JP Nadda assures NEET-PG centre in Imphal: Dr Ranjan
Source: Chronicle News Service

Imphal, July 20 2024: Union health minister JP Nadda has assured reinstatement of the NEET-PG exam centre in Imphal after the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) removed it from the list of centres for the re-examination scheduled for August 11.The assurance was given to state health minister Dr Sapam Ranjan during a meeting at JP Nadda's office in the national capital on Saturday.

In a conversation with The People's Chronicle, Dr Ranjan mentioned that Chief Minister N Biren had written to JP Nadda, highlighting the difficulties students would face in traveling to other cities due to the inaccessibility of land routes on account of the current crisis in the state.

Dr Ranjan presented the same letter to the union minister.

He also briefed the union minister on the students' grievances, while assuring that adequate security arrangements would be made to ensure the smooth conduct of the entrance test, to which the union minister assured of reinstating the exam centre, Dr Ranjan said.

Earlier on Friday, Chief Minister N Biren has written a letter to union minister of health and family welfare JP Nadda urging him for inclusion of Imphal as a test centre for the upcoming NEET-PG re-examination scheduled for August 11.In the letter, CM Biren highlighted significant improvement in the law-and-order situation in the state, which has been achieved with the support of the Central government, and expressed optimism for an early resolution to the state's ongoing crisis.

CM Biren emphasised that NEET-PG examinations held annually in Imphal have consistently been conducted smoothly and without any security concerns.

However, in the recent announcement made by National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), Imphal has been excluded I from the list of centres for the re-examination, despite it being initially listed for NEET-PG 2024.The CM pointed out the difficulties that students from Manipur would face if they are required to travel outside the state for taking the examination.

The restricted free movement along the national highways and the financial burden of air travel pose significant challenges to many students.

Additionally, the state government has established necessary infrastructure for conducting online examinations with support from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

In his letter, Biren requested the union minister to personally intervene and direct the officials concerned to reinstate Imphal as a test centre.

This, he argued, would alleviate the hardships faced by aspiring medical students in Manipur and ensure they have equitable access to the NEET-PG examination.

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