IMA Appeals to PM Modi for Extra NEET Attempt for COVID-19 Affected Medical Students

Extra NEET Attempt for COVID Affected Medical Students: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has called upon Prime Minister Narendra Modi to provide assistance to medical students adversely affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. By allowing an additional attempt for the NEET PG and NEET UG examinations. In a correspondence directed to the Prime Minister, the IMA, which represents over 400,000 medical professionals, underscored the difficulties encountered by these students. Many of them served as ‘frontline COVID Warriors’, managing the dual responsibilities of their academic pursuits and pandemic-related duties.

In its correspondence, the IMA stressed the considerable disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. This impeded students’ ability to adequately prepare for medical entrance examinations. To remedy this situation, the association has proposed a one-time additional attempt for these examinations. Along with age relaxation, to ensure equitable treatment for all affected candidates. The letter articulated, “The pandemic presented unprecedented challenges across all sectors, particularly in healthcare. During this critical period, numerous medical students, while discharging their duties as COVID warriors. Encountered significant obstacles in balancing their academic obligations. Many were unable to sufficiently prepare for their examinations due to the substantial demands and disruptions caused by the pandemic.”

Extra NEET Attempt: IMA’s Proposed Compensatory Measures

The IMA has delineated the following recommendations in its letter:

1. Policy support for COVID warriors: Implement policies that acknowledge and commend the contributions of aspirants who served as ‘COVID warriors’. These policies should offer enhanced support to assist them in pursuing and maintaining their medical career goals.
2. One-time extra attempt and age relaxation: Provide an additional attempt for medical entrance examinations. Such as NEET-PG/UG and other central-level medical assessments. This initiative aims to ensure fairness and equal opportunities for all candidates impacted by the pandemic.

NEET PG 2024 Cutoff Reduced

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has adjusted the NEET PG 2024 cut-off percentiles in accordance with the instructions from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). The cut-off for the general category has been decreased to 15 percentile, whereas the cut-off for the reserved categories has been set at 10 percentile. In light of this change, the MCC is anticipated to announce a revised schedule for NEET PG 2024 in the near future.