NEET – UG has been abolished by the CBSE and replaced by the AIPMT (All India Pre Medical Entrance Examination) for admission into 15% of the seats in Government Medical/ Dental Colleges in all states except Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh for the academic year 2014 – 2015.
NEET – UG (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test – Under Graduate) was a national level entrance examination conducted by the CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education). It was supposed to provide students with the opportunity to join courses in the field of medicine and dentistry across institutes and colleges throughout India. It was created with the purpose of providing students from all over the country a ‘level playing ground’ so that their admissions into medical colleges are purely based on merit.
NEET – UG was conducted for the first time on the 5th of May, 2013. It replaced the AIPMT (All India Pre Medical Test) and all other state level entrance exams (for medicine) conducted by different states. However, institutions like AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences), Postgraduate Institute for Medical Education and Research in Chandigarh and the Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research conducted their own entrance examinations as these institutes were created by separate laws.
It is to be noted that many colleges and institutions from different states had strongly opposed the NEET – UG exam. They had claimed that the MCI (Medical Council of India) did not have the powers to conduct a mandatory common entrance test for all medical educational institutions. Some states also claimed that the syllabus prescribed by the CBSE for NEET was very different from their state’s syllabus and hence it would not prove to be a level playing ground for all medicine aspirants. Colleges like the Manipal University and CMC – Vellore conducted their own medical entrance examinations for the year 2013.
On the 18th of July, 2013 the Supreme Court of India gave a decision in favor of these opposing institutions and abolished the NEET – UG. The Supreme Court also believed that the MCI did not have the powers to conduct a common entrance examination and it went against the independence of several states and private institutions.
Subsequently, a petition was filed in the Supreme Court by an NGO called ‘Sankalp’ asking the Court to review its decision. The MCI had also asked the Supreme Court to review its decision as it is believed that the NEET – UG can provide students with the opportunity to gain admission into medical colleges only on the basis of their merit. The MCI also stated that NEET – UG did not interfere with the rights of the States. The Supreme Court is yet to review the decision and provide a final judgment.
However, on the 2nd of October, 2013, CBSE (Central Board of Secondary Education) announced that it will be conducting the AIPMT (All India Pre Medical Test) instead of the NEET – UG for admissions into 15% of the seats in Government medical / dental colleges in all states except Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh subject to approval by the Supreme Court.
What does the future hold?
With the announcement made by the CBSE, it is more or less certain that NEET – UG will be replaced by the AIPMT for the year 2014 – 2015. 15% of the seats in Government Medical/Dental Colleges in all states except Jammu & Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh will be allotted through the scores of candidates in the AIPMT. Admissions in Jammu and Kashmir and Andhra Pradesh will be held through the State level entrance exams conducted by these two states. The rest of the seats in Government Colleges and all the seats in Private Colleges will be allotted through State level and Private entrance examinations. Also, the AIPMT will serve as an entrance examination into medical/colleges in India and abroad that choose to voluntarily participate in the test.
The CBSE has announced that the AIPMT – 2014 will be held on the 4th of May, 2014. However, it is to be kept in mind that the AIPMT – 2014 will not be based on its previous model that was prevalent before NEET – UG came into the picture. As a matter of fact, the structure and model of the test is based on the NEET – UG 2013.
The syllabus of the AIPMT – 2014 will be the same as the syllabus for the NEET – UG 2013. The AIPMT – 2014 will comprise of a single paper that will have 180 objective type questions. These 180 objective type questions will comprise of 45 questions from each of the following subjects – Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology.
The main difference between the NEET – UG 2013 and the AIPMT is that NEET was supposed to be the only admission test for all medical colleges in India, whereas AIPMT is applicable only for the 15% seats in all Government Medical and Dental colleges. The AIPMT – 2014 will not be applicable to private colleges and the other 85% seats in Government Medical and Dental colleges.
Even though the Supreme Court is yet to give a final decision on the AIPMT 2014, it can be safely assumed that admissions for the year 2014 will be conducted through the AIPMT. As the syllabus for the NEET UG and the AIPMT is the same, a decision favoring NEET UG over the AIPMT for 2014 will not make too much of a difference to your preparation. However, you should also start preparing for various private and state level entrance tests as they are most likely to be the gateway in to private as well Govt. and state level medical/colleges (other 85% seats).
