Students Shouldn't Lose a Year': Parliamentary Panel Backs Multiple Annual NEET Exams

NEET-UG: In a significant move to address the heavy burden being put on students aspiring to join the field of medicine, the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare has firmly suggested that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) should be held several times a year. This suggestion was raised in the backdrop of a significant discussion on “Conduct of NEET Examinations under the NMC Act, 2019,” attended by Samajwadi Party leader Ram Gopal Yadav, with top officials from National Testing Agency (NTA) DG Abhishek Singh, Joint Secretary in charge of Higher Education Vineet Joshi, and NMC chairman Abhijat C. Sheth in attendance. 

This recommendation has arisen amid widespread criticism regarding various national entrance tests after NEET-UG exams were canceled twice in a single year. The reason for the cancellation of the first pen-paper NEET-UG test was a paper leakage, which is now scheduled to take place on June 21.

The Potential Benefits

• Lower Psychological Pressure: With more than 22 lakh aspirants fighting for medical seats, the “one shot” approach followed by NEET adds immense psychological pressure on the candidates. Allowing candidates a second or third attempt during the same academic year would greatly lower the pressure.

• Safety against Failures: In light of the recent paper leaks and irregularities at the examination centers, a cancelled NEET exam means a whole year wasted for millions of candidates. Multiple attempts would mean that any system failure or leak doesn’t affect the candidates.

• Higher Performance: Like JEE Main for engineering, having multiple exams in a year would allow candidates to sit for NEET, find out their weaker points, and raise their score without having to wait for another year.