NEET ordinance cleared, confusion hardly cleared

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) has been robbing many MBBS and BDS aspirants and their parents of their sleep due to its never-ending confusion. Earlier, the students and their parents were highly disappointed as the second phase of NEET is scheduled for 24 July 2016, which does not give sufficient time to the aspirants to prepare themselves for the national level uniform medical exam.

Even the States frowned at the decision of the Supreme Court regarding NEET which stated that NEET instead of CET to be conducted throughout India for admitting students to MBBS and BDS courses.
NEET would affect students who are used to writing entrance exams in their regional languages, the students would be under tremendous amount of pressure since the syllabuses of State Boards and CBSE are poles apart and the government colleges, private institutions as well as deemed universities are not prepared to implement the aforementioned uniform medical exam systematically were the main concerns of the States.

What is the confusion regarding NEET ordinance?

The Centre took an important decision to free everyone concerned of the NEET chaos, hence issued an ordinance that partially overruled the Apex Court decision of making NEET compulsory throughout the country and exempt the States from conducting the exam this year. The ordinance was initially questioned by the President Pranab Mukherjee but was later approved after a detailed discussion with the Union Health Minister JP Nadda. It was a relieving moment for all the students, parents and the States.

Nevertheless, the relief seems to be short-lived as the ordinance has created more confusions regarding the entrance exams. Though NEET has been postponed to the next academic year and students will be selected for medical seats based on their performance in CET exams, the students will be admitted to government colleges only and not to private colleges. This is the scenario in Maharashtra where the private colleges do not come under the state government.

It is said that Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh will not face issues as their state governments hold the authority to admit students to private colleges through CET. Whatever the situation be, there must be a specific and uniform clarity regarding NEET. After all, the future of thousands of students needs to tread the path of certainty.