‘Postpone NEET PG 2023’: Over 7,000 sign online petition to defer exam

NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET PG) aspirants set to write the upcoming PG entrance exam are demanding the postponement of exam. Taking to Twitter, aspirants have been urging postponement using #PostponeNEETPG2023 and #NEETPG2023.

The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has also asked the union health minister Mansukh Mandaviya to postpone NEET PG 2023 by two to three months. NEET PG 2023 is scheduled to be held on March 5. IMA said that the candidates who are doing their mandatory internship are not provided sufficient time for preparation.

Also Read | IMA asks union health minister to postpone NEET PG 2023 by 2-3 months

A group of aspirants has posted a petition on Change.org seeking the postponement of NEET PG exams. Over 7,000 candidates have signed the petition till the filing of this news.

As per the text of the petition, NBE has released a notice stating that interns finishing their internship till August can also participate in the exam on 5th March, which obviously indicates counseling will not happen before August.

According to this, the petition added: “If we give exam on 5th March and counseling happens in August..then we have to idly waste our 5 to 6 months, that is almost half a year. This will cause injustice to us and we will lose our valuable time.”

“..Instead of wasting our time waiting for 5-6 months,we want to utilise it studying so that by mere postponing exam, counseling can be held within 1month,” it added.

A Twitter user seeking postponement said: “..This would lead to a 5 month delay b/w the results and counselling, which will add to the frustration. Better to postpone.”

Earlier, I wasn’t too keen on #neetpg23postponment but now that eligibility has been extended till Aug, means that session can’t start before Sept. This would lead to a 5 month delay b/w the results & counselling, which will add to the frustration. Better to postpone. (1/2)

— Rohan Khandelwal (@docrohan) February 8, 2023

Another user pointed out that holding exams now in March and counselling six months later will only lead to improper utilisation of time.

That's what we are saying
Don't promote laziness but making a gap of 6 months from exam to counseling
We have to actively utilise the time?#PostponeNEETPG2023 #NEETPG2023#neetpg23postponment

— Dr. Jagruthi (@JagruthiCheruk1) February 8, 2023

The health ministry on Tuesday, February 7 extended the cut-off date for mandatory internship from June 30 to August 11, 2023. This is the second time, the NEET PG mandatory internship cut-off date has been revised. Earlier, it was revised from March 31, 2023 to June 30, 2023. Candidates fulfilling the eligibility as per the revised internship cut-off date pf August 11 can apply online for NEET PG 2023 at natboard.edu.in between February 9 (3 pm) and February 12 (11:55 pm).