NEET Demystified: What is it take to be a doctor in India

For almost a month now, the controversy over NEET has rocked the country. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Undergraduate or NEET, formerly the All India Pre Medical Test, is an Indian nationwide entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency for admission in undergraduate medical programs. NEET was previously called the All India Pre Medical Test. It is the qualifying test for MBBS and BDS programs in Indian medical and dental colleges. It was introduced in 2013 by the Central Board of Secondary Education and is now conducted by the National Testing Agency. But it has been in news for all the wrong reasons. So what really is the problem here? What is the paper leak scam? How did so many toppers emerge in the exams this time around? What is the big Bihar linked to all of this? How was the opposition raising this issue in Parliament? What is the crisis that India is facing visible students qualifying for medicine and how is that just so many students are not wanting to study medicine in India and are choosing to travel abroad for this? Why is India not a lucrative destination anymore? And what does it take to be a doctor in India? Health 360 is answering all that this week in our special broadcast. I am Siha Murdani The NEET or National Eligibility Commentrance Test is in news for the wrong reasons. With lives of lakhs of students at stake, let's do a deep dive into NEET and what it actually is. While NEET is a single level national exam carried out for medical aspirants across the country, enabling them to seek admission to medical courses in all medical institutions of India, the National Testing Agency or the NTA is in charge of conducting the exam, a role that was previously held by the Central Border School Education or CBSE. This year, over 24,00,000 students sat for the exam on the 5th of May at 4750 centers across the country. It was in the 4th of June, 10 days ahead of schedule, that NTA announced the result and that is when all hell broke loose. The controversy is over several issues including awarding of grace marks to more than 1500 students, an unusually high number of students scoring full marks, and allegations that the question paper was leaked. Controversy #1 Arbitrary grace marks. Compensatory marks were awarded to 1564 candidates due to loss of exam time. The NTA said it used a normalization formula on the grounds that these students were not allowed the full period of 3.2 hours to write the exam due to some technical problems. The NTA further went on to say it followed the same normalization formula that had been approved by the Supreme Court in CLAD exams in 2018 when a similar situation arose. However, these raise marks were later withdrawn. IS 1564 students were notified of their actual scores excluding the grace Marks and were given the option to appear for a retest. Now, only 813 of the 52% students turned up for the reexamination. For the others who opted out of the retest, the previous marks without the grace marks will be used for the results. Controversy #2 The perfect score for as many as 67 students received a perfect score of 720. Compare that to two students with full marks in the year 2023, just three in 2022, two again in 2021, one in 2026. Of the candidates who secured the top ranked wrote the exam from the same center in the state of Haryana, leading to many allegations of discrepancies there. Controversy #3 Unusually high scores. Further, some students were awarded marks of 700 and 18719, which critics say are mathematically impossible because of needs mocking scheme. Each question carries 4 Marks and there is negative marking for wrong answers. Petitions filed in the Supreme Court called these marks statistically impossible. Controversy #4 Stately need paper leak allegations are proving to be correct with a big racket being busted in Bihar. With this case now taking a political turn, the Center has tasked the CBI to take over the investigation. Despite a raging controversy, the Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan has ruled out canceling the medical examination, citing lakhs of students who cleared the examination rightfully. Controversy #5 Technical glitches Several candidates also reported technical issues such as computer malfunctions, Internet connectivity problems which disrupted their exam experience. Many allege that these issues created an uneven playing field impacting their performance. So the NTA has denied any irregularities on their part. Its explained that the outstanding results were influenced by several factors. Higher number of students is one an easy exam questions with dual correct answers and the allocation of grace marks for time lost during the exam. What has the government said so far? With students and parents up in arms, the government has notified a stringent law the aims to curtail malpractices and irregularities and competitive examinations. The Public Examinations Prevention of Unfair Means Act, 2024 entails provisions with a maximum jail term of 10 years and a fine of up to ₹1,00,00,000 for offenders. Moreover, the government has removed NTA chiefs to both Kumar Singh and formed A7 member panel led by former ISRO chief R Radhakrishnan to make recommendations on reforms in the examination process, improvements in data security protocols and the structure and functioning of the NTA. With the Education Minister taking responsibility and assuring strict action, all eyes are now on the Supreme Court, which is currently in the process of hearing several police filed pertaining to NEET UG 2024 exam controversy. Students have travelled far and wide to appear for NEET. Some have foot all their savings for coaching, others have led their jobs to appear for the exams. Many say this is abject failure on the part of the government and that we need is not fair. Others say we need is the need of the hour. Aishwarya with this report on what the most affected in this fiasco the students are dealing with right now at least some minute respect for the professionals who work for it and who studied all the all this time so that they are treated well at least you know, making a mockery out of us as if you know, we have no other work to do as well. I