Postpone NEET PG 2021: Letters requesting exam postponement sent to health minister

NEW DELHI: The National Board of Examinations’ decision to not postpone NEET PG 2021 has left MBBS graduates in a panic state. Approximately 2 lakh aspirants will be appearing in the NEET PG exam on April 18, 2021. At the same time, India is reporting more than 1.5 lakh COVID cases every single day. Several states have imposed lockdown and curfews and postponed exams. However, despite multiple requests by doctors, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has decided not to postpone NEET PG 2021. As a last ray of hope, two popular organisations - RR Patil Foundation and Delhi Abhibhavak Sangh - have written letters to the Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan requesting for NEET PG 2021 postponement.

Students are running several social media campaigns to postpone NEET PG exam. The latest person to join the bandwagon of #postponeneetpg campaign is DMK President MK Stalin. In his tweet, Stalin asked if it was the right time to conduct NEET PG amid surge in COVID-19 cases. Additionally, aspirants from Maharashtra have requested the state medical education minister to postpone NEET PG amid rising cases and a partial lockdown imposed in the state. Candidates from Chhattisgarh and Jharkhand have also requested to postpone NEET PG 2o21 and raised the issue of non-granted leaves from the hospital to appear in NEET PG 2021.

NEET PG 2021 postponed; New date to be decided later!

Dr. Harsh Vardhan has tweeted and confirmed that NEET PG has been postponed and stated that the new exam date will be decided later.

Postpone NEET PG 2021 - Students write letters to Health Minister

After all failed attempts and NBE’s latest notice on conducting NEET PG 2021 as per schedule, two groups have reached out to the Health Minister to postpone NEET PG. The two groups named, RR Patil Foundation and Delhi Abhibhavak Sangh have written letters to the minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, appealing to postpone NEET PG 2021.

“Postpone NEET PG by a month” - RR Patil Foundation

In its letter to the health minister, the RR Patil Foundation highlighted that to appear in NEET PG, doctors would have to take leaves for at least two days, thus weakening the front-line warriors fighting against COVID-19.

The letter read, “Doctors and students are already under a burden of heavy duties due to the second wave. They will be applying for at least 2 days leave to appear for the NEET exam on 18 April, which will be a severe blow for our front against COVID-19 through vaccination drive and all our efforts until now will go in vain.”

Further, the letter requested to postpone NEET PG 2021 exam by at least a month. The letter explained the possibility of postponement of NEET PG for a month and still declaring the results as per schedule by May 31. “As per the schedule, the result of NEET PG is due on 31st May, so there is a window of one and half month between exam and result. We request you to postpone NEET PG at least by a month, as this exam process is completely computerised the results can be obtained quickly and well before the schedule.”

“Postpone NEET PG on immediate basis” - Delhi Abhibhavak Sangh

Head of Delhi Abhibhavak Sangh, Harish Mehra in a letter to the Health Minister appealed to postpone NEET PG 2021 immediately. Mehra in his letter put forward the thoughts of the NEET PG aspirants. The letter cited four reasons for Postpone NEET PG 2021,

1. It is difficult for candidates to serve their COVID duty in hospitals and then appear for the NEET PG 2021 exam the following day

2. A significant number of candidates have contracted COVID-19 infection while performing their medical duties. Thus, they will not be able to appear for NEET PG.

3. Lockdown and restrictions have been imposed by states across the country. Thus, candidates will face difficulty in reaching the NEET PG 2021 exam centre.

4. Delhi alone in the last 24 hours have recorded 17,000 COVID-19 cases and 100 deaths. Conducting an exam in such conditions is a risk to the life of NEET PG 2021 test takers.

What does NBE have to say on the postponement of NEET PG 2021

NBE on April 13, 2021, released a notice confirming that as per the directions of the MoHFW, the NEET PG exam will not be postponed. NEET PG 2021 exam date is April 18. NBE has started releasing the NEET PG admit card 2021 at nbe.edu.in. Along with the admit card of NEET PG 2021, a COVID e-pass is being issued to candidates for free movement amid travel restrictions.

This copy has been edited to update latest information

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