NEET: To Be Or Not To Be

The National Eligibility cum Entrance test (NEET) has been in the eye of the storm from the time it has been rolled out. Multiple controversies have surfaced and there is an ongoing debate surrounding NEET.

A month ago the HRD Minister had announced that the NEET entrance test will be conducted online and twice a year from 2019. However, close to its wake the new is rife that NEET the entrance test to medical institutions across the country will continue as an annual pen-and-paper test, at least till 2019.Previously the test was supposed to be conducted by the National Testing Agency or NTA, however, as per the latest rollback on the online test it so seems that CBSE will be conducting the examination even the next year.

It is the Health Ministry, who had raised concern over the online (computer based) test which according to them would put students from rural and economically poor families at a disadvantage.

On July 6th HRD minister Javadekar had announced that going forward the NTA would conduct the national level entrance examinations NET, NEET, JEE(Mains) that were till now organized by the Central Board of Secondary Education. As per the HRD Ministry calendar the JEE (Mains) was to be held in the month of January and April, NEET to be conducted in February and May and NET to be conducted in December. However, the Health Ministry listed eight problem areas with regards to HRD Minister's announcement.

There was a meeting held between officers of both the ministries and the HRD ministry is learnt to have agreed to maintain status quo, only with regards to NEETS exam, till 2019.

By: Madhuchanda Saxena

Content: https://indianexpress.com/article/education/hrd-ministry-may-roll-back-decision-on-neet-conduct-5299913/