Jaipur: NEET-PG candidates in Rajasthan have called on the state medical council to urgently release the merit list to proceed with the choice-filling process. They are also opposing the recent hike in the security deposit, urging its revision.
As per the official schedule, the last date for choice filling is November 23. The council’s decision to increase the security deposit for government, management, and private seats has further sparked resistance among the candidates.
Merit List Concerns
The NEET-PG 2024 exam, conducted on August 11, had its results declared on August 23. While many states have completed their merit list publication and counselling processes, Rajasthan lags behind.
Despite the official timeline specifying a provisional merit list release on November 18, candidates allege it has not been issued yet. They fear that without the merit list, they cannot make informed choices for departments or colleges, risking seat allocation.
“November 23 is the deadline, and we are clueless about the merit list,” said Dr. Suresh Bhati, an in-service doctor. “I aim for the medicine department at SMS Medical College but need to know if my merit aligns. If not, I would consider Jodhpur or Bikaner.”
Similarly, Dr. Rakesh Dhari expressed frustration, highlighting that typically the state prospectus, merit list, and seat matrix precede choice filling. “This year, the sequence is reversed, leaving us confused about which branch or college we may get,” he remarked.
Security Deposit Hike
The council has significantly increased the security deposit to ₹1,00,000 for government seats, ₹2,00,000 for management seats, and ₹5,00,000 for private seats. If a candidate does not join the allotted institution in Round 2 or later, the deposit will be forfeited.
This marks a stark rise from the 2023 deposit range of ₹12,500–₹30,000 for government and management seats, and ₹2,00,000 for private seats.
All Rajasthan MBBS Doctors Association (ARMDA) President Dr. Vinod Sharma Bagda has formally requested a revision of the deposit hike. In a letter dated November 19, Dr. Bagda noted, “The security deposit is unfair, especially when All-India NEET PG 2024 is charging only ₹25,000 for participation.”
Twitter Protest
In response to the merit list delay and deposit hike, candidates organized a social media campaign on X (formerly Twitter) at 11 AM on November 22, using hashtags like #RajasthanNEETPG2024 and #CounsellingWithoutRank.
Through this protest, medicos have appealed to authorities for an immediate release of the merit list and reconsideration of the security deposit, emphasizing the undue stress and confusion caused by these delays and decisions.
