Recently Tamilnadu government had submitted a draft ordinance on National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) to Centre.
This last-minute exemption may lead to more complexities in proceedings.
What is the status Medical admissions in Tamilnadu?
Tamil Nadu abolished entrance tests for professional courses in 2006.
It fears that the introduction of NEET would jeopardise the admission prospects of rural students who cannot afford the extra coaching and higher workload that preparing for NEET entails.
The centre was very clear that this year’s medical admissions in Tamil Nadu would be solely based on the NEET.
Tamil Nadu government feels that a buffer time should have been given before the conversion to the new system.
In Tamil Nadu, in academic year 2016-17, about 88,431 students who appeared for NEET in TN, at least 95% are from the State board, while only 5% are from CBSE and other Boards.
To safeguard the interest of its students, recently it had submitted a draft ordinance on NEET.
What are the provisions?
It is seeking one-time exemption to admit MBSS/BDS aspirants based on their 12th standard scores for this year alone.
This is to protect the interests of poor students from rural areas
It is also to ensure that medical personnel are available in all remote parts of the State.
What are the issues with draft ordinance?
The last minute change in the basis for admission will cause heartburn to students who have cleared NEET.
If the Centre was ready to grant a one-time exemption, it ought to have done so much earlier and not now.
If the exemption is stayed by the courts, another set of students and parents will once again feel deprived.
This belated move is bound to spawn further litigation and encourage similar demands elsewhere
