On the evening of June 22, 2024, just as medical students were in their final stages of preparation for the NEET PG 2024 exam scheduled for the next day, the Ministry of Health and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) dropped a bombshell: the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for postgraduate courses (NEET PG) 2024 was postponed.
This abrupt decision sparked anger and frustration among students who had geared up for the exam. However, Dr. Abhijat Sheth, president of NBEMS, clarified that the postponement was not due to any reported paper leak or technical issue. Rather, it was a precautionary measure aimed at ensuring the robustness and integrity of the exam process.
Dr. Sheth explained that amidst the backdrop of several cancellations and postponements of exams by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and a heightened environment of exam-related tension in the country, concerns about potential vulnerabilities arose. He highlighted the unfortunate reality of opportunistic individuals preying on vulnerable students during such times, promising exam success for a fee. This situation often leads to financial exploitation of students, with no guarantee of exam performance.
The decision to postpone NEET PG 2024 was therefore driven by a desire to safeguard students from such fraudulent activities. Dr. Sheth emphasized that the government’s principle of “better safe than sorry” guided the decision-making process. Despite acknowledging the inconvenience caused to students, he reiterated that the Ministry’s priority was to protect the exam’s integrity and ensure fairness in the evaluation process.
Looking forward, Dr. Sheth assured that NBEMS would work towards rescheduling the exam with enhanced security measures to prevent any potential exploitation of exam vulnerabilities. He also touched upon broader issues in medical education, including plans for the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE) and the pressing need for increasing medical seats in India.
