Joint counselling for Post Graduate medical and dental courses
Officials say that the move is expected to bring transparency and fairness in the admission process.
New Delhi: In a major development, the Union health ministry has asked the states to conduct “combined counselling” for PG medical and dental courses at the state level, including for all private medical/dental colleges and deemed universities for the academic year 2017-2018, creating a single window system for admission to various colleges.
Prior to this, the states had conducted combined counselling for undergraduate (UG) courses (medical and dental) for the academic session 2016-2017. “In view of successful conduct of combined counselling for UG courses, it may be appropriate for the states to hold combined counselling for PG courses,” reads a recent health ministry to the principal secretaries (medical education) of the states.
The step has been following a series of discussions by the ministry with the states and Union Territories on the issues of NEET PG and counselling for all PG courses. The decision to this effect was taken after the states gave their consent.
Officials say that the move is expected to bring transparency and fairness in the admission process. “The whole purpose of introducing NEET was to bring in merit and fairness and transparency in admissions, which shall now be achieved. This move shall benefit the PG aspirants at large,” said Dr Bipin Batra, executive director, National Board of Examination (NBE).
Calling it a “favourable” order, an official in the ministry said that following this move, chances of people getting exploited by private colleges over capitation fee, will be minimised.
Earlier all the colleges used to conduct their own counselling, leaving the candidates with no choice but to run across various institutions for admissions. “With this the ministry creates a single window system for admissions under the state government leaving no chance of exploitation of aspirants as was mandated by introduction of NEET,” an official said. Around 24,000 seats under MD and MS courses will be covered in this counselling.
The Supreme Court ordered to conduct National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test (NEET) in April for admission to MBBS/BDS courses in Govt/Private Medical/Dental Colleges including deemed universities. Following this, all the private medical colleges and deemed varsities had to cancel their entrance examination for academic session 2016-17 and admitted students from NEET rank list.