Matter taken up for resolution: Minister
Irfan Tramboo
Srinagar, May 19: With NEET-PG 2025 set to be held next month, Kashmir-based aspirants today demanded more test centres to avoid travelling to Jammu or outside J&K for the exam.
As the test centres are allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis, those in J&K have been set up in Jammu, Srinagar, and Samba, likely to leave many candidates with no option but to travel.
“This will displace students and burden them with transportation costs, accommodation expenses, and significant mental stress,” the aspirants said in a letter highlighting the issue.
One of the aspirants from South Kashmir, who spoke to Excelsior on anonymity, said that he has been allotted Samba test centre. He noted that there are many who will appear in the test in Delhi.
The examination, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), is scheduled to be held across the country on June 15 in morning and afternoon shifts at 179 centres.
However, according to the aspirants, the NBEMS has allotted only a few centres in Kashmir for the exam, which is a Computer-Based Test (CBT).
“The limited number of examination centres will leave many with no choice but to opt for test centres outside J&K, adding to the challenges they already face,” they said.
The aspirants said that due to the absence of sufficient examination centres, Kashmir-based students will be forced to travel to Jammu and other places amid intense heat, which, they said, not only consumes more time but also imposes financial and psychological burdens.
They expressed hope that the issue would be addressed and more examination centres would be established in various districts to accommodate a larger number of aspirants, as was done for the NEET-UG examination held earlier.
Meanwhile, Minister of Health & Medical Education (H\&ME) Department, Sakeena Itoo, told ‘Excelsior’ that she has directed the Secretary of the H&ME Department to take up the matter with the concerned authorities for resolution.
“It is an issue and we are aware of it. I have directed the concerned officials to take up the matter so that it is resolved,” she said.
Notably, the application process for the exam, which began on April 17, has already concluded. The issuance of admit cards is scheduled for June 11, and results are expected to be declared on the same day as the examination.
As per NBEMS guidelines, the board may add or remove test cities for logistical or administrative reasons and that the final venues will be mentioned in admit cards, with allotments made on a first-come, first-served basis depending on availability.
Guidelines note that candidates selecting ‘Others’ may be assigned centres anywhere in India if seats are unavailable in their preferred locations.
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