The NEET-PG for admission to post-graduate medical courses in India will be held in computerized online mode on April 18. The results are to be announced on May 31. Applications for the test, conducted by the National Board of Examinations, can be submitted till March 15 on its websites www.nbe.edu.in / www.natboard.edu.in
Meanwhile, it was informed that the counselling handbook would be published later. The rank secured by candidates in the test would be the basis for admissions to the 50 per cent all-India quota PG seats in the government medical colleges in all states and union territories, the state quota seats, private medical colleges and institutions, deemed universities and Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune. MD, MS, PG Diploma, Post-MBBS DNB / NBE are the courses covered.
Things to note
However, the rank in NEET-PG exam will not be considered for admission to the following institutions: AIIMS at New Delhi and other places; JIPMER, Puducherry; NIMHANS, Bengaluru; PGIMR, Chandigarh and Sri Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram.
Candidates also need to note that they cannot obtain admission to Medical PG courses based on the rank obtained in the NEET-PG exam alone but also have to satisfy certain other conditions and clear a medical test.
Other conditions for applying include passing the MBBS course and completing the internship before June 30, 2021. Moreover, candidates should have done their medical commission registration.
Those who have secured their MBBS degree from abroad have to meet certain other special conditions also.
Kerala centres unavailable
Meanwhile, some candidates from Kerala have said that there were several discrepancies in the registration process of the exam. According to them, exam centres in Kerala could not be chosen and only places in other states were available.
However, the authorities said the total number of exam centres countrywide has been raised to 255 this time from last year’s 165. There are centres in all districts of Kerala, except Wayanad, they added.
Exam pattern changed
Candidates have also raised concerns over the change in exam pattern for the upcoming test. While till last year, there were 300 questions and 1,200 marks, this time there would be only 200 questions and a total score of 800.
Fee hike
The application fee too has witnessed a hike. It is now Rs 5,015 for general candidates and Rs 3,835 for Scheduled categories, up from Rs 3,750 and Rs 2,750 respectively.