Criteria revision puts Military Nursing Service aspirants in a fix

By Nandana Prem | NT

Mangaluru: Military Nursing Service (MNS) aspirants feel that they will face tough competition with the Directorate General of Medical Sciences (DGMS) raising the minimum eligibility for its upcoming MNS entrance exam.

As per the notification released by the Directorate General of Medical Services (DGMS) in the last week of April, the selection will be based on the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) score.

Till last year, those who scored 50 percent aggregate in Class 12 examination (Physics, Chemistry, Biology stream) were eligible to appear for the exam.

MNS aspirants feel that competing with those who are preparing for the tougher NEET will lower their qualification chances.

Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has extended the last date for application for NEET to May 20. However, aspirants rue that this time frame is too little, too late

Rithika S, a MNS aspirant said that she wasn’t able to qualify her previous attempt and was looking forward to clearing the exam this year. “I have been preparing for this exam for the last one year. It was very disappointing to know about the inclusion of the NEET requirement at the last minute, since I am not mentally prepared. Moreover, since I am out of town it is difficult to complete the NEET registration process now,” she said.

Aryananda K, an 18-year old aspirant, said she took a break in the academic year 2021-22 only to concentrate more on MNS 2022 preparations. “I have dropped the plan of attempting the MNS exam this year since I am unprepared for NEET 2022,” she said.

Even Smera K A from Mysuru added that she is reconsidering attempting the exam as she isn’t interested in appearing for NEET.

Sivakumar E T, a tutor of a private medical & engineering entrance coaching center in Kerala said that he is unhappy about the addition of NEET for the shortlisting process. He recalled that previously eight central universities had also decided to consider NEET results for shortlisting B.Sc Nursing students. “Ultimately, those really interested in serving in the MNS did not get their chance as NEETprepped candidates had a better opportunity . At this stage, the newly-added criteria would create unhealthy competition as it would also bring an influx of other examination aspirants regardless of their interest towards the stream,” he said.

He added that it is better to select students for a particular course based on the earlier qualification, so that students can compete from the same level.

Meanwhile, proprietor of Thalassery (Kerala) based MNS coaching center said these policies are decided and updated by the Central Government and the Indian Army from time to time. “We can discuss such matters, but ultimately it is these central organisations that draft the policy and the format for the exams will remain the same, the aspirants have to abide by it,” he said.