Revised exam pattern for NEET-PG Super Specialty from 2022, Centre tells SC

The current National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG Super Specialty 2021 exam will be held based on the old 2020 scheme.


The Centre told the Supreme Court on Wednesday that the revised exam pattern for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) PG Super Specialty will be implemented from next year.

This comes after the apex court had criticised the Centre for making last-minute changes in the 2021 exam pattern. The Supreme Court had slammed the Centre by saying, "Don't treat these young doctors as footballs in the game of power" and had said that they will not leave doctors in the hands of some "insensitive bureaucrats."

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud that in deference to the top court's observations and keeping in view the interest of students, the Centre has decided the revised scheme will be implemented from 2022. The current 2021 exam will be held based on the old 2020 scheme.

The top court had directed the central government to hold meetings and submit a response to the plea filed by 41 post-graduate qualified doctors who aspire to become super specialists by qualifying NEET-SS, 2021 on October 4. The exam was originally scheduled to be held in November 2021 but on October 4, the Centre had offered to postpone the exams by two months in order to give more preparatory time to students.

However, the court again questioned the need to rush the new pattern through and urged the government to reconsider the issue, following which the Centre decided to hold 2021 exams based on the old syllabus. According to the changes, 60 percent marks questions which were earlier allotted for questions from super-speciality courses, that is, two optional courses opted by the aspirant, will now be based on the general medicines.

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