The Supreme Court is set to hear a petition on Friday seeking the postponement of the NEET-PG 2024 examination. The plea highlights concerns over the allocation of exam centers in distant cities, making it difficult for candidates to reach them, and also calls for the normalization of scores.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has scheduled the exam for 2,28,542 candidates in two shifts across 416 centers in 170 cities nationwide on August 11. Admit cards for the rescheduled exam were released on Thursday.
The NEET-PG, organized by NBEMS with technical support from TCS, has been mired in controversy. Originally set for June 22, the exam was canceled just a day before it was to take place. The latest dispute revolves around the allocation of exam centers and the decision to normalize scores.
Calls for Accessible Exam Centers
Congress MP Shashi Tharoor wrote to Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Thursday, urging the provision of sufficient exam centers in each state for the August 11 NEET-PG. Tharoor emphasized that this would spare students from traveling long distances and alleviate the burden of finding affordable and safe accommodation.
NBEMS Clarifies Exam Center Allocation
NBEMS President Dr. Abhijat Sheth explained that private institutions have been excluded from the list of NEET-PG 2024 exam centers to improve oversight and reduce the risk of malpractice. Centers flagged as high-risk by TCS during an audit were also removed.
“We are utilizing TCS iON centers and AICTE-affiliated institutes for this exam to ensure better supervision and prevent any malpractice. Private centers have been included only in areas where TCS iON or AICTE-affiliated institutes are unavailable,” Dr. Sheth stated.
Dr. Sheth also noted that 90% of candidates have been assigned exam centers within their home states, with the remaining being placed in nearby states due to limited seats in their own regions.
Justifying the Two-Shift Exam Format
NBEMS has decided to conduct the exam in two shifts, which necessitates the normalization of scores. The decision aims to reduce the travel distance for students.
“Conducting exams in shifts with normalized scores is a standard and legitimate practice in India. Esteemed institutions like IITs and AIIMS have been using this method for years,” Dr. Sheth explained.
Regarding the reassignment of exam centers on August 4, Dr. Sheth mentioned that this was done to add new centers, minimizing the need for interstate travel, following recommendations from the health ministry.
