J&K doctors seek more NEET-PG exam centres in Sgr, Jmu

Srinagar, May 23: Doctors in Jammu and Kashmir have urged the authorities to establish additional examination centres in Srinagar and Jammu for the NEET PG-2025, scheduled to be held across the country next month.
A group of aspirants told Rising Kashmir said that despite a significant increase in the number of candidates this year, there are still limited examination centres in the Union Territory.
They noted that test centres are allotted on a first-come, first-serve basis. As a result, many candidates from J&K have been assigned centres in Chandigarh, Delhi, Samba and Jammu, leaving them with no choice but to travel long distances.
An aspirant from Government Medical College (GMC) Anantnag said that around 90 percent of the aspirants have been allotted centres in Jammu, while only a few have secured centres in Srinagar.
“This time, traveling outside the Valley is a challenge, as 19 batches currently undergoing internships will be appearing for the examination. There should be exam centres here, similar to the pattern followed for JEE,” he said.
Another aspirant pointed out that while there were around 2,800 candidates last year, the number has risen to 4,000 this year and may reach 5,000 by 2026. Despite this growth, the number of examination centres remains limited, he added.
Another MBBS student from GMC Srinagar said that this year, out of 100 aspirants from the 2019 batch, only two have been allotted examination centres in Srinagar, while the remaining 98 have been assigned centres outside the city.
“We face a lot of difficulties with travel and accommodation. This is an important examination, and the centre should be in Srinagar,” he said.
The Computer-Based Test (CBT) for NEET PG-2025, conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), to determine eligibility of candidates for admission to postgraduate medical programs in govt. or private medical colleges is scheduled to be held on June 15 at 179 centres across the country.
United Doctors Front Association Bharat (UDFAB), a national doctors’ forum also expressed concern over the inadequate number of NEET Post Graduate (PG) centres in J&K.
Dr Mir Waseem, National Joint Secretary of the association said the scarcity of examination centres poses significant challenges for aspiring medical professionals in J&K and it often hinders their pursuit of higher education and specialized training.
He said despite the growing number of medical colleges and increasing pool of talented medical graduates the limited availability of examination centres necessitates long and arduous journeys for candidates to reach designated centres, often located in distant cities.
“This not only adds to the physical and mental stress of the candidates but also increases the risk of unforeseen circumstances, such as transportation disruptions or health issues, that could jeopardize their examination attempts,” Dr Waseem said.
The UDFAB has urged the Jammu and Kashmir Government to take immediate steps to address this pressing issue by increasing the number of NEET PG examination centres in the region, particularly in main cities like Srinagar and Jammu.
The association said that the establishment of dedicated examination centres at prominent medical institutions will facilitate smooth conduct of high-stakes examinations.
He said by taking these measures, the J&K Government can empower aspiring medical professionals to realize their full potential and contribute to the healthcare sector.
Earlier this month, the United Doctors Front (UDF) moved to the Supreme Court of India seeking urgent intervention in the conduct of the upcoming NEET-PG examination.