The state government is in a dilemma over approving the national common entrance exam for MBBS admissions from this year, with the Medical Council of India categorically ruling out the possibility of conducting the exam in regional languages as demanded by several states, including Andhra Pradesh.
There are indications that the government will be forced to opt out of NEET and instead go ahead with Eamcet to protect the students.
MCI has decided to conduct a single medical entrance exam across the country for MBBS admissions from this year, called the ‘National Eligibility cum Entrance Test’ (NEET), as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
However, several states such as Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat and West Bengal had demanded that the MCI conduct the exam in their regional languages apart from English and Hindi.
MCI chairman Dr Talwar has told the state government that it is not practical to conduct the exam in Telugu or in any other regional language and that the exam will be held only in English and Hindi.
The state government’s contention is that nearly 30,000 students appeared for the previous Eamcet medical exam in Telugu medium and that their number is set to increase by another 10 per cent this year. It brought to the notice of the MCI that Telugu medium students will be at a loss if the exam is conducted only in English and Hindi. They cannot be expected to prepare for the exam in English just six months before the exam.
MCI has scheduled the NEET for May 13. It will replace Eamcet and all other state-level entrance tests for MBBS admissions in 2012. The paper will have 180 questions, 45 each in physics, chemistry, botany and zoology. On-line and off-line application forms will be tentatively available from the second week of December.
“We have requested the medical education department to clarify if the Eamcet for medical seats will be held or not this year. Even for English medium students, it will be tough to prepare for NEET as there is no clarity on syllabus,” said Prof Jayaprakash Rao, chairman, AP State Council of Higher Education.
Source : DC
