After a lot of dissent over the postponement of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2021, the officials of the ministry of education have stated that the concerned examination will not be postponed. The demands for rescheduling were because of the back to back examinations in and around the time of the NEET 2021 exam. The date for the NEET UG examination which is September 12, 2021, remains unchanged.
As per a Times of India report, the officials have stated that bringing changes in the NEET 2021 dates will only result in deferment of the examination by at least 60 to 70 days. However, this prolonged delay will only be due to logistical issues. In case any other uncertainty turns up, then there is a possibility of prolonged delay. Hence, the only decision that deems fit is not to postpone the NEET 2021 exam.
The demands for the postponement of the test were due to the fact that there is no gap between NEET and other exams. For instance, AP EAMCET Agriculture and Pharmacy exams are scheduled on September 03, 06 and 07, 2021. On the other hand, the CBSE Mathematics compartment examination is scheduled for September 13, 2021. Likewise, the COMEDK UGET examination will be held on September 14, 2021.
Another reason why a section of students was demanding the postponement of NEET 2021 is that they require more time for preparation as the examination pattern has been modified. Previously, the exam was scheduled for August 01, 2021, but ultimately got postponed. The TOI report says that as per the ministry official, NEET 2021 is going to be conducted on its existing schedule. The official also mentioned that NEET-UG is a high-stake examination that involves a lot of logistics. Although it is going to be a single-day examination, the amount of time required to make arrangements for the same is close to three months.
The official added that keeping in mind the unprecedented situation, the scheduled date seems to be the best for holding the exam. Consequently, the admission process will also start without much delay. Earlier, medical experts have already suggested that the third wave of the COVID-19 outbreak can hit any time between September to October. If that happens, then there would be a great demand for doctors in the country. Thus, missing out on anyone batch of doctors can also impact the healthcare system of the country. This year, a total of 16.1 lakh candidates have registered for NEET. The examination will be held with proper adherence to COVID-19 protocols.
