Aspirants asked to write AIIMS entrance in Covid-hit Chittoor

Aspirants asked to write AIIMS entrance in Covid-hit Chittoor

TIMES NEWS NETWORK

Chennai: 16.11.2020

Many medical aspirants in the city who have applied for the combined entrance test conducted by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) were surprised on Saturday as many of them were allotted exam centres in Covid-hit Chittoor in Andhra Pradesh, some 160km from Chennai.

AIIMS is conducting Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test (INICET) for admission to PG courses (MD/MS/MCh/DM/ MDS)in AIIMS-NewDelhi and other new AIIMS, Jipmer, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS-Bengaluru. For January 2021 intake, a computerbased test is being conducted on November 20 across the country.

Hundreds of MBBS doctors apply for the exam to join these prestigious medical institutions.

“The admit cards were released on Saturday for the online exam. Most doctors from Chennai had been allotted various centres at Chittoor. Chittoor has recorded a greater number of Covid cases recently and it would be a big risk for parents and candidates,” said Shameem, a parent in the city.

More than 10 cities in Tamil Nadu including Chennai, Coimbatore, Salem, Erode, Dindigul are conducting the exam this year.

“There is no bus or train transport from Chennai to Chittoor. Doctors are advising us to stay at Chittoor. We are not sure whether to write the exam or skip it,” said Kaleemudeen, another parent.

He said the parents of PG aspirants are mostly senior citizens and cannot afford to travel during the pandemic.

“Usually, students from smaller towns used to come and write the exams in bigger cities. But this time it is reversed. Chennai has several colleges in and around the city which can host the exam. AIIMS should change the venue for PG medical aspirants and allotthem tothecitiesin which they preferred,” he said.

Another parent, Lakshmi, said her daughter registered on the first day and gave option as Chennai city. But she got an exam centre in Chittoor. “During the pandemic, the exam centres have been allotted in faraway places for the students. A candidate from Cuddalore got an exam centre in Dindigul and another candidate from Ariyalur got an exam centre in Thiruvannamalai,” she said.

AIIMS is conducting INI-CET for admission to PG courses in AIIMS, Jipmer, PGIMER Chandigarh, NIMHANS-Bengaluru