Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) has submitted a letter to the Chairperson of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), demanding reduction in the application fee for the Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT), 2024.
It is to be noted that there has been a significant increase in fees from the previous year, rising from ₹2200 to ₹3500 for General, OBC, and EWS category candidates, marking an unprecedented surge of nearly 60%. Similarly, for SC, ST, and PwD categories, the fee surged from ₹1100 to ₹2500, representing an alarming increment of approximately 125%.
ABVP National General Secretary, Yagywalkya Shukla stated, “The exorbitant rise in application fees has caused distress among aspiring candidates, many of whom are now unable to afford the cost, compelling them to forgo their application submissions. ABVP demands the NBEMS Chairperson to reduce the application fee for GPAT-2024, aligning them with the levels of the previous year, to ensure broader access and participation in the examination.”