don't have a place to live anymore for the next month. I don't have A and there's no certainty when the exam is going to happen. We are almost paying more than one point 5,00,000 to all the aspirants. We are paying that amount of money after outrage over grace marks, inflated scores and fears of paper leak. Neat controversy is getting messier day by day. While undergraduate students appeared for a RE exam recently, the entrance test for NEAT postgraduates has been postponed. Amidst this chaos, many undergraduate and postgraduate aspirants are left in the lurch. Many of these aspirants have left their families and travel to different cities to prepare for NEAT, while many have sacrificed their existing jobs to become doctors. This is Doctor Sakshi who has been preparing for NEAT PG exam for a year now. She has left her home in Chhattisgarh 9 years back for MBBS and is now preparing for the NEAT exam. Even during my UG time, my drop here including all the MBBS years, I've stayed away from my home since like 8 to 9 years and this time I thought I'll join some hospital and then I'll support my family financially. I'll be there. It will be a mental peace for me and my family. Sakshi was one of those who left her job a year back so that she could prepare for neat PG. She was planning to spend some quality time with her parents after the exams but now her future is uncertain. I took the decision that need PG is also important. So I decided to leave the job. I had many good job opportunities even at my place with good amount of salary but I decided to leave the job. I decided to pursue my PG and to prepare for PG I came here. I joined a coaching institute and I took a rental room and at that time everything was planned according to 3rd March. So my plan was to stay here till 3rd March and by the end of March to go back to my place to join a hospital and to stay with my family and to support them financially, which was completely vanished because of the whole postponement thing. Her friends have faced much worse. One of my UG batch mate, he lost his father last year and he is now the only earning person of his family. And he had to he he was going through a lot of financial burden. So he la he had to take loan for purchasing all the coaching apps and to prepare for exam as well as at the same time he also had to earn for his family. So it was a huge burden for him because the coaching apps, they all have a time limit. After that they all get expired. So if you want to continue, you have to buy them one more time again. Doctor Selvin Tom from Delhi State Cancer Institute also has a similar story. The mental stress that he and his colleagues are going through can only be resolved by the government now. PG meat is what we were, you know, aspiring for, right? So like that is like this postponement happened. Like this was the 3rd postponement, I guess, because first it was to be scheduled in March and then they postponed it to July, then they preponed it to June and then the night before the exam they postponed it again. So we still haven't got any dates. And again, I'm hoping they won't even ask us to, you know, get newer centers. So again, the travel is still going to be there back and forth, and the stay is going to be there. And the pressure, the anxiety, the stress disorder, the hair loss will be there. I guess. It's irritating to an extent. It's irritating and tiresome, very much tiresome. And then mental stress is too much where you have to, you know, answer the questions to your family as well. As a grown man, you have responsibilities towards family. So yeah, Selwyn travelled to Bhatinda for training and spent more than ₹50,000 for it. The anger and frustration is just growing nowadays we take online classes and online classes are not cheap. We take around we usually spend around discount applied around 50,000 for coaching for a year 50 to 60 that goes. You know its its on based on subscription. And then again, you spend money for rapid divisions or test series where you go to that coaching institute and just give test series, you do that as well. And so and travelling included, I would say it has been around 80,000 now. Yeah, you know, since I got a centre in Bhatinda and it's very far from Delhi, so I had to travel there, stay there one day prior. So yeah, it cost me around 80,000 altogether 80 to 85,000 I would say. The future of these neat aspirants now seems to be in darkness. Amidst the neat controversy, these doctors who wanted to serve the society are now struggling with uncertainty. Is there light at the end of the tunnel with camera person Manish Cha Aishwarya Radhakrishnan for India Today? Because students are down and out, many of them disgruntled. Many of them are seeing this as the end of the road. But we rest assured this isn't. We want this message to be driven home, that this certainly isn't the only option for you. A word of advice from the experts. Yes, the uncertainty is tough. Yes, it will feel like something completely out of your control. But if it is out of your control, then you will also need to understand acceptance is your only choice and you can't stop believing in your own self. Use your effort that you've put for the past your year and a half or more that can't be taken, ability can't be taken. It's extremely important to understand that one of the most important things that they should be focusing on is trusting and believing in their own selves, their own preparation, ensuring that they treat everything else that is surrounding them as complete noise. And if you are struggling, if you feel you are feeling anxious or stressed, talk to someone, talk to your parents, talk to your family, friends. Don't hesitate to reach out to speaking to a mental health professional At the same time. For authorities involved in this, I would suggest that reduce the uncertainty and the earliest that you can, it will make it easy for students push aside a lot of the thoughts which would be creating that kind of distress or disturbance that you're having to redo the exam. Instead, focus on the fact that you may be able to get a much better result this time, but only if you will ensure that you keep looking at the right things. So get back into your schedules, get back into your routines, start