Keeping in view of the bad experience from the alleged irregularities in PG Medical entrance test last year, the NTR Health University (NTRUHS) in Andhra Pradesh has been taking a series of precautionary measures for the smooth conduct of the exams for the current academic year.

Last year the university had faced allegations regarding irregularities in the PG medical entrance test as there was no transparency. This year, as the Medical PG entrance test is scheduled to be held on March 11, the university has decided to issue the key a day after examination as an effort to bring in transparency.

Many aspiring PG students last year had complained that the medical entrance test was rigged to benefit a section of candidates, while students who expected good ranks did not even qualify.

In view of allegations the university authorities have also decided to upload OMR answer sheets of the candidates on the website as soon as the results are announced on March 23. The officials feel that these changes will definitely ensure transparency and confidence among the aspiring student community.

This year there have been 12,996 candidates registered for the entrance test. According to university officials, the number of students who are registering for the PG entrance test is increasing every year while there are only limited seats available in the state.

“All precautionary measures have been taken to check copying and impersonation cases this year,” said, vice chancellor professor I V Rao.

Over the past few years, the PG medical entrance test has faced controversies due to non-transparent methods followed in conducting the examination. Claiming that the exam procedure had loopholes that led to irregularities, hundreds of medicos in medical colleges across the state last year sought that the examination should be conducted again.

Taking a note of the allegations, the state government had constituted a committee to look into the issue. The committee subsequently recommended that the university should adopt more transparent measures. The university has established 16 centres in eight cities across the state.

There are about 800 post graduate seats in the state, while the demand is increasing every passing year. Taking this as an advantage, the private medical colleges are charging up to Rs.1 crore for the management quota as donations and capitation fee from the aspiring candidates.