NEET row: Centre to defer common medical exam by a year; to issue Ordinance soon

New Delhi, May 18: Amid ongoing tussle between State governments and Centre over NEET row, Government reportedly has decided to defer the decision to implement the common entrance test for medical and dental courses by next year.

As per media reports, Modi Government is contemplating to bring an Ordinance or an executeive order to defer Supreme Court-ordered National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

Sources say, this breather will only work for state governments and their affiliated institutions for this academic year. However, exam under NEET will be applicable for those students who apply in Central and private institutions under the management quota

People in the government who are familiar with the matter said on Tuesday that the ordinance could be brought to "postpone the effect of the Supreme Court judgement by 12 months".

Though no final decision has been taken, one view within the government is to bring the ordinance to delay the implementation of the Supreme Court verdict that disallowed states to conduct their own entrance exams and ordered that only the NEET be the basis for admissions.

But so far, there is no clarity on whether an ordinance only will suffice or a new law will be required. The issue has not been listed for discussions at the meeting of the Union cabinet scheduled on Wednesday.

Political parties and several states have favoured deferring implementation of the apex court verdict by one year.

Centre held a meeting with State govt

The centre on Monday started consultations on the issue, asserting the matter was essentially in the "executive domain".

Several state governments wanted their exams to be the basis for admission for their 85% quota seats for this year too.

Union health minister J.P. Nadda, however, made it clear that private medical colleges and deemed universities cannot have their entrance exams and will have to take students only through the NEET route.

The all-party meeting and the consultations with state health ministers came amid reports that the centre may bring an ordinance to bypass the apex court's ruling making NEET mandatory from this year.

The health minister has said that a course of action will be formulated "soon" as the centre was committed to bringing in transparency in the medical education system and remove alleged malpractices.

The Supreme Court had ruled that starting this academic session, students would have to appear in NEET to seek admission to medical or dental colleges in the country.

The apex court order had implied that all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET and those examinations which had already taken place or were slated to be conducted separately stand scrapped.

The states flagged various issues in the health ministers conference on Monday, including problems related to language and syllabus.

OneIndia News

(With inputs from PTI)