Distant exam centres for NEET-PG sparks a new controversy

New Delhi: Widespread complaints have been raised by applicants for NEET-PG from Kerala over allotment of cities where they have to take the test which are far away from the state. NEET-PG, the national-level entrance exam for admission to postgraduate medical courses in India, is scheduled to take place on August 11.

Several Kerala-based candidates said that they were allotted cities over a 1,000 km away. “Some of us have been instructed to appear for the exam in some cities in Andhra. While flight fares to these places have increased exponentially after the centres were announced, train tickets are not available,” said an applicant from Kerala.

Incidentally, NBE (National Board of Examinations), which conducts NEET-PG, released the list of cities on August 1 and candidates will be informed about the centres in these cities where they have to take the test only on August 8.

According to the Indian Medical Association (IMA), around 25,000 doctors from Kerala will be appearing for the exam.

Meanwhile, NBA authorities said the cities were allotted on a first-come-first served basis. Candidates could give four choices of cities and most districts in Kerala were included in the list. However, many candidates from Kerala could choose only a city in Andhra as the fourth option. Moreover, the website developed an error during the application process, said students.

Candidates from Delhi also are facing a similar problem as most of them have been allotted centres in UP and Madhya Pradesh.

Several top political leaders from Kerala have appealed to central ministers Dharmendra Pradhan and J P Nadda seeking a change in exam centres.

NEET-PG was earlier scheduled on June 23, but it was cancelled a day before, creating a huge controversy.