
After a National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2024 candidate alleged that their seat, allotted during the first round of All India Quota (AIQ) counselling, was unexpectedly withdrawn by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the exam conducting body has clarified that the decision was taken due to faculty shortage.
Speaking to EdexLive, a member of NBEMS said, “There were some issues with the management and the department’s faculty, and for some reason, two of the department’s senior faculty members resigned unexpectedly in December 2024. Despite being given the opportunity to recruit replacements, the department failed to do so in time. As a result, they have been penalised and barred from participating in NEET counselling for one year.”
As reported earlier by EdexLive, a NEET-PG candidate alleged that he received an email from the NBEMS on January 13, stating that the Diplomate of National Board (DNB) seat allotted to him in Ruby General Hospital, Kolkata, for General Surgery was withdrawn from the NEET-PG 2024 counselling process.
“Accordingly, your candidature for the allotted seat has been cancelled as the said seat no longer exists. This information has already been communicated to MCC, which has been requested to facilitate your participation in the Third Round of the Counseling which is already in progress,” the email read.
The incident quickly drew criticism from members of the medical community, who criticised the exam-conducting body for what they perceived as an arbitrary decision.
The NBEMS member said that such penalties are rare and imposed only in unavoidable circumstances.
The official added, “This is an exceptional situation and occurs only in rare, unavoidable cases. However, candidates need not worry, as they will be assured a good seat in the next counselling round.”