NEET PG 2025 Exam Date Uncertainty Reflects NBE's Poor Management, Says AIMDA President

The President of the All India MBBS Doctors Association (AIMDA), Dr Vinod Sharma Bagra, in an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, shared his insights on the uncertainty of the NEET PG 2025 exam date, the delay in NEET PG registration, NEET UG controversy and his observations about the NExT (National Exit Test) exam among others. Read the important highlights of the interview with AIMDA President Dr Vinod Sharma Bagra here...

Q. What is your opinion on the current structure of NEET for undergraduate and postgraduate medical admissions? How do you feel it affects medical students' journeys and aspirations?

Dr Vinod: The NEET PG exam 2024 was postponed a day before the examination day. This not only affects the mental status of the students but also questions the sanctity of the examination body. Similarly, the NEET paper leak scam has shocked the country and again affected the students and their parents. 

The NEET PG examination was conducted in two shifts. In my opinion, this was the worst decision taken by the examination authorities as this not only made students confused about the examination process but also delayed the counselling process due to multiple petitions in court regarding the release of answer key and paper solutions as students were unable to trust the marking process. 

I suggest the NEET exam date for UG and PG should be announced along with the complete schedule in advance so that it will enable the counselling process to be conducted at the correct time and the academic session can begin on time.  

Q. NEET PG counselling process is under talks. What do you feel about the continuous change in the counselling dates? How does this impact the students?

Dr Vinod: NEET PG counselling has confused students lately. In the Rajasthan state, the NEET PG seat matrix was not upgraded for the round 3 counselling process, and as many as 140 seats were allotted without any clear information. Our team has filed a petition to the high court to interfere. Following this, the high court asked the NMC for clarification.

Q. Kindly elaborate on the NEET PG seat allotment issue in the state of Rajasthan.

Dr Vinod: The Rajasthan medical counselling body did not properly allocate the round 3 seat allotment. Students who applied for the round 3 counselling process, or those who applied for the upgrade in seat allotment, were expecting better seats in the seat matrix. However, the counselling body did not release the correct seat matrix, which made students confused. Later on, the seat allotment was haphazardly conducted and pointed to a discrepancy in the allotment. A total of 140 seats were allotted, which could not be authenticated. 

I believe NEET PG counselling should be conducted by a counselling body that coordinates with All India Quota (AIQ) and State Quota Seats simultaneously. Further, the ‘One Nation, One Counselling Body’ concept can be implemented for the timely completion of the counselling process. 

Q. What are the most significant challenges medical students face when preparing for NEET, NEET PG, and NEET MDS? Are there ways to address these issues to reduce stress and pressure?

Dr Vinod: There are several issues that are faced by medical students in India. All students, be it NEET UG, NEET PG, NEET MDS, or other medical exam students face many issues including high fees. When I took admission in 2016, the fee was INR 2,400. With time, the fees have gradually increased to INR 50,000- INR 60,000. 

Further, the quality of education has been compromised in recent years, even in government medical colleges. Several government medical colleges in India lack qualified staff. Those doctors who have clinics outside often neglect their primary duty in their respective hospitals. 

Q. Do you think NEET adequately considers students from different educational backgrounds, such as those who may have studied in rural or less resourceful areas?

Dr Vinod: No, I believe that students who come from an English medium board of education have a competitive edge over the ones who have either studied in rural areas/ or the ones who are from a Hindi medium board of education. I come from a Hindi background, and I have faced several issues during preparation for the entrance examination and while pursuing academic studies. 

Rural students/ Hindi medium students have to struggle harder to reach par with other students. Further, those who have a competitive edge take part in the All India Quota MCC NEET PG counselling and take seats in the top medical colleges. However, the language barrier also affects these students as, at times, they are unable to communicate with patients. 

Q. How can we ensure that NEET and NEET PG remain free from malpractice and maintain the sanctity of the medical profession?

Dr Vinod: NMC and NBE, in my opinion, are not efficient bodies for regulating the NEET PG examination. Ever since they have taken over, the examination has never been conducted without controversy. I firmly believe that the culprits who leak the examination papers shall be given tough punishment as they are not only doing the wrongful thing, they are also playing with the future of medical education in India. 

The counselling process of NEET, NEET PG shall be streamlined and made smooth. At times, it becomes difficult for students to participate due to a lack of understanding of the counselling process. 

Recently, the government announced that they will increase medical seats by 75,000 for the state of Rajasthan. But those who have already cleared their examination and become doctors are unemployed. The government must also focus on students to offer them job opportunitites. 

Q. The NExT exam has been proposed as a replacement for various exams. What are your thoughts on this? Will it be beneficial for both students and the medical profession as a whole?

Dr Vinod: The NExt Exam, ever since announced, has been under lost of debate. As of now, there is no clarity regarding the implementation of the examination. NExT examination is supposed to replace the NEET PG examination. However, the authorities have announced the tentative NEET PG exam date. 

Another point to discuss is that the NEET PG 2025 exam date is still tentative, i.e. subject to change. Why is the NEET PG exam date not confirmed yet? There are just three months left for the entrance examination, and still the application process, examination scheme, and brochure are yet to be released. This is very irresponsible on the part of the examination authorities. 

Q. NEET UG exam 2024 has been under several allegations, including paper leak, result manipulation and so on. What steps should the examination body take to avoid such allegations in future? 

Dr Vinod: Despite the NEET UG paper leak, no strict actions were taken by the authorities. If the exam paper is getting leaked, this means that any of the internal sources is involved in the malpractice. Several other national-level examinations are also being conducted every year, but still, we do not get to hear about exam paper leaks. 

I believe that government officials involved in such malpractice shall be found, and strict actions against them should be taken. 

Further, I do believe if the NEET UG examination was scheduled in online mode, then there would be fewer chances of paper leaks. The examination shall have a complete system in order to ensure that the future of medical education is not hampered. 

Read more:

• NEET PG Exam Date Must Be Announced Before Six Months of Entrance Test: UDF President
• NEET PG Controversy Highlights Incompetency of NBE, Health Ministry: FAIMA President