The first phase of the single entrance test National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions to MBBS and BDS courses across the country was held on May 1 (Sunday) as the Supreme Court refused to accord an urgent hearing of a plea seeking modification of its earlier order. The holding of NEET in two phases for the academic year 2016-17 will see around 6.5 lakh candidates appearing. It had approved the schedule put before it by the Centre, CBSE and the Medical Council of India (MCI) for treating All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) fixed for May 1 as NEET-1. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice T S Thakur, which was conducting a special hearing to deal with pollution in Delhi, did not allow the plea seeking urgent hearing for modification of the April 28 order passed by another bench with regard to the NEET. The examination would be conducted as usual. The lawyers representing students had demanded modification of the order so that students who had prepared for the state-level entrance exams should not find it difficult to prepare for the NEET in such a short span of time. The court, for the time being refused to entertain the plea and asked the lawyers concerned to file an application which would be heard by the regular bench, hearing the case. The Supreme Court had earlier said that the entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17 will be held as per the schedule through the two-phased common entrance test NEET on May 1 and July 24. Centre had on Saturday approached the apex court for modification of its April 28 order and had sought that state governments and private colleges be allowed to hold separate entrance examinations for MBBS and BDS courses for 2016-17 saying there was a lot of confusion arising out of it. It had said those who had not applied for AIPMT will be given the opportunity to appear in NEET-II on July 24 and the combined result would be declared on August 17 so that the admission process can be completed by September 30. The apex court order comes after rejecting opposition for holding NEET by states, including Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Uttar Pradesh and Association of Karnataka Medical Colleges, besides minority institutions like CMC, Vellore. Will other states would contest the decision?