NEET stymied by ordinance

The ordinance to postpone making NEET the single national common exam for state board students seeking admission to medical and dental colleges by a year was expected. The pressure on the Centre from political parties as well as states like Tamil Nadu and Karnataka, which faced huge issues over such a national test, may have forced the Centre’s hand. The best intentions of the Supreme Court in ridding the multiple selection processes of manipulation and corrupt practices by way of massive capitation fees charged by some private medical colleges and deemed universities may be nullified for one more academic year. The time frame and logistics of holding the test for the coming academic term may have been too demanding and underprepared students may have faced too much of a challenge.

The question is whether the principles behind the top court ruling are accepted or not. Will all those opposed to the revamp of the system come up with the same excuses next year too to stall the reform process There are states where the entire admission is on the basis of school-leaving exam marks. This is premised upon rural students being at a disadvantage in taking objective analytical tests. All arguments, however, fail as the crux of the matter is whether anyone would trust their health and their well-being on any but the most competent doctors. The sooner it is accepted that a merit-driven common test is the best route to giving seats to the most deserving the better it would be for national health.