MCI Accepts Common Entrance Test For Admissions, Proposes Unitary CET

The Medical Council of India (MCI) has given its nod to the proposal for holding common entrance test for MBBS, BDS and post-graduate medical courses, and has sent its recommendation to the health ministry.

According to health ministry officials, the government had sought views of MCI on the proposal following which the later in its general body meeting on October 1 approved the move.

"MCI, in its general body meeting on October 1, has backed the proposal. As per the existing policy, every state government conduct their own entrance test. Private medical college associations and deemed universities also conduct their own CET. And an aspiring candidate appears in all the exams.

"But here under the proposal, there will be a common entrance test for all medical aspirants from across the country and would be of great help to the students," said a senior health ministry official. MCI has also proposed an amendment to the Medical Council of India Act, 1956 Act so that they can decide on the common test.

MCI Proposes Common Entrance Test

The Medical Council of India (MCI) on Monday sent recommendations for a unitary Common Entrance Test (CET) for admission to MBBS, postgraduate and super-specialty medical courses to the central government. The regulatory body has recommended to the government to amend section 33 of the Indian Medical Council Act to ensure proper implementation of the new system.

MCI chairman Dr Jayshree Mehta told, "We have sent recommendations for common entrance test for MBBS, PG and even super-specialty courses in nearly 400 medical colleges across India to the Union government. If the government makes a favourable amendment, a unified test for medical admissions will become a reality in 2016".

According to TOI, over 90 medical entrance tests are held across India, apart from students being forced to cough up thousands towards the fee for appearing in multiple exams and travel expenses, many students are robbed of the opportunity to stake admission claim to different colleges.

Moreover, medical entrance tests are held only on Sundays of May and June limiting students to appear for a maximum nine out of 90 entrance exams.

The move to have a common entrance test for medical students across the country was first initiated in 2009, when MCI was headed by Dr Ketan Desai.

The Supreme Court, in June 2013, had ruled the MCI's notification for holding common entrance test for MBBS, BDS and post-graduate medical courses as "invalid". A three-judge bench by a 2:1 verdict held that the notification was ultravires of the Constitution.