NEET UG Must Be Held in CBT Mode: FAIMA VP Sandeep Dagar

In an exclusive interview with Shiksha.com, the vice president of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), Dr Sandeep Dagar, shared his insights on NEET UG controversy, NEET PG exam date postponement and NExT (National Exit Test) exam. Read the important highlights of the interview with FAIMA Vice President Dr Sandeep Dagar here...

Q. Do you think NEET PG 2024 postponement a night before the exam date was justified?

Dr. Dagar: No, not at all. It has deeply affected the mental and financial health of students. Many students travel from far away to appear for the entrance examination. This was unfair to the students.

Q. What is the expected date for NEET PG 2024?

Dr. Dagar: As per the NBE officials, it is expected that the NEET PG 2024 revised exam date will be out this week. It is expected that the examination will be held in August. However, students must be given enough time to make arrangements for themselves so that they can prepare better for the examination. Besides, we expect the authorities to take all precautionary measures to ensure error-free examination.

Q. What are your suggestions to the government and exam conducting body to restore the faith of millions of students which has been eroded by the recent question paper leak case in the NEET exam?

Dr. Dagar: Firstly, the culprits must be put behind bars. A strict and fair enquiry shall be conducted to restore the faith of applicants in the government, the exam conducting body and the examination process. The exam conducting body must ensure that strict actions are taken against the officials who have any involvement in the NEET paper leak controversy. Besides, NEET UG shall be conducted in online mode to ensure fair conduct of the examination. This will not only ensure transparency in the examination but also will reduce costs and promote digitalisation in India.

Q. How do you look at the NEET 2024 result controversy? What according to you steps should be taken to avoid rigging in the NEET examination?

Dr. Dagar: The NEET result controversy has deeply affected the students and stakeholders. Besides, the provision of grace marks, which was not even mentioned in the brochure or any notification, is ethically wrong. The time loss shall be compensated with extra time rather than providing grace marks to a few students. The future of India is dependent on these young brilliant students. The government have to ensure that nothing wrong shall happen with the future of India. Due to such reasons, many students are planning to shift abroad to study. 

Q. How to retain medical aspirants to study in India? 

Dr. Dagar: Firstly, the entrance examination must be conducted in a fair manner to restore the faith of aspirants. NExT, strict laws shall be made against the violence against medicos and other medical staff. Besides, the curriculum of undergraduate medical programmes i.e. MBBS and BDS must be modified according to the current requirements. Further, the pressure on medical students must be reduced. Every other day, we hear about students committing suicide because of the extreme pressure of studies and working hours in their internships. All these things shall be regulated at the earliest.

Q. NEET SS 2024 exam is likely to be conducted in January 2025. Is this true? As FAIMA has shared this on their Twitter handle 

Dr. Dagar: The decision to conduct the NEET SS exam in January 2025 has been taken by the NBE (National Board of Examinations), NMC (National Medical Commission) and respective stakeholders. We have urged the authorities to conduct the exam on time as this affects the complete year of the aspirants. For example, NEET PG has been postponed for three times in a row. This has not only created problems for the students but also the upcoming counselling dates will be hampered. Hence, we urge the exam conducting body to conduct NEET SS timely examination for the betterment of students. 

Q. What is your perspective about the NExT (National Exit Test) exam?

Dr. Dagar: The NExT examination will be implemented from the academic year 2025. The examination will be conducted to offer a one-nation-one exam for PG students. This exam will be one step ahead and will have updated provisions where both postgraduate and foreign medical students’s interests will be taken care of and an advanced curriculum will be offered.  

However, the examination conducting authorities have to ensure the exam is error-free. The provision of the NExT exam has been introduced for postgraduate medical students. Hence, the authorities must take suggestions and views from the students and stakeholders to ensure everything is put in place in the correct manner. Besides, the NEET UG exam has been in controversy due to exam paper leaks, results and grace mark discrepancies. We expect the government will take enough time to ensure nothing goes wrong with the NExT exam. 

Read more:

• NEET 2025 Likely To Be Held in CBT Mode; Official Confirmation Awaited
• NEET PG 2024 Likely To be Conducted in August, Official Announcement Awaited