Entrance exam must for MBBS seat | How to get MBBS seat?

In a controversial move,the Medical Council of India (MCI) has issued a notification making the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) the sole qualification for MBBS courses as well as postgraduate medical admissions in all medical colleges across the country.

The Dec 21 notification has stated that henceforth marks obtained in mathematics at the Plus Two level,too,would be considered for admission to the MBBS course.All-India and state-wise merit lists of candidates should be prepared on the basis of the marks obtained in the NEET,the notification stipulated,adding that the minimum marks in NEET for admission to an MBBS course would be 50%.It would be 40% for SC,ST and OBC candidates,and 45% for disabled persons.No candidate who has failed to obtain the minimum eligibility marks shall be admitted to MBBS course in the academic year (concerned ), the notification states.The notice doesnt specify the minimum marks required to appear for NEET.Reservation of seats shall be as per the laws prevailing in the states/union territories concerned,it said,adding that minimum marks could be lowered in case sufficient number of candidates are not available from reserved categories.

The notification said it was being issued with the previous approval of the central government.What is most controversial about the notification is the fact that the NEET had been made the sole admission criterion for all admissions,including those being offered by unaided minority/non-minority institutions.

Already,the All India Medical Association (AIMA) has shot off a letter to the Union health ministry crying foul.AIMA president Deen Dayal Naidu has said the MCI Board had exceeded its brief in notifying the NEET when the matter was still pending before the Supreme Court.The plan for common entrance test has been opposed in the apex court by some states as well as associations of unaided colleges.None of the 13 expressly defined roles of the MCI,as found in clause 33 of the Regulations,empowers the MCI to dabble with the admission procedure, said Naidu.He said neither the health ministry nor the Union Cabinet had been taken into confidence by the MCI.

A L Somayaji,senior advocate and former additional advocate general of Tamil Nadu,said the NEET was an unreasonable restriction on unaided educational institutions and it interferes with the rights of such institutions.Candidates from less literate states would be left out if such a national-level test is held,he said.

Former advocate general of Tamil Nadu,N R Chandran,feels that prima facie the NEET was not a step in the right direction.Courts have recognised certain rights of unaided educational institutions.Such common entrance tests cannot be forced on them, he said.It will not stand legal scrutiny, Naidu said,adding the apex court had said more than once that as far as the unaided institutions are concerned,the role of the government or its agencies would end with ensuring that the merit of candidates was not undermined by the managements.Single eligibility-cum-entrance test would render the two-year higher secondary courses redundant,and lead to mushrooming of coaching centres,he said.

National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) is the sole qualification for MBBS courses and postgraduate admissions across the country Maths score in Class XII,too,will be considered for admission Based on NEET score,all-India and state-wise merit lists will be prepared for admission Threshold NEET mark to gain admission to an MBBS course is 50% for merit students;40% for SC/ST and OBC;45% for the disabled Prevailing quota matrix in states and Union territories to continue NEET is the sole admission criterion for all admissions,including those being offered by unaided minority/non-minority institutions