Union Health Minister J P Nadda tonight rubbished reports suggesting that the Centre is trying to scrap NEET after the Cabinet gave its nod for an Ordinance relating to this sole national medical entrance test, calling it "baseless". As details regarding the Ordinance was yet to emerge, Nadda said a "foolproof arrangement" will be finalised in a couple of days to address concerns of all.
Under mounting pressure from several states, the Cabinet earlier in the day gave its nod for promulgation of an Ordinance to keep state boards out of the ambit of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test(NEET), a uniform entrance exam for admissions to medical and dental colleges. "Today the Cabinet met. Many issues were discussed. We are consulting and seeing to it that a foolproof arrangement is made. Latest by tomorrow or day after tomorrow we will be coming to a conclusion. Cabinet has given opinion. We are working on it. We will come out with it soon," Nadda told PTI.
The Ordinance, which was cleared, is aimed at "partially" overturning a Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET.
"Media reports have said that the Centre through an Ordinance is trying to finish NEET. This is baseless. NEET has been implemented. It is in existence. The first phase is over. The second phase will take place on July 24," he said. Congress attacked the Centre's decision to issue an Ordinance, alleging that it goes against the Supreme Court's verdict in the matter.
Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal wrote to Prime Minister Narendra Modi suggesting that the demands for overturning the SC order on NEET had got to do with many politicians running medical colleges of their own.
Delhi Health Minister Satyendar Jain said the decision was "unfortunate". Nadda said that there is no need to spread "misconceptions" about NEET being scrapped and asserted that it was the Centre which brought NEET and that is why it will be taken to its "conclusive end" so that students do not face any problem.
"I assure that the questions raised about the private medical colleges will be answered. We will come out with fool proof measures when it (Ordinance) comes into existence," he said, adding that the Centre wants NEET to be implemented in "letter and spirit".
Later Nadda tweeted,"Government of India is fully committed to #NEET. 1st phase has taken place, 2nd phase will also take place. "Govt is in process of taking decision in the spirit of collective view taken at all-Party Meeting and Health ministers meeting. Concerns of State Govts & lakhs of aspiring medical students regarding #NEET being addressed," he said. Nadda earlier said that Centre is working out how the three concerns which have been raised by the states can be worked out through the legal framework. Asked if under the Ordinance, states have been exempted, he said, "These are the things which we are dealing with".
"There were concerns by some state governments on three aspects - ongoing exams of state government, syllabus and regional language. We called an all party meeting to address these concern. Congress's Jairam Ramesh who attended that meeting had said the state government's concerns should be met and the state boards should be exempted for one year.
Therefore the consultation is going on," Nadda said.
What is NEET?
NEET is a move that looks to provide one common platform all graduate and UG aspirants in medical and dental course across the country. In order to ensure that there is a common platform for all aspirants of graduate and undergraduate medical and dental courses across the country, a common examination for admission to all government, private, state, deemed universities/colleges of the country would be conducted under AIPMT. This examination would be conducted for 85% of the seats, whereas the remaining 15% would be reserved for management quota. Read more
Contradictory messages? Fadnavis thanks PM Modi for postponing NEET
Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis thanked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, after the central government cleared an ordinance deferring the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) by a year.
The Centre gave its decision following protests from some states and medical colleges over a Supreme Court ruling mandating the exam for all medical aspirants. "Grateful to Modi ji and the Centre for postponing NEET by a year," Fadnavis said. "It has brought relief to lakhs of students," the CM tweeted. Fadnavis on Wednesday met the Prime Minister in New Delhi in connection with the standoff between states and the Centre over the NEET issue, amid concerns raised by parents and students.
Minister for Higher, Technical and Medical education Vinod Tawde also thanked Modi. "A massive thanks to Modi ji for relieving students of Maharashtra from NEET exam. Our efforts for the students bore fruits," the minister said.
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