The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2021 has been postponed for at least four months and it will not be held before August 31, 2021, the Prime Minister’s Office (PMO) said on Monday, adding that students will also be given at least one month of time to prepare for it. The postponement of the medical entrance exam for postgraduate courses is among a slew of measures approved by Prime Minister Narendra Modi to boost the availability of medical personnel in the country to fight against the devastating second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The PMO asked state, union territory governments to utilise MBBS doctors for COVID management.
“The State/UT Governments are to make all efforts to reach out to each such prospective NEET candidates and request them to join the COVID-19 workforce in this hour of need. The services of these MBBS doctors can be utilized in the management of COVID-19,” the PMO said.
“The services of Final Year MBBS students can be utilized for providing services like teleconsultation and monitoring of mild COVID cases after due orientation by and under supervision of faculty,” it added.
The PMO further said medical personnel completing 100 days of COVID duty will be given Prime Minister’s COVID National Service Samman. They will be given priority in the government recruitment.
Earlier, Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan postponed the NEET PG exam scheduled to begin on April 18.
“(The) decision has been taken keeping the well being of our young medical students in mind,” the minister had said