NEET exam: Central government passes ordinance, defers by one year

Deferring the implementation of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), the Central government on Friday issued an ordinance for medical and dental courses - for state governments and their affiliated institutions to next year.

The Centre issued the ordinance following clearance from the Union Cabinet this morning.The development is likely to benefit a large number of students, who wish to appear in the NEET or the common medical and dental entrance examination.

The exam, however, will be applicable for those applying for Central government and private management institutions under the management quota.

The decision came in the aftermath of several meetings between Union Health Minister JP Nadda and state health ministers to discuss the issue. The state government representatives had asked the Centre to consider the stress the students will face if uncertainty prevailed.

The central government had earlier held two rounds of hectic deliberations to build consensus before taking the Ordinance route.