MCI mulls single entrance exam for medical courses

New Delhi, Jun 30: In a bid to alleviate the stress levels of the students, the Board of Governors of the Medical Council of India (MCI) is mulling a common entrance test for undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses in the country.

The newly constituted board is currently discussing its proposal with the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) as well as state government. Once the boards and authorities come to an agreement over the "finer" details of the exam, the common entrance test will be introduced in the next academic session.

Speaking to media personnel on the move on Tuesday, Jun 29, SK Sarin, chairman of the Board, informed “The Director-General of Health Services is in the process of consulting the States and working out the finer details, and a final system will be announced by the end of next month (Jul 2010). We hope to have a common entrance test by the next academic session (2011-2012)."

“We have already contacted the CBSE. It will decide how to go about it, including the syllabus. The test will cover all government, private and even minority institutions," he added.

If the single entrance exam becomes a reality, it will indeed be a huge relief for the aspiring students as about 17 entrance tests are currently held across the country for admission into medical colleges.

Entrance exams are held separately by CBSE, state governments and some private colleges making it an uphill task for the students who wish to study medicine as they have to attempt several exams to be sure that they will secure a seat.

OneIndia News