Candidates with speciality qualifications applying for both the Medical Services Recruitment Board’s (MRB) assistant surgeon (general) and assistant surgeon (general) with speciality qualification exams want the Tamil Nadu Health Department to assign them the same exam centre. Both exams are scheduled on January 25, 2026, with the general exam in the morning and the speciality exam in the afternoon. MRB is filling 1,100 posts for assistant surgeon (general) and 299 for assistant surgeon (general) with speciality qualifications. The speciality posts include 182 in obstetrics and gynaecology, 50 in forensic medicine, and 37 in radiology. The Tamil Nadu Resident Doctors’ Association (TNRDA) noted that some candidates applying for both exams face problems if they get different centres. This may block them from attending both exams due to travel and timing issues. TNRDA representatives met the Health Secretary and urged MRB to allot the same centre for these candidates to provide a fair chance without disrupting the exam process. M. Keerthy Varman, TNRDA general secretary, said, “These candidates are specialists and have applied for both examinations in the hope of getting job opportunities. If they are allotted different centres for the two examinations, it will make it difficult for them. We have made a request to accommodate them in the same centres. This will be helpful for all, especially women candidates.” He estimated about 1,000 candidates are affected by this issue.