The central government on Friday decided to bring an ordinance to keep state boards out of the ambit of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) this year. However, students seeking admission to private medical colleges and deemed universities will have to take the exam, sources said.
"The Union Cabinet has approved the ordinance. It will be sent to the President for approval," a top health ministry official told TOI.
Health minister J P Nadda said the government was not against NEET. "NEET has been implemented and it is in existence. First phase is over and the second phase of the exam will be held on July 24. Some states have raised certain issues and we are looking into it. A detailed clarification will be issued on Saturday," he told reporters.
Sources said the ordinance was aimed at 'partially' overturning a Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET. Once the ordinance is notified, students of state government boards will not have to sit for the exam on July 24. They, however, will have to become part of the uniform entrance exam from the next academic session, government sources said.
"In the all-party meeting held recently, Congress's Jairam Ramesh also favoured addressing the concerns raised by the states," Nadda said.
Sources said states, including Maharashtra, flagged various issues including problems related to language and syllabus for students. "They said the students affiliated to state boards will find it tough to appear for the uniform test as early as July and such students will be at a loss compared to those who have followed the central board," a source said.
Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal, meanwhile, opposed the government move. He tweeted a letter he wrote to the PM urging not to bring an ordinance. "It would send the message that the government is with those who have black or untaxed money."
The SC had on May 9 rejected pleas of states and minority institutions to allow them to hold separate entrance exams for MBBS and BDS courses for 2016-17, saying only NEET provides for conducting such test for admission to these courses