NEET 2019: Kashmiri students displeased with less number of exam centres

NEW DELHI, April 18: National Testing Agency (NTA) released the admit card of common medical entrance exam on April 15, after an inordinate delay in activating the link. In the midst of the scenario, the Kashmiri students who registered for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) bay for allotment of exam centres in the valley. With this, the divisional administration intervened against the public outcry over the inadequate number of exam centres allotted in the valley.

Baseer Ahmad Khan, the divisional commissioner of Kashmir has recommended to set up the sufficient number of centres in the Kashmir valley, which will assist students from travelling outside the state for national-level medical entrance examination. Speaking to the local newspaper, he said that the matter will be settled by tomorrow. 

Students’ criticism 

Since the NEET exam is to be conducted by NTA on May 5, 2019, in offline mode, therefore, the students appealed to the Kashmir governor to recommend NTA for allotment of more exam centres in the valley. Despite being held in pen and paper mode, the registered aspirants have been allotted seat in the neighbouring states/UTs like Chandigarh, Uttarakhand, Amritsar, Rajasthan and New Delhi. 

The common entrance exam is conducted for admission to around 93,919 MBBS and BDS seats offered by government, private, deemed and central universities across India. Besides this, the scores are also referred for seat allotment in AYUSH and 15% veterinary seats.

A medical student from Ananthnag, Peerzada Anif, reiterates on the matter that, “Being an offline exam, NEET can be conducted in any of the colleges located in Kashmir, but NTA has set up only few centres in Srinagar. Exam centres allotted to more than 40 percent of the students are outside the valley.” Anif has raised questions on the allotment of centre on a first come first serve basis norm, as despite adhering to it, he has not been able to get the exam centre closer to his residence.   

He further added that travelling outside Kashmir for the most prestigious medical exam becomes burdensome for students preparing for NEET last minute preparations. In abhorrence of paying the application fee of Rs. 1500, he have to bear additional expense of 12,000 to 15,000 for communication via air. 

Academicians arbitration

Gaining the attention against this matter, the academicians also intimated their concerns over the lack of NEET exam centres across the state. Professor Tariq Chalkoo, revealing his dissatisfaction against NTA said that the test centres should not be limited to Srinagar but should also be set up in other districts like Baramulla.