Common PG test still on table

The health ministry may go ahead with a common entrance test (CET) for postgraduate medical courses across all government and private institutions even while it dithers on a similar common MBBS exam.

The health ministry may go ahead with a common entrance test (CET) for postgraduate medical courses across all government and private institutions even while it dithers on a similar common MBBS exam.

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Government sources said the ministry is contemplating de-linking the CET for PG programmes from the plan for a common UG test on which it backtracked after opposition from UPA allies.

“We are working on the notification for amendments to introduce a common PG test. We have also informed the Supreme Court of this plan. There appears no reason why the common PG test should be held hostage to the debate over a UG test,” a government source said.

Students seeking a common PG medicine test have filed a writ petition in the SC. They have also launched a campaign to send postcards to Chief Justice of India S.H. Kapadia and S.K. Sarin, the new head of the reconstituted Medical Council of India Board of Governors, requesting their intervention.

“Since the debate is around UG courses, at least a common PG test can be started. We are concerned that any delay could make it too late for a common test in PG courses for 2011,” said Saurabh Jain, a doctor at Safdarjang Hospital, who is among the campaigners for a CET.

The MCI — first in June 2009 and then in July 2010 — wrote to the ministry proposing amendments in the regulations governing medical education. The amendments are aimed at allowing the Centre to conduct a national eligibility-cum-entrance test for UG and PG courses.