MCI again proposes Uniform CET for MBBS, PG Medical Courses

By Vikas Vaidya

After unsuccessful attempt from Medical Council of India (MCI) of introducing Common Entrance Test in the form of National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) four years ago, the regulator has once again proposed Uniform CET for MBBS as well as for admissions to Post Graduate medical courses. The MCI is all set to send the proposal to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare in a day or two. MCI wants CET to be conducted in the academic year 2016-17 so that nationwide admissions should be done as per this uniform test.
Last time MCI’s efforts were shot down by Apex Court. This time the body has come out with the provisions so that the test would be conducted without any barrier.
MCI while exercising its powers under section 33 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 and after obtaining precious sanction of the Central Government has come out with fresh set of regulations.
MCI has proposed an amendment to Section 32 of MCI Act allowing them to decide on the issue of holding
common test. Last time, the MCI had lost the case in the court on
technical grounds. The Amendment Bill titled Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act 1956 has been
signed by Dr Reena Nayyar, Secretary of MCI.
The amendment has stipulated Common Entrance Examination for the admissions to Under Graduate medical course. It will be uniform entrance test for all medical educational institutions. MCI has decided to introduce Uniform Common Entrance Examination for Post Graduate level admissions as well.
Dr Nayyar in the Amendment Bill says, in Section 33 of the principal Act, after sub section n) the subsection (o) shall be inserted namely ‘Common Entrance Examination for MBBS and Common Entrance Examination for PG’
The events have taken place so fast that the meeting of MCI and Ministry was held on September 29. The proposal to conduct uniform CET for admission to MBBS and PG got go-ahead from Government on September 30, MCI General body meet was held on October 1 and the proposal was finalised.
There are around 70,000 seats for MBBS and 21,000 seats for MD in institutions across India. Currently, every State Government conducts their own entrance test. Similarly, private medical college association, deemed universities and minority institutes who offer medical education, also conduct their own CET. Candidates most often take all these tests as they don’t want to risk their chances.
In 2013, the Centre had implemented National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to all under-graduate medical colleges. However, after 115 petitions challenged the MCI notification on NEET, the Supreme Court quashed the MCI notification for holding common entrance tests for MBBS, BDS and post-graduate medical courses. A three-judge bench by a 2:1 verdict held that the MCI notification was ultra vires of the Constitution.

Students put to hardship again

Such major and frequent changes about entrance tests put students to great trouble and particularly aspirant seeking medical admissions are invariably hit hard. Earlier the admissions were done purely on the basis of marks scored in Class XII. Then Common Entrance Test was introduced. It went smoothly till 2011, when MCI proposed National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET). It insisted to hold the same from the very next year. But lot of parents and most state assemblies opposed it and finally MCI had to bow down before collective pressure.
The test was held in the year 2013. Though it was uniform, the private institutions conducted their own CETs and approached court. Finally Supreme Court gave judgement that went in favour of private institutions. The students passed NEET were eligible only for the admissions to Government Medical Colleges. Then respective Governments started conducting their own CETs. In Maharashtra too, it was conducted. The Government this year made last minute change and declared that the test would be only on the basis of Class XII syllabus. The students who studied Class XI and Class XII for the test, which was fixed as per CET syllabus suffered. This year only Maharashtra State Government has decided to conduct Combined Common Entrance Test from next year and now MCI has come out with new proposal-- Uniform CET for all medical colleges in the country.