CBSE to hold NEET exam on May 6

The Central Board of Secondary Education will hold the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical aspirants on May 6. Aspirants from all government-recognised secondary school examination boards, with the exception of private candidates and those who passed the Class 12 board examination through the National Institute of Open Schooling or similar open institutions, can apply for the entrance test.

Candidates who passed 10+2 from open schools, or as private candidates, will not be eligible to appear for NEET. Those who took biology/bio-technology as an additional subject at the 10+2 level will not be permitted either,” an official statement from the board read. The board launched the candidate registration process from Thursday midnight. Online applications from places across India and abroad will be accepted until 11.50 pm on March 9.

The Medical Council of India (MCI), which comes under Union health ministry, had ruled against open school students taking the entrance test from this year because it believed such candidates cannot be considered on a par with those from other secondary school examination boards (who complete 12 years of schooling in “regular mode” with practicals in science subjects). HT had reported this on January 17.

The National Institute of Open Schooling, which functions under the human resource development (HRD) ministry, later requested the MCI to not bar its students from taking NEET – pointing out that its examination system was rigorous and the passing certificates issued were valid for higher education as well as employment. HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and health minister JP Nadda held a meeting in January to resolve the issue. From this year, students aspiring to pursue MBBS or BDS courses at foreign medical institutes will have to first clear NEET. Foreign students, NRIs and persons of Indian origin are eligible to appear for the examination.