President Pranab Mukherjee signs ordinance deferring implementation of NEET 2016
President Pranab Mukherjee on Tuesday signed the ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet on May 20, to “partially” overturn a Supreme Court verdict, which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test).
NEET is the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission to medical colleges.
The ordinance- or executive order – cleared by the Cabinet on Friday, is aimed at “partially” overturning a Supreme Court order.
President signs ordinance keeping state boards out of NEET this year
NEET, the common entrance test for medical courses, will not apply to states for now. After much deliberation, President Pranab Mukherjee today signed off on the Centre’s decision to put out an executive order to bypass a Supreme Court ruling that one exam would be held for students across India.
The students of State government boards will not have to sit for NEET on July 24, 2016. They, however, will have to become part of the uniform entrance exam from the next academic session.
The President had sought more information and clarification on few points from the Health Ministry over the decision to bring an ordinance.
Need for more information was conveyed to Health Minister J.P. Nadda, when he called on the President on Monday afternoon to brief him about the need for bringing the Executive Order before the latter leaves for China on Tuesday.
More than 15 States were opposed to NEET and had raised issues like different syllabus and languages during the recent State Health Ministers’ meeting.
Nearly 6.5 lakh students have already taken the medical entrance test in the first phase of NEET held on May 1, 2016.
The exam will be applicable for those applying for Central government and private medical colleges.
