Nadda meets Pranab over NEET: What the controversy is all about

HT explains the controversy- what supporters of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) say and why there is a section that opposes it:

Union health minister JP Nadda met President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday afternoon to explain the reasons behind the government’s decision to bring in an ordinance that exempts for a year state medical entrance tests from a common national examination.

People shout slogans during a protest against NEET exam outside BJP headquarters in Gandhinagar on Wednesday. (PTI)

HT explains the controversy- what supporters of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) say and why there is a section that opposes it:

History

2010: With the approval of the Centre, the Medical Council of India (MCI) notifies a single entrance examination for medical and dental undergraduate and post graduate courses from the academic year 2012-13

2012: The MCI issues a revised notification to conduct the national examination from the academic year 2013-14.

Court Cases

2013:

* Supreme Court quashes NEET implementation.

* For entry to government colleges, Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) conducts a common medical test. Private and some state medical colleges— Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Telangana and Jammu Kashmir – are exempt from participation.

* The Centre and MCI file a review petition that is heard by a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court.

2016:

April 11: The Supreme Court allows the review petitions and recalls its 2013 judgment, paving the way for the NEET to be conducted from the current academic year

April 28: While Union health and human resource development ministries contemplate the feasibility of the exam being conducted, Sankalp Charitable Trust files a petition in the SC, putting pressure on the government to conduct NEET this year.

Parents of medical entrance examinees form a human chain to protest against the verdict of Supreme Court's on National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) in Mumbai.

*The court allows the test to be held in two phases: NEET-I (formerly AIPMT) that was held on May 1, and NEET-II on July 24, when the remaining colleges – mostly state and private colleges – will participate.

*The combined result to be announced on August 17, and counselling and admission process to be done by September 30.

Read | Tawde hails NEET victory for state students

Problem

May 16, 2016:

*Representatives from 15 states urge Nadda to approach the SC to implement the centralised test for the 2017-18 academic year, as there were practical difficulties in implementing the NEET from this year

* Non-CBSE candidates will be disadvantaged by the NEET as there was little time left for students to bridge the difference between state board syllabi and the central curriculum.

*The absence of regional language options meant non-English or Hindi-speaking students will find it difficult to score well in the NEET, the Centre was told.

Police arrest the activists of Krishak Mukti Sangram Samity (KMSS) members during their hunger strike against the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) and reinstating the combined entrance examination (CEE) in front of the directorate of health education in Guwahati on Monday.

Controversy

May 20, 2016:

*Cabinet clears an ordinance to postpone the implementation of the NEET to academic year 2017-18 for state boards, to give them some time to prepare

*The government’s decision to postpone the implementation of the exam is slammed by some opposition parties who allege private medical colleges are being favoured over the students

*The government rubbishes the claim, saying concerns of all stakeholders need to be duly addressed while implementing the NEET.

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