Cabinet gives states interim relief over NEET

In a fresh twist to the NEET controversy, the Cabinet on Friday approved the promulgation of an ordinance, giving interim relief to state governments for this year.

Additional secretary, health, CK Mishra told dna the ordinance says that National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test will come into effect this year, however, state governments have been given the go ahead to hold their exams for state quota seats. Therefore, only two sets of exams take place, NEET and those for state quota. Tests previously held by private medical institutes, won’t. 

The decision “partially overturns” the Supreme Court order mandating all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges be covered under NEET from this year.

Union health minister JP Nadda clarified in a statement that NEET had been implemented and the phase 2 exam on July 24 will take place. He also said that state concerns are being addressed.

Reportedly 6.5 lakh students sat for NEET’s first phase on May 1.The executive order exempts them from the second phase, scheduled for July 24.

This exemption though extends to the state government seats, including those earmarked in private medical colleges.

Different states earmark 12-15 per cent seats in various private colleges for state quota so students from one state can get seat in another. The remaining seats in such colleges are reserved for domicile students. With the ordinance in effect, these remaining seats will come under NEET.

States had raised a furore over the court order, saying they had no time to organise the common test, students couldn’t be expected to prepare well for an unfamiliar exam in a short duration and a test designed by the CBSE would give an advantage to students with an English language education over those with a vernacular one. Those familiar with the case in court said, on its face this seemed a student friendly decision, and that similar concerns had been raised in court in favour of ongoing state entrance exams.

Those in favour of a common exam, such as Dr Atul Gadre, co-author of the book Dissenting Diagnosis, told dna the exam would curb corrupt practices in entrance tests, especially those conducted by private institutions.

Such exams, Gadre said, were often a facade for money exchanged for seats. There needed to be enough political will to design and implement an exam next year that takes all student concerns into account.

The decision comes after Nadda met with state health ministers, and Union finance minister Arun Jaitley called an all-party meeting, on May 16.

Nadda is to meet President Pranab Mukherjee to explain the ordinance, as the latter’s approval is needed to go against the Supreme Court order.

States such as Maharashtra applauded the move. CM Devendra Fadnavis told ANI he was “happy” and “there is a huge difference between the central board curriculum and state board curriculum because of which many students would have suffered”. Higher education minister Vinod Tawde tweeted his thanks to the PM for relieving the state’s students. However, the Congress and the Aam Aadmi Party protested loudly. Congressman PC Chacko called it “disappointing” for the “aspiring medical students in this country”. He said, “There are nearly 25,000 medical seats in government colleges and 24,000 Seats in private sector and the private medical colleges in India are run by very influential people – many of them politicians also. The government has succumbed to the pressure of the medical lobby”. Delhi CM Arvind Kejriwal said that only Delhi health minister Satyendra Jain had supported NEET in the meeting with Nadda and tweeted a letter he wrote to the PM against such an ordinance.