Fate of NEET hangs in balance, Centre to go ahead with SC order
BY MPost17 May 2016 12:28 AM GMT
MPost17 May 2016 12:28 AM GMT
The second edition of National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET), for entrance into the medical colleges across the country, looks to be on for now and should be held as per the schedule on July 24. However, the final word from the government in the matter is still to be heard.
The second edition has been necessitated as many applicants gave a miss to the first, which was held just three days after the Supreme Court direction in this regard. A meeting in this regard was convened by Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare J P Nadda in the national Capital, which was attended by Health Ministers and representatives from 18 states. According to a state health minister, most of the 18 states agreed in principal to adopt the NEET exam pattern but were of the opinion that it would have been appropriate if it were held from the next academic session. However, in the end it was decided to not circumvent the Supreme Court ruling that made the national test mandatory for admission to medical courses across the country from this year itself.
After the meeting with the state ministers, Nadda said: “The Centre has noted their many concerns about the mandatory NEET from this year itself and that it will soon formulate further course of action. A meeting with representatives of political parties is also being convened.”
Nadda also said that more consultations will be held with states on the issue amid reports that an Ordinance may be brought to circumvent the Supreme Court ruling that made the national test mandatory for admission to medical courses across the country, junking medical exams of the states, private institutions and deemed universities.
Separately, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley while referring to protests by many states over the Supreme Court’s NEET decision asserted that what should be the manner of holding the examination across the country is essentially an executive matter as it is in policy domain.
“It is the case of some of the states that boards are unequal, their languages are dissimilar. Can those who are dissimilar in language and unequal be placed on the pedestal of quality and asked to give the same exam?” stated Jaitley.
Next Story