NEW DELHI: Seetha (name changed), who was traveling from Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh to Jaipur to take her NEET-PG exam, received the devastating news just 10 hours before the prestigious exam that it had been cancelled.
The 23-year-old, who had dedicated a year of hard work, is in a state of profound shock. “She is unable to speak. We are trying to encourage her. My parents are extremely worried,” said her brother, a doctor in Rajasthan.
“My cousin, who was also taking the NEET-PG exam in Kurnool, burst into tears when he heard about the postponement. He had prepared for over a year, enduring sleepless nights and relying on sleeping pills. He is completely shattered,” he added, requesting anonymity.
Shocked, disappointed, and depressed – that’s the state of an estimated 2 lakh NEET-PG students who were informed on Saturday night that the Sunday exam, which serves as an eligibility-cum-ranking examination for admission to various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses, was cancelled for the third time this year.
TNIE interviewed more than a dozen aspirants, some of whom are employed in hospitals while others are unemployed. The initial shock soon turned into anger towards the examination system, which has failed to conduct public exams without malpractice or paper leaks, thereby affecting the future of lakhs of young students.
Some individuals were informed about the cancellation at the examination center, while others found out through social media or media reports.
Reactions ranged from tears and alcohol consumption to avoiding communication with family, friends, and coworkers. Many individuals turned to social media to criticize the government and authorities for jeopardizing the lives of young students and expressed a desire to emigrate.
Numerous NEET-UG candidates, disheartened by the recent events, believe that the sudden cancellation of the PG exam highlights the chaotic state of medical education in India.
As students contemplate legal action against the authorities for the psychological and financial toll, the Federation of Resident Doctors’ Association (FORDA) has offered free psychiatric services to NEET-PG aspirants, underscoring the mental anguish many are enduring.
Dr. Dhruv Chauhan, the national council coordinator of the Indian Medical Association-Junior Doctors Network (IMA-JDN), emphasized the need for compensation for medical students and PG aspirants, highlighting the neglect of their mental well-being amidst the chaos in the education sector.
The NEET-UG question paper was allegedly leaked, leading to the cancellation of the NEET-PG, UGC-NET, and CSIR-NET exams.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBE) administers the NEET-PG exam, which saw over 2 lakh MBBS graduates competing for approximately 52,000 post-graduation seats nationwide. Candidates are required to study 20 subjects and answer 200 multiple-choice questions.
Dr Sahifa Harem, a NEET-PG aspirant, is facing a double blow as her brother, Shanawar Hussain, took NEET-UG. She expresses her shock and uncertainty regarding both the UG controversy and the cancellation of the PG exam. Dr Harem had eagerly anticipated joining Apollo Hospital in Delhi’s paediatrics department on Monday, right after the scheduled exam. However, due to multiple postponements and the current uncertainty surrounding the exam date, she finds herself jobless and unable to start her new job.
She emphasizes the need for authorities to understand the mental trauma caused by these circumstances and calls for a public apology. Dr Jyoti Gupta, based in Delhi, shares her frustration as she had traveled to Merrut for the exam but now feels dejected and uncertain about when to resume her studies. Dr Akash Soni, who traveled a long distance to reach the Bhopal center, expresses his disappointment and highlights how medical students have become subjects of experimentation amidst the uncertainties brought about by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Dr Soni, the chairman of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) Doctors Association Madhya Pradesh, expressed concern over the cancellation of the exam three times this year, stating that it is a waste of the country’s resources and a significant loss to the nation. He emphasized that doctors, who serve the nation, are already burdened and should not have to suffer like this.
Dr Shubham Anand Jha, a Junior Resident at Lady Hardinge Hospital, initially thought the news of the exam postponement was fake. He expressed disbelief that the authorities would cancel the exam at the last minute, questioning how they could take the lives of students so lightly and considering it disgraceful.
Dr Sunreet Jakhar, who traveled overnight from Jaipur to Sri Ganganagar to reach his examination center, was shocked to find out about the cancellation in the morning. He had slept to ensure he was fresh for the exam and expressed the stress of having to go back to studying and preparing again.
Similarly, Dr Vishal Bishnoi, an intern in the pediatrics department at Jaipur National University, traveled a long distance with his colleague Jitendra Sharma to Bareilly for the exam, only to discover that it had been postponed. They were deeply disappointed and found it hard to believe.
Some aspirants mentioned on Telegram that the PG exam paper had been leaked and could be purchased for a large sum of money, similar to the NEET-UG exam.
The NBE released a notice on June 21, warning candidates not to be deceived by dishonest individuals who claim to have obtained the NEET-PG 2024 questions. They also mentioned that they had filed a police case.
Dr. Manish Jangra, the founder of FAIMA, expressed his opinion that medical education in India has become a mockery and is currently facing a crisis.
“We demand an explanation from the NBE regarding the basis for canceling the exam. They are accountable to the students,” he stated.
“We have learned that many students are suffering from depression. Some of them had already traveled long distances to reach the examination centers and had made hotel reservations. Some were even on their way to the center when the news broke,” he added.
Dr. Lakshya Mittal, who has been receiving numerous calls from anxious candidates, mentioned that due to the irregularities and paper leaks in NEET-UG, there is a lack of trust in the National Testing Agency (NTA), despite the government’s decision to replace the director general Subodh Kumar Singh with Pradeep Singh Kharola.
“India’s medical education system has been ruined. This sudden change, following the NEET-UG scam, highlights a deeply concerning trend in the management of medical examinations and the overall medical education system in India,” he remarked, emphasizing the need for the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) to intervene and take strict action against the exam-conducting bodies.
“The entire education system is collapsing.”
He expressed his concern that India’s reputation would be tarnished. “Many Indian doctors study or work abroad. After hearing about paper leaks and irregularities in medical exams, it may become difficult for our doctors to establish their credibility abroad. They might be seen as holders of fake degrees.”
Dr. Cyriac Abby Philips, a doctor based in Kerala and popularly known as TheLiverDoc on X (formerly Twitter), stated that in his entire medical career, he had never witnessed anything like this.
The cancellation of the primary medical entrance examination for postgraduate studies, which holds immense significance in the lives of medical students, has come as a sudden blow from the government, just 12 hours prior to the scheduled date. These students have dedicated years of their lives and invested a substantial amount of money in preparing for this crucial examination. The repercussions of this decision are not limited to mere disappointment; it also reflects a derisive attitude towards the medical education system in India. We are left to endure another five years of this distressing farce. The current authorities have inflicted unparalleled damage upon our nation, making it difficult to comprehend why anyone would choose to remain here and contribute to a country that seems to have lost its integrity. We yearn for a time when we can once again hold our heads high with pride.