NEET is back in news as Centre is introducing two new bills

This year, May has been the most happening month for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) and aspirants of MBBS and BDS. The first phase of NEET was conducted in the month of May and the second phase is scheduled to take place on July 24. NEET 2 came into picture as most of the candidates did not attend NEET in its first phase, those who attended hardly had time to prepare themselves to score well, another set of candidates were not ready to write as they could write the entrance exams only in their native languages and the State run as well as private medical and dental colleges were not happy with the national eligibility test. Another strong reason for the rise of NEET was the capitation fees charged by the private colleges which had no limit at all.

In a recent development, the Centre passed an ordinance with the signature of the President of India after several hours of deliberation on the reason for introducing an ordinance that exempts States and their private medical institutes from the ambit of NEET.

Centre to table two bills to exempt States from NEET for this year

Today is the most important day for NEET since the Central Government is going to table its two bills through which it would partially nullify the orders of the Apex Court which state that all the government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges should adhere to the rules and regulations of NEET and distribute MBBS and BDS seats to aspirants through the aforementioned common entrance test only. The bills are expected to relieve the government colleges, deemed universities and private medical-dental colleges from conducting entrance exams as per NEET for this year. They will have to bother about NEET only in 2017.

The Union Health Minister would introduce Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016 through which he would be asking for the amendment of Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and Dentists Act, 1948.

What has the Apex court to say about NEET ordinance?

The Supreme Court had earlier rejected a plea that sought to prevent the ordinance of Central Government from allowing the States to conduct separate entrance tests for medical and dental courses because by then most of the states had conducted their entrance tests. Nevertheless, the Apex Court on 14 July doubted the validity of ordinance of Central Government allowing the States to conduct their entrance exams separately for 2016-17.

The Supreme Court expressed concern over the Centre's ordinance. The Apex Court had come to the conclusion of bringing all the private, government and deemed medical institutes under NEET in order to curb the practice of capitation fees, confusion among the aspirants of MBBS and BDS regarding multiple entrance exams and establish uniformity in entrance exams throughout the country that could open paths to opportunities for deserving candidates.

As the NEET issue has mildly risen its hood again, the Centre needs to tread carefully in order to avoid further chaos regarding the national eligibility test because the MBBS and BDS aspirants are not in a mood to buy any more confusing circumstances. They just want to study well and grab a seat for their favourite courses.