NEET ordinance gets President's nod
Students of State boards will not have to sit for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test on July 24.
President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday signed the ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet on May 20, to “partially” overturn a Supreme Court verdict, which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test).
The students of State government boards will not have to sit for NEET on July 24, 2016. They, however, will have to become part of the uniform entrance exam from the next academic session.
The President had sought more information and clarification on few points from the Health Ministry over the decision to bring an ordinance.
Need for more information was conveyed to Health Minister J.P. Nadda, when he called on the President on Monday afternoon to brief him about the need for bringing the Executive Order before the latter leaves for China on Tuesday.
More than 15 States were opposed to NEET and had raised issues like different syllabus and languages during the recent State Health Ministers’ meeting.
Nearly 6.5 lakh students have already taken the medical entrance test in the first phase of NEET held on May 1, 2016.
The exam will be applicable for those applying for Central government and private medical colleges.
Private colleges to come under NEET
All private medical colleges will come under the NEET, Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday.
“All private institutions and medical colleges will come under the ambit of NEET. The State governments will get an option to either conduct their own exam or go for NEET to fill UG seats. However, for PG courses, the exam will be held under NEET for 2017-18 session, in December this year.