New Delhi: A significant bill aimed at putting in place a single common examination for medical and dental courses was today passed by the Lok Sabha, with the government saying even private colleges will be under its ambit.
The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 and the The Dentists (Amendment) Bill, 2016 provides a Constitutional status to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) examination” which is intended to be introduced in the academic session next year.
The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and the Dentists Act, 1948 and replace the Ordinances that were promulgated by the government to circumvent the Supreme Court order for implementation of NEET examination this session itself.
Moving the Bill for consideration and passing, Health Minister J P Nadda said there were three main objectives behind the move — end the multiplicity of examinations, have fair and transparent examinations and adopt non-exploitative process.
He said earlier students would have to travel long distances to appear for several medical entrance examinations.
Currently students undergo exploitation particularly with regard to the caiptation fees, he said, adding the new legislation will end this.
Responding to apprehensions expressed by members, particularly Tamil Nadu where reservation is upto 85 per cent, he clarified, “We are not going to touch the state quota.
Students in Tamil Nadu will be competing in Tamil Nadu only..
We should be very much clear about that.”
However, AIADMK members were not satisfied and staged a walkout.
Nadda said the exam will be held on the basis of the syllabus of NCERT and the under-graduate exam will be taken up by CBSE and post-graduation by the national board of examination.
“In the syllabus, we will take care of the differences and we will do standardisation of syllabus so that rural students can also taken care of,” he added.
PTI
