservation for Economically Weaker Sections (EWS).
The extent of availabile PG medical seats for 2021 cannot be predicted as in the previous years as the new EWS reservation takes effect. Many aspiring for PG admissions are uncertain whether they would get seats this time or should register for the entrance exam again. These candidates point out that this uncertainty could have been avoided had the exams been scheduled after completing the admission processes of 2021.
Meanwhile, candidates in many states have not been able to complete their mandatory internship as the MBBS exams got delayed due to the COVID-19 situation.
The Federation of All India Medical Association said that more than 8,000 aspirants would lose their chance this year if the NEET-PG isn’t rescheduled. Meanwhile, multiple associations have formally written to the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to defer the PG entrance exam.