Centre's proposed ordinance on NEET to be challenged in SC

Under mounting pressure from several states, the government on Friday gave its nod for promulgation of an ordinance to keep state boards out of the ambit of uniform medical entrance examination, NEET, for this year.

The ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet on Friday morning, is aimed at ‘partially’ overturning a Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET. This was the only agenda for the Cabinet meeting, sources said.

Clarifying that the exemption is only for the state government seats, sources said that state seats which are earmarked in the private medical colleges have also been exempted.

Different states earmark anything between 12-15 per cent seats in various private medical colleges for state quota so that students from one state can get seat in another state.

The remaining seats in such colleges are reserved for domicile students. Now with this Ordinance, the remaining seats meant for domicile students will come under NEET.

Sources said that more than 15 states were opposed to NEET and had raised issues like different syllabus and languages during the 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. Once the ordinance is issued, 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 next academic session, government sources said.

The exam will be applicable for those applying for the Central government and private medical colleges. The states flagged various issues in the health ministers conference recently, including problems related to language and syllabus for students.

They said the students affiliated to state boards will find it tough to appear for the uniform test as early as July and such students will be at a loss compared to those who have followed the central board.

Health Minister J P Nadda is likely to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to explain to him about the need for the ordinance.