taking those steps again that you had created which were previously working for you. The controversy around the National Eligibility Comment on stairs or need is just one part of a broader struggle faced by aspiring doctors in India. The numerous challenges students go through, from securing a coveted medical seat to bearing the financial burden of their education. Let's look at the numbers first. Indias Dr. to population ratio stands at 0.9 is to 1000, close to the World Health Organization standard A1 is to 1000. In spite of this, the journey to become a doctor is fraught with hurdles. Over 15,00,000 students compete for approximately 83,000 NEAT seats each year, with less than half available in government colleges. Furthermore, many of these seats are allocated through various quotas, leaving numerous deserving candidates high and dry. What about the money involved? Well, the cost of studying medicine is extremely high in India. Private Medical College fees in India can reach up to ₹1,00,00,000 for the entire course, making it an untenable option for many. The dream of donning a white coat and stethoscope comes at a steep price in India. Becoming a doctor demands not just dedication but also substantial financial investment. The journey begins with coaching expenses, which can range from one point ₹2,00,000 to ₹4,00,000 at prestigious institutions such as Akash Island of Vidya Mandir classes. The choice of coaching institute, infrastructure, faculty expertise, and location all influence the overall cost. Clearing needs does not guarantee a smooth path ahead. The exams results dictate the future of countless students vying for admission to both government and private medical colleges. Government institutions known for their subsidized fees of only 55,095 seats across 386 colleges, leaving around 42 students competing for every single seat. In contrast, private colleges offer 53,625 seats across 320 institutions, but their higher fees makes them less accessible for many. Government colleges typically charge nominal fees ranging from ₹5000 to 1.5 lakh per annum. Private institutions, however, demand between ₹12,00,000 and 25,00,000 per annum, depending on their reputation and facilities for registration. The rising cost of medical education in India have driven many students who seek alternatives abroad. Countries like Russia, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Philippines, and Bangladesh offer more affordable options. According to the 15 Finance Commission report, the number of Indian students studying medicine abroad increased from 3438 in 2015 to a whopping 12,321 in 2019, more than double. In Bangladesh, the total cost of studying medicine ranges from ₹25,00,000 to ₹40,00,000, while in the Philippines its approximately ₹35,00,000. In Russia, students can complete their medical education for about ₹20,00,000, including hostel expenses. Tamil Nadu has opposed the need since it was made compulsory in the year 2017, while this exam is seen as a threat to the states autonomy, healthcare system, social justice and educational quality. Recently, the Tamil Nadu government passed Tamil Nadu Admission to Undergraduate Medical Degree Courses Bill, 2021 to exempt the state from the National Eligibility and Entrance Test on it. But the Tamil Nadu governor has refused to give his assent to it. This has led to a deadlock between the state and the center and raised serious concerns about the future of medical education and health services in Tamil Nadu. A Tamil Nadu government has also claimed the need takes away the autonomy of states to make decisions regarding education. Pramod Madhav explains why the political course of Tamil Nadu that made an entire state hate need. The state of Tamil Nadu is considered to have a robust healthcare system with several medical colleges established. Across the state with sole aim of making healthcare available even in any remote corner. But the introduction of need led to severe backlash not just because DMK and AIADMK claim it to be anti poor but as the exam was based on CBSE syllabus which is quite different from the state syllabus. Dravidian parties have continuously battled seeking Union government to bring education from state list to concurrent list as the state only promotes two language policy, opting out Hindi instead of the three language policy. The reason behind this is that Hindi cannot be imposed in any form and to protect the identity of Tamil and other mother tongues. This examination is not a fair and just examination and we've been saying that we do not want it and Tamil Nadu has to be exempted from it and now the whole country is saying the same thing. Adding to this, even though NEET was introduced in 2014, Tamil Nad acquired exemption until 2017. But with NEET being made compulsory, it demolished the value of state board overnight, leading to the death of Anita, a medical aspirant who spearheaded the protest against need and even took the legal battle to the Supreme Court. AIADMK regime, unable to acquire exemption, decided to provide 7.5% vertical reservation for government school students. But as soon as DMK came to power, CMMK Stalin appointed a Commission headed by AK Rajan, the report stated. The need is leading to social divide especially harming children from rural background. The percentage is just oh point 3% became 48% for so far CBC is concerned 38 or 48 it goes on increasing. The 54% comes down to 24% or 28%. So drastic reduction so far. Tamil +2 examination students are concerned. This is very obvious. When you see the report, you can. It is very clear. It is crystal clear. It is. It strikes the mind for everybody. DMK has vowed to continue the battle against need until it is totally banned. Well, that brings us to the end of this edition of L 360. We hope you enjoyed watching the show as much as we did putting it together for you. You can find the story and much more up on our website. That's indiatoday dot in you can also download the India Today app news around health and Wellness information around neat and much more can also be found on a social media handles which is Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and YouTube and the entire team of L 360. Thank you so much for watching, take good care of yourself.