Application for NEET-PG Entrance Exam

The first day of the application process for NEET-PG entrance examination for admissions to post-graduate medical seats, started on a chaotic note. Not only did the online registration for the examination was glitch-ridden, candidates also complained that the bank they were meant to pay up the examination fee was ill-equipped to handle the huge rush. The procedure to register for NEET requires candidates to first pay up the examination fee at an Axis bank branch (three branches in the city have been notified) and then register for the examination online, using the voucher given to them by the bank. However, candidates said they had faced problems on both counts. While many students had a problem at the bank as they were unable to get vouchers, most complained of problems during online registration. About 80,000 to 1 lakh candidates are expected to write the newly-introduced PG entrance examination from across the country. An estimated 15,000 candidates will be writing the examination from the state. The website for registration was inaccessible for most candidates in the city as the server was down due to overload. NEET-PG exam registration is being held from October 4 to November 12. The examination dates are from November 23 to December 6. Candidates who managed to register themselves for the computer-based examination said that they could not opt for test centres within the state or in neighbouring states. While there are three test centres in the state including two in Hyderabad and one in Vizag, the only available options for several test takers from the state were Guwahati, Patna and Raipur. Worried candidates stated that NEET-PG, which comes under the purview of National Board of Examination, is the only entrance examination for higher studies in medical education that would guarantee an MD. "The Centre has done away with all the state-level medical PG examinations and hence, NEET is the only chance to get an MD. As there is too much at stake, all candidates are worried about the technical glitches on the first day of registration as they fear that such glitches could surface even on the examination day," said a candidate on the condition of anonymity. Testing company Prometric is responsible for the online registration of candidates and also for the conduct of NEET-PG examination. Prometric also conducts computer-based Common Admission Test (CAT) for admissions into B schools. Candidates said that Prometric has been rather vague about various aspects of the examination including scoring. "There is no clarity on the syllabus for NEET. Besides, in spite of repeated queries from candidates, Prometric has not revealed the process of scoring though they have vaguely referred to an 'equating and scaling' process of evaluation," said a candidate. The national board of examination had announced that NEET-PG will be held in January, 2013, however, the examination was advanced to November, candidates rued. "We were given hardly any time to prepare for the examination. It's the moral responsibility of the central government to make sure that no errors creep into the conduct of NEET-PG," said a candidate.