NEET PG 2024 Counselling Delay: Forty days after the NEET PG 2024 counselling registration started, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is yet to publish the official counselling schedule on its website, mcc.nic.in. With the Supreme Court extending the NEET PG hearing to November 19, medical aspirants are frustrated and question the authority’s commitment to respecting its healthcare professionals.
Exam held, results declared, and yet counselling nowhere in sight
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for postgraduate courses, held on August 11 following multiple delays, saw results declared on August 23 for the over 216,000 candidates who sat for the exam. Concerns over discrepancies, such as an unusually high increase in top scores and unexpectedly low marks for candidates in the second shift, prompted 19 aspirants to file a petition against the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), demanding transparency through the publication of the answer key and raw scores.
As students call for help, medical associations back them
Dr Datta, President of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), highlighted the ongoing frustration among students and medical associations. Sharing an update on X (formerly Twitter) on October 26, Dr Datta reported that FAIMA has received multiple appeals from aspirants and resident doctors requesting intervention.
He stated, “We have spoken to our executives, a few aspirants and contacts in the NBE to figure out an amicable solution to this impasse.” Dr. Datta expressed concern that the situation could worsen without a resolution and urged those directly involved in the issue to unite in addressing the delays and errors in the process.
Is this a joke: Students air frustrations over social media
As the prolonged delay continues, some students have resorted to social media to voice their frustrations through memes and satirical posts. One post reads, “Guys, match fixing chal rahi hai NBE ki taraf se. Tabhi itna time lag raha hai counselling main. Kya lagta hai?”—translated as “Guys, match-fixing seems to be going on by the NBE. That’s why the counselling is taking so long. What do you think?” Another asks, “Ye kya mazak ho Raha hai humare saath?”—or, “What is this joke they’re playing on us?”
Another user outlined the prolonged process: “From March to November: The NEET PG 2024 exam on August 11th, and now, 4 rounds of ‘counseling case hearings’—1st hearing: Sept 27, 2nd: Oct 4, 3rd: Oct 25, 4th: Nov 19. Nearly a year wasted. Does India really value its doctors?”
Medical Experts Speak Out on India’s ‘Counselling Conundrum’
Among the critical voices is Dr. Meet Ghonia, National Secretary of FORDA India, who highlighted the timeline from the original NEET PG date in June, through the August results, to the current waiting period in October, stating, “Thousands of doctors are left waiting for counselling without any employment.” Dr. Ghonia emphasized the need for healthcare administrators with medical expertise to address systemic issues in PG medical admissions.
From March to November, NEET PG’s long road to nowhere: When will the wait end?
Orthopedic surgeon and FAIMA patron, Dr. Rohan Krishnan, echoed these sentiments, urging the MCC and Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) to initiate the counselling process without further delay. “Any delay is going to ruin the hard work and mental peace of students who had worked hard,” Dr. Krishnan shared, adding that a six-month gap between exam and admission dates should not become the norm due to administrative issues.
