The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test - Post Graduate (NEET PG) exam has been postponed due to the rapid surge in the COVID-19 cases in the country.
"In light of the surge in COVID-19 cases, Government of India has decided to postpone the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test-Postgraduate exam which was earlier scheduled to be held on April 18. Next date to be decided later," said Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan.
Doctors move Supreme Court For Postponement of NEET PG exam
Earlier, a petition was filed by nine doctors seeking the postponement of the exam." The (NEET PG) examination was initially scheduled for January 2021 but stood postponed due to COVID situation which was far better than the present situation with over 1 lakh cases per day," the petition stated.
The plea also mentioned the cancellation and postponement of the CBSE class 10 and 12 exams respectively. Besides that, the petition also challenged para 8 of the notification which prohibits COVID-19 positive candidates from giving the exam. The petitioners said that such candidates should be allowed to give the exam later in the future.
The petition mentioned that conducting the NEET PG exam was against the public interest as the country is running short of doctors, hospital beds, and COVID-19 vaccines. The petitioners said that an event with 30 people is "a super spreader event increases the risk of COVID-19 transmission."
The Supreme Court will be hearing the petition on Friday, April 16.
Several politicians such as DMK chief MK Stalin have supported the postponement of the NEET PG exam. "CBSE exams have now got cancelled due to the second wave of #COVID19. With increasing cases and fatalities, when our doctors are fighting hard against all odds, is this the right time to hold National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) for PG courses?" Stalin tweeted.
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