NEW DELHI, MAY 24:
After raising queries, President Pranab Mukherjee today signed the Ordinance to keep state boards out of the common entrance test (NEET) for MBBS and dental courses for this year.
The President promulgated the Ordinance this morning after Health Ministry officials returned with the file addressing all the queries raised by him, official sources said.
Attorney-General Mukul Rohatgi was at the President’s Secretariat early this morning along with top Health Ministry officials to respond to clarifications sought by the President on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).
The Ordinance was sent on Saturday to the President, who left for China today on a four-day state visit.
After the Ordinance on Uttarakhand was overturned by the Supreme Court earlier this month, the President’s Secretariat was more cautious this time and raised pointed queries as it was virtually taking on the apex court’s order which had directed the Government to hold medical exams under NEET covering government and private colleges besides state boards.
The President was briefed by Health Minister J. P. Nadda yesterday on three main issues including different exams of state boards, syllabi and regional languages.
This was followed by another briefing by officials after which the file was taken back by the Health Ministry last night only to return this morning with additional information and legal advice.
The Ordinance on NEET, cleared by the Cabinet on Friday last, is aimed at “partially” overturning the Supreme Court order that had also taken into account the multiple medical entrance tests by states and private colleges as well as allegations of corruption.
The court had directed that a common entrance test — NEET— will be held across India for MBBS and dental courses.
But state governments had objected to its implementation from this year, saying it would be too stressful for students as they had little time to prepare for the syllabus and also there were issues of language.
They said the students affiliated to state boards would find it tough to appear for the uniform test as early as July and such students would be at a loss compared to those who have followed the central board.
After the Supreme Court turned down the plea, the Centre had decided to take the Ordinance route.
Different states earmark anything between 12-15 per cent seats in various private medical colleges under the state quota so that students from one state can get a seat in another state.
More than 15 states were opposed to NEET and had raised issues such as different syllabus and language at the recent state health ministers’ meeting.
The next phase of the exam is scheduled for July 24.
Nearly 6.5 lakh students have already taken the medical entrance test in the first phase of NEET held on May 1.
With the Ordinance being promulgated, students of state government boards will not have to sit for NEET on July 24.
They, however, will have to become part of the uniform entrance exam from the next academic session.
The exam will be applicable for those applying for Central Government and private medical colleges.
The Supreme Court earlier ruled that the students would have to appear for NEET starting this academic session for admission into medical or dental colleges in the country.
(This article was published on May 24, 2016)
