“Students Are Still Being Sent Faraway…”: Shashi Tharoor On NEET PG Students’ Harrowing Plights
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) is set to release the admit cards for the NEET PG 2024 entrance examination tomorrow, August 8, with the exam scheduled to take place on August 11. Despite the nearing exam date, many candidates continue to express their frustrations over the distant and inconvenient exam centers assigned to them. The situation has sparked widespread concern and criticism, particularly from political leaders like Shashi Tharoor.
Shashi Tharoor, in response to the mounting complaints from students, has voiced his strong disapproval of the way the examination process is being handled. He noted that after MPs from Kerala met with JP Nadda, the issue was resolved for candidates from the state. However, Tharoor pointed out that students from other parts of India have not been as fortunate. He emphasized that many students are still being sent to exam centers located far from their homes, with some distances spanning thousands of kilometers. Tharoor expressed concern over the challenges these students face, including the current weather conditions, difficulties in securing tickets, a shortage of affordable accommodation, and concerns over their safety and security.
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Tharoor stressed that if India is going to have a national examination, there should be enough authorised centers in every state to ensure that students can take their exams at locations easily accessible from their places of education or residence. He remarked, “Students are still being sent faraway distances, some even spanning thousands of kilometers,” highlighting the ongoing issue. Tharoor further argued that the current situation places these aspiring doctors in an untenable position, as they have to navigate these challenges in addition to the stress of preparing for a highly competitive exam.
I am deluged with representations and am convinced there is a major problem here. After Kerala MPs met @JPNadda he resolved the issue for candidates from our state. But the rest of India has not been so lucky.
Students are still being sent faraway distances, some even spanning… https://t.co/f5hFXbuJTH
— Shashi Tharoor (@ShashiTharoor) August 7, 2024
Moreover, Tharoor raised serious concerns about the announced two-shift examination, where two different papers will be administered in two shifts, followed by the “normalisation” or standardisation of results. He warned that such a process is prone to confusion and could lead to allegations of manipulation. Tharoor stated, “The whole idea of a national exam is vitiated unless it is one exam on one date everywhere throughout the country,” stressing the need for a fair and transparent examination process.
Tharoor concluded his remarks with a direct appeal to the authorities, urging them to protect the interests of future medical specialists. He implored, “Minister Sahib, please save our future medical specialists from this torture,” reflecting the urgency of the situation and the potential impact on the lives and careers of thousands of students.
The discontent among students has been further fueled by the inconsistent communication regarding exam center allocations. While some candidates received revised city slips on August 4, many others have either not received any communication or have been reassigned to less favorable locations. Reports indicate that some students have been assigned centers in flood-affected areas of Kerala, exacerbating the challenges they face.
In light of these issues, the NBEMS has reportedly decided to add more examination centers, which could result in further revisions to city slips. The board explained that due to security concerns, private exam centers have been removed from the list, leading to the assignment of distant centers. Even within the same states, some students will need to travel 100-150 kilometers to reach their exam centers, as noted by the examination board.
Amidst the chaos, a confidential letter signed by Dr. Abhijeet Sen, President of NBEMS, has surfaced on social media, revealing details about the examination cities, centers, and the number of candidates. According to the letter, a total of 228,542 candidates will take the NEET PG 2024 exam at 376 centers across 169 cities. The letter, directed to District Administrations, seeks support for the smooth conduct of the examination, but it has done little to assuage the concerns of affected students and their families.
