Dr. Abhijat Sheth, President of the National Board of Examinations (NBE), has said that the new date for the NEET PG exam will be revealed “hopefully before next weekend.”
The exam was unexpectedly postponed on June 22, just hours before it was scheduled to take place. According to Dr. Sheth, the Ministry of Education (MoE) is currently reviewing a plan for the new date, and students can expect the process to conclude within two months.
Addressing the reason behind the sudden cancellation, Dr. Sheth clarified that there were no reports of a paper leak or similar issues. The postponement was due to the Ministry’s desire to reassess the robustness of the exam process and ensure its security. He emphasised that, despite the computer-based nature of the exam, which minimizes the risk of leaks, the NBE wanted to avoid any potential exploitation of students by fraudulent agents.
Dr. Sheth explained that the NEET PG exam’s CBT format makes it highly secure, with the question paper being generated just an hour before the exam starts. However, the decision to postpone was influenced by the sensitivity of the situation and previous cancellations of other exams by the National Testing Agency (NTA). The aim was to prevent any fraudulent activities that could exploit students’ anxiety.
The NBE has a strong track record of conducting NEET PG without any incidents of paper leaks, thanks to stringent Standard Operating Procedures (SoPs). Dr. Sheth highlighted that the government has suggested additional measures to further enhance the exam process, including more audits and improvements in human resources. While these new measures might take time to implement, they are intended to provide long-term benefits.
The postponement comes amid ongoing controversies surrounding the NTA, including issues with NEET UG results and allegations of paper leaks. The Ministry of Education has responded by forming an expert committee to review the NTA’s functioning and implementing exam reforms.