NEET PG 2025: MP Students Urge Health Minister, NMC for Internship Deadline Extension to August 31

Thousands of NEET PG 2025 aspirants from Madhya Pradesh face ineligibility due to delayed internship completion. Doctors have urgently appealed to the Union Health Minister and NMC to extend the Internship Deadline from July 31 to August 31, 2025. This critical extension is vital for these students to meet Eligibility Criteria for Postgraduate Medical admissions. Stay updated on this crucial development affecting Medical Internship completion.

A significant concern has emerged for a large cohort of medical students from Madhya Pradesh eyeing the NEET PG 2025 examination. Thousands of these aspiring postgraduate doctors are at risk of being rendered ineligible for the upcoming National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Postgraduate) due to their inability to complete the mandatory one-year Medical Internship by the current deadline of July 31, 2025. In a pressing move, the United Doctors Front (UDF) has formally urged the Union Health Minister, J.P. Nadda, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) to intervene and extend the Internship Deadline to August 31, 2025.

This plea highlights a critical administrative delay in the declaration of Final Year MBBS results by the Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University (MPMSU), Jabalpur, which subsequently pushed back the commencement of internships for these students. As the NEET PG 2025 examination date has already been rescheduled to August 3, 2025, from its original June 15 slot, this extension request aims to align the Eligibility Criteria with the ground realities faced by these affected students, ensuring they receive a fair opportunity in their pursuit of Postgraduate Medical education.

The Root Cause: Delayed Internships in Madhya Pradesh

The current predicament of Madhya Pradesh's NEET PG 2025 aspirants stems from an administrative lag at the university level, which has a cascading effect on their internship completion timelines.

• Delayed Result Declaration: The primary issue is the significant delay in the publication of the MBBS Final Part-II (Supplementary & Ex.) Examination results for June 2024 by MPMSU. These results were reportedly declared as late as August 16, 2024.
• Consequent Internship Commencement: As a direct consequence of the late results, the compulsory one-year Medical Internship for the affected batch (2019 MBBS batch) only commenced on or after August 19, 2024, in various affiliated colleges.
• Inability to Meet Current Deadline: With the current NEET PG 2025 Internship Deadline set by NMC at July 31, 2025, these students will naturally fall short of completing their 12-month mandatory internship period within the stipulated timeframe. This makes them ineligible to apply for NEET PG 2025, despite having cleared their final MBBS examinations.

The United Doctors Front, through its President Dr. Lakshya Mittal, emphasized that this delay was "purely administrative" and not due to any academic failure or negligence on the part of the students. Such unforeseen circumstances, beyond the control of the students, often necessitate a review of rigid Eligibility Criteria to prevent undue hardship and ensure academic parity.

The Plea for Extension: Why August 31, 2025?

The request put forth to the Union Health Minister and NMC is specific: extend the Internship Deadline to August 31, 2025. This proposed extension aims to address the immediate and pressing concerns of the affected students.

• Alignment with Actual Completion: An extension to August 31, 2025, would allow the majority of the affected students from the 2019 MBBS batch in Madhya Pradesh to successfully complete their full 12-month Medical Internship period. For those who started on August 19, 2024, their internship would ideally conclude by August 18, 2025, making an August 31 deadline feasible.
• Fair Opportunity for Aspirants: Denying these students the chance to appear for NEET PG 2025 due to administrative delays beyond their control would mean losing a crucial year in their academic and professional careers. Extending the deadline would ensure that these otherwise eligible and meritorious candidates receive a fair and equitable opportunity to compete for Postgraduate Medical seats.
• Precedent of Flexibility: In previous years, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic, similar situations arose where Internship Deadline extensions were granted to accommodate academic disruptions. While the current situation is different, the principle of providing flexibility in exceptional circumstances remains relevant.
• Rescheduling of NEET PG 2025: The recent deferral of the NEET PG 2025 exam date itself from June 15 to August 3, 2025, provides a window of opportunity for such an extension. This rescheduling, necessitated by Supreme Court directives for a single-shift exam, already pushes the exam closer to the requested new internship completion date.

The medical fraternity hopes that the NMC and MoHFW will consider the humanitarian aspect of this appeal and provide the necessary relief to these students.

The Role of NMC and the Path Forward

The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the apex regulatory body for medical education and practice in India. It is responsible for setting standards, including Eligibility Criteria for various medical examinations and courses, like Postgraduate Medical admissions through NEET PG 2025.

• Authority to Grant Extension: The NMC has the authority to issue clarifications or modifications to the Eligibility Criteria, including the Internship Deadline, if compelling reasons warrant such changes.
• Balancing Act: While the NMC aims for uniformity and strict adherence to regulations, it also historically considers genuine hardships faced by students. The challenge for the NMC lies in balancing regulatory rigor with the practical realities on the ground, especially when administrative delays are the root cause.
• Impact on Admissions Cycle: Any change in the Internship Deadline has implications for the overall NEET PG 2025 admission cycle, including the counselling process. However, a one-month extension might be accommodated, especially since the exam itself has been shifted.
• What Candidates Can Do: While waiting for an official decision, affected students should continue to monitor the official websites of NMC (nmc.org.in) and NBEMS (natboard.edu.in) for any announcements. They should also continue with their internship as per their college schedule and keep all relevant documents ready.

For aspiring medical professionals seeking information on various Medical Entrance examinations, Postgraduate Medical courses, and Eligibility Criteria across India, comprehensive resources such as Only Education's Medical Exams List can provide valuable guidance. The outcome of this appeal for an Internship Deadline extension will significantly impact the academic future of many dedicated students, and the medical community awaits a compassionate and timely response from the authorities.