NEET: Confusion prevails as President seeks more clarity from government

Uncertainty loomed over the fate of the government ordinance, overturning a Supreme Court (SC) judgment on a single national test for pre-medical examination, with President Pranab Mukherjee expressing doubts and seeking more clarification from the government.

The Union cabinet had approved the ordinance, following pressure from states, which wanted to conduct their own tests for entry into medical colleges at least for a year. The SC had called for a single test called the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET).

Over the past two days, the President had consulted an array of legal experts, and, on Monday, he called Union health minister JP Nadda to the Rashtrapati Bhawan to explain the provisions and urgency of implementing the statute, despite SC objections.

If the President returns the ordinance, it will be an unprecedented situation, which may morally force the government to rethink. The government has the option of sending it to him a second time. It will then become mandatory on the President to put his seal on the ordinance.

The government's indecisiveness has left medical and dental college aspirants in a fix. While students aspiring for non-medical courses are exploring their options after the Class X11 results, medical aspirants and their parents are an anxious lot.

"We have received three cases where students have slipped into depression. While they know their worth, they feel helpless and dejected by the system," said Dr Jitender Nagpal of Moolchand Institute of Medical Health.

Nagpal also said that, with Class XII results already out, students from other streams will join colleges by July first week. The wait is long and uncertain for medical aspirants.

"It adds to their anxiety. We see these students coming with panic attack, hostility and irritability symptoms," he said.

The NEET was held on May 1. Students who had appeared for NEET had also applied for medical entrances in other states and private institutions. However, with the SC scrapping all state-level and private exams, the government has now decided to hold a second NEET on July 24.

No clarity on state-level entrance examinations has left the students confused. Some were turned back from the examination centres, hours before the exams as they were cancelled. Others are not sure whether the exam scheduled next month will have any sanctity.

Sahida (name changed) had to appear for state medical entrance examination in Srinagar. A resident of Delhi, she travelled all the way to Srinagar for the test. A day before the exam, she was informed that the exam has been cancelled.

Hours later, she received another message that the exam had been rescheduled for the next day. On reaching the examination centre the next day, Sahida was surprised to find that the entrance for MBBS stood cancelled and she could appear for BDS, BAMS and physiotherapy entrances.

Back in Delhi, she is now awaiting a final decision on the NEET ordinance and does not know if she will have to travel to Srinagar again.

The delay has not just left the aspirants, but even the parents anxious. "My son's centre for JIPMER exam is at Bhubaneswar. We have to book train tickets. Now we don't know whether the exam will take place or not," said Mamta Chawla, a parent at Ranchi, whose daughter is appearing for the MBBS exams. JIPMER exam is scheduled for June 5.

Some 6.5 lakh students are appearing for 52,751 seats across 412 medical colleges in the country. On an avenge, a student fills at least 10 forms, spending close to Rs 15,000.

Even coaching institutions, which are gearing up to provide a crash course to students who aspire to appear for NEET 2, are awaiting the President's verdict.

Many students who were preparing for state-level tests will now also appear for NEET 2 exam. Akash Institute for medical entrance examination is planning to start a two-month crash course for NEET 3. "We have been getting queries from students and parents. But we have no confirmation from the government. We are only telling students to keep calm and remain focused," said Aditi Mathur, a career counsellor at the institution.