No clarity on NEET, CBSE all set for pre-medical test

Aditi Tandon

Tribune News Service

New Delhi, April 21

With the government still unclear about whether it can hold the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for undergraduate medical admissions this year, the CBSE is geared up to hold the scheduled the All-India Pre-Medical Test on May 1.

A government source today said although the Health Ministry is keen on holding NEET-UG 2016, challenges of infrastructure and logistics were standing in the way.

“We are keen to conduct NEET-UG 2016 but the possibilities are remote,” the source said, adding the ministry was still in discussions with the CBSE on whether the central admission test, as directed by the Supreme Court, could be held this year.

The CBSE, meanwhile, is learnt to have considered its options and apprised the Health Ministry of the issues involved in going ahead with NEET-UG 2016.

To begin with, HRD Ministry sources handling CBSE affairs said the time at the disposal of the board to hold an all-India test was too little as 29 states were involved. Also, if NEET was to be held, question papers had to be made available in vernacular languages to enable all students to take the test. Accordingly, answer key assessors had to be arranged.

“As of date, we are geared up for the May 1 AIPMT for which all preparations have been made. We have given a written undertaking to the Supreme Court that AIPMT results would be declared by June 5. AIPMT admit cards have been uploaded on the website for download,” an official said.

Another hindrance for NEET-UG 2016 is — many state governments have either concluded their medical entrance exam processes or are in the process of conducting them.

“To cancel these exams and call fresh applications is a huge issue. Also, every student who has taken these exams has paid application fee. Refund is an issue. Moreover, AIPMT is only nine days away now and 6.6 lakh students have applied. As of now, we are going ahead with AIPMT on May 1,” a CBSE official said.

Health Ministry officials, however, spoke in contradictory terms. “We are keen on conducting NEET-UG 2016 and are discussing with the CBSE as to whether it can be done although chances look slim,” a source said.

On how the government would hold NEET-UG if AIPMT was held as per schedule on May 1, the source said: “There are ways.”