Student Leaders, Doctors Slam Centre's NEET-PG Postponement Move

The postponement of the NEET-PG 2024 examination has led to a major backlash from student bodies and doctors' associations, who have slammed the decision and called for an investigation into the agency responsible for the medical entrance exams. They also said that the education system of the country has been "destroyed".

Dr Lakshya Mittal, national president of the United Doctors Front Association, condemned the last-minute cancellation, emphasising the emotional toll on students who had travelled long distances to their exam centres. He described the move as "playing with the emotions of the doctors."

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"NEET-PG exam, which was supposed to be held tomorrow, has been cancelled at the last moment... The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in its press release, has mentioned that the exam has been postponed seeing its integrity and sensitivity... This is another scam after NEET-UG... Candidates have travelled across states and cancelling the exam 10 hours before it is scheduled is no less than playing with the emotions of the doctors. The conducting authorities of both, NEET PG, as well as NEET UG, should be investigated... India's medical education system has been destroyed... CBI enquiry into the NEET-UG issue is a commendable step," Mittal told ANI.

ABVP's general secretary, Yagyawalkya Shukla, demanded an explanation from both the Centre and the National Board of Education for the abrupt postponement.

"If the National Board of Examination or the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare had any kind of suspicion, they should have brought forth everything in front of candidates with full transparency... Student bodies demand the government and the National Board of Education that the students have the right to know the reasons and circumstances behind the step," Shukla said in a video.

Similarly, JNU Student Union president Dhananjay accused the Centre of failing students by cancelling the exam just hours before it was set to occur.

"Students travel across cities to sit for this exam. This government has failed students on so many levels," Dhananjay said.

Dr. Rohan Krishnan, president of the FAIMA Doctors' Association, voiced his support for the affected students and called for an official explanation from the Centre regarding the postponement.

"The last-minute cancellation of the NEET-PG examination is very sad for all of us... All the candidates had reached their examination centres in various cities... I hope that the National Board of Examinations had concrete reasons to postpone this examination and they should come up with immediate answers. I request the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare to come forward and tell me what was the reason for postponing the exam?... I want to assure the students that we stand with them and we will make sure that the next date is given with ample time," Krishnan said.

The health ministry's decision to delay the NEET-PG 2024 exam follows a controversy over alleged irregularities in the NEET-UG 2024 results, which has further fueled demands for a high-level investigation into the examination process. The new date for the NEET-PG exam has not yet been announced.

(With ANI inputs)