NExT Exam: Medicos protest in Hamirpur against exam on short notice

Many medical students in Himachal Pradesh have protested against the conduct of the National Exit Test at such short notice.

The medical students of Dr Radhakrishnan Government Medical College in Hamirpur in Himachal Pradesh staged a protest on Saturday against the decision to hold the National Exit Test (NExT) at "such short notice".

The spokesman of the agitating students has issued a statement that said competing for a national-level examination that too at such short notice while maintaining college attendance and taking classes "is unjust and we all stand together against the decision", as reported by Deccan Herald.

The protesting students are reportedly from the 2019 batch and they said that it was "a gross violation" of Section 49 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019.

"Any student who was studying for a degree, diploma or certificate in any medical institution immediately before the commencement of this Act shall continue to study and complete his course for such degree, diploma or certificate," says Section 49.

"The institution shall continue to provide instructions and examinations for such students in accordance with the syllabus and studies as existed before such commencement and such student shall be deemed to have completed his course of study under this Act and shall be awarded degree, diploma or certificate under this Act," it added.

Recently, NMC announced that the test for the 2019 batch of final year MBBS students will be held next year in two phases - NExT Step 1 and NExt Step 2. These will be tentatively held in May and November.

The protesting students have said that their protest is a nationwide agitation being held between July 1 and July 7, 2023.

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