NEET: All you need to know about the controversy

New Delhi, May 24: All private medical colleges will come under the ambit of common medical exams, NEET, Health Minister J P Nadda said after an Ordinance to keep the state boards out of it for a year was signed by President Pranab Mukherjee.

Addressing the concerns raised by few states, it has been decided that they will be able to hold the undergraduate exams, the postgraduate exams to be held in December will be under NEET.

Here are some important facts you need to know about the NEET

• The Medical Council of India (MCI) made provision for a single eligibility cum entrance examination National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to MBBS Courses.

• Once as student qualifies in the NEET he or she can apply for admission to any college of their choice across the country.

• All private medical colleges will come under the ambit of common medical exams, NEET.

• The provision of single entrance test was opposed by Andhra Pradesh and Jammu and Kashmir, Telangana and Tamil Nadu.

• 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.

• The NEET was struck down by Supreme Court after minority institution like CMC Vellore raised question on violation of rights of these institutions.

• 15 states which found it difficult to implement single entrance examination from this academic year, discussed the issue with Union health minister JP Nadda to approach the Supreme Court to implement the NEET from the 2017-18 academic year.

• The apex court allowed NEET to be held in two phases: AIPMT held on May 1 would be considered as phase I while the second phase of NEET will be held on July 24.

• Nearly 6.5 lakh students have already taken the medical entrance test in the first phase of NEET held on May 1.

• Combined results of both exams will be announced on August 17.