The Supreme Court in April ruled that students need to take only one common entrance test NEET, but state governments demanded Centre to defer it.
Highlights
- NEET is the common entrance test for medical and dental courses
- Supreme Court ruled students need to take only one common entrance test
- State governments demanded it be deferred, giving students time to study
The Centre today decided to use an ordinance or executive order to put on hold a Supreme Court order and defer by a year the common entrance test NEET for admission to medical colleges. The government's decision, cheered by thousands of students and parents, has been challenged in court.
The top court's ruling last month that students across the country must take just one common exam has been opposed by states who say their syllabus is completely different and their students will be at a loss compared to those who have followed the central board.
Stalling a Supreme Court order requires the approval of President Pranab Mukherjee, so government sources have been silent about the move.
Arvind Kejriwal, the Chief Minister of Delhi, tweeted that he had urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi not to bring an ordinance as it would send the message that "the government is with those who have black or untaxed money."
Mr Kejriwal said that "many leaders and lawmakers from many parties" run their own medical colleges and have their own reasons for opposing a common national test.
Corruption in exams held in states was the reason the Supreme Court ordered NEET or National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test for the entire country.
But several states -- including Maharashtra, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu - objected saying this year it would be practically impossible to organise a common test and their students would suffer without home advantage.
Reacting to the state protests, PM Modi called a second cabinet meeting within a week.
Sources say the decision to take the ordinance route came after Health Minister JP Nadda consulted with health ministers of more than a dozen states.
Finance Minister Arun Jaitley also met leaders of six political parties, including the Congress.
So far, over 6 lakh students have appeared for the first phase of NEET on May 1. The second phase is on July 24.
The top court had earlier turned down petitions seeking permission to hold separate admission tests for medical colleges.