JP Nadda briefs President on NEET ordinance

Confusion over the fate of the ordinance to defer for a year the implementation of the Supreme Court-ordered National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) as the “sole” entrance test for admission to state medical colleges continued even as Union health minister J.P. Nadda on Monday met President Pranab Mukherjee and briefed him about the need to bring in an ordinance.

While Mr Nadda’s meeting with the President lasted more than half an hour, discussions continued through the day and late into Monday night between health ministry officials and the President’s Secretariat after the President sought fresh information regarding the postponement of the uniform test for another year.

The Centre had cleared the ordinance on Friday and sent to Rastrapati Bhavan that evening. However, sources said the President did not give his assent to the promulgation of the ordinance that proposed to amend the Indian Medical Council Act of 1956 and the Dentists Act, 1948, and summoned the health minister.

Sources confirmed that the President also sought the opinion of in-house experts on the ordinance.