Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has urged Union Health Minister JP Nadda to address concerns about NEET-PG 2024 by ensuring adequate exam centres in every state. This move aims to prevent medical aspirants from facing long travel distances and associated stress.
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NEW DELHI: In response to widespread concerns regarding the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024, Congress MP Shashi Tharoor has formally requested Union Health Minister JP Nadda to urgently address the issues surrounding the allocation of exam centres. Tharoor emphasized the need for sufficient test centres in every state to ensure that medical aspirants do not have to travel vast distances, thereby avoiding the associated logistical challenges and stress.
In a post on X (formerly known as Twitter), Tharoor shared-
“My letter to @JPNadda formally requesting his urgent action on the #NeetPG_mismanagement.”
This appeal reflects the frustrations of numerous NEET-PG aspirants who have voiced their concerns about the significant reduction in the number of cities hosting these critical exams.
In a detailed letter addressed to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, Tharoor highlighted the need for –
“sufficient exam centres in every state for the medical examination on August 11.”
The Congress leader pointed out that many aspirants are being forced to travel “faraway distances, some even spanning thousands of kilometres,” which is particularly problematic given the current weather conditions in India. These challenges are compounded by issues such as ticket availability, the scarcity of affordable accommodations, and safety concerns.
Tharoor stressed that-
“If we are to conduct national exams, we should be able to authorize enough centres in every state, especially given the manageable number of aspirants.”
He argued that exam centres should be easily accessible to candidates from their places of education or residence, thereby minimizing the stress and financial burden on these future medical professionals.
The Thiruvananthapuram MP also raised alarms over the planned two-shift examination structure, which includes different papers in each shift and the subsequent normalisation or standardisation of results. He stated-
“There are also serious concerns about the two-shift examination, with different papers in each shift and the process of normalizing or standardizing the results.”
Tharoor argued that the fundamental principle of a national examination is compromised if it does not consist of a single test administered on the same date across the country.
He further elaborated on the reduction in the number of cities where the NEET-PG exams are to be conducted, suggesting that this move exacerbates the existing problems faced by aspirants. “Exacerbating all of this are the reports that the number of cities, where the tests are to be conducted, has been reduced significantly,” the letter emphasized.
Tharoor concluded his letter by urging Minister Nadda to address these pressing issues as swiftly as possible.
“In light of the above, I would appreciate it if your office could address and resolve these issues at your earliest convenience. If NEET-PG 2024 proceeds as currently planned, it could severely jeopardize the future of our doctors.”
– he warned.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is responsible for conducting the NEET-PG exam, which is a crucial step for medical graduates seeking admission to various MD, MS, and PG Diploma courses. For NEET-PG 2024, the examination is scheduled to take place in two shifts across 416 centres in 170 cities, accommodating 2,28,542 candidates. The two-shift format, however, has sparked controversy, with the authorities planning to normalise scores across the different test papers.
