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Thousands of medical aspirants from Kerala set to appear for the NEET-PG 2025 exam have been plunged into distress after being allotted examination centres in faraway cities in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, with many struggling to make last-minute travel and accommodation arrangements.
20,000+ Students Impacted
Kerala sees approximately 20,000 to 24,000 candidates take the NEET-PG exam each year. Despite having 13 designated centres across the state, a significant number of students this year have found themselves assigned to remote locations—often over 1,000km away. Traditionally, some have opted for nearby centres in Tamil Nadu, but the allocation of seats as far as Sathupally in Telangana has caught many off guard.
Anxiety and Logistical Challenges
For students like Anjali Ravindran from Sree Gokulam Medical College in Thiruvananthapuram, the surprise was severe. “When this happened, we had to go into the NBE’s portal and give our option for the exam centre again. We get to give only one option for the exam centre, which is supposed to be allocated on a first-come-first-served basis. Three of us who gave Palakkad as our option were allotted Sathupally in Telangana,” she explained. Travel to Sathupally involves challenging logistics and poor connectivity, further aggravating the students’ already high stress levels at a critical time.
Some students managed to secure seats in preferred or nearby cities, but the process appeared unpredictable. Many, especially those from economically weaker backgrounds and young mothers, now face steep expenses and logistical hurdles just to sit for this high-stakes exam.
Appeals and Official Response
The Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors’ Network (IMA JDN) has written to Union Health Minister JP Nadda, highlighting the hardship caused, especially for disadvantaged candidates. The IMA JDN stressed that uneven distance requirements among candidates not only impose financial and mental strain but also create an unfair testing environment.
Advocates are urging the National Board of Examinations for Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to reconsider and reopen the portal, allowing students to reselect centres closer to home.
Background: Exam Date and Centre Controversy
Originally set for June 15, the NEET-PG exam was to be held in two shifts, a move legally challenged for its arbitrariness. Following Supreme Court intervention, the exam was rescheduled to August 3 and unified into a single shift. The subsequent reallocation process, intended to streamline logistics, has instead created confusion and hardship for many aspirants.
Calls for Systemic Reform
Experts and students alike argue that the NBEMS, familiar with annual candidate volumes, should better anticipate and plan centre allotments to avoid such scenarios. “They should plan ahead so that there are adequate exam centres in every State for the students,” said Dr. Sreejith N Kumar, Chairman of the IMA-JDN Standing Committee.
Disclaimer: This article is based on initial reports and student testimonies. Details may evolve as authorities respond to the ongoing situation, and readers are encouraged to consult official channels for the latest updates.
