Question : National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test

(a) whether the Government has received demands from various States/stakeholders to scrap the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to undergraduate medical courses, particularly in colleges that are fully funded by the State Government and if so, the details thereof and the response of the Government thereto;

(b) whether the Government has initiated any study to understand the adverse impact of NEET on medical students, if so, the details thereof;

(c) whether such a study has also been reviewed with the experts including psychologists and if so, the details thereof and if not, the reasons therefor;

(d) whether existing medical education facilities inthe country doesn’t meet the aspirations of large number of NEET candidates and if so, the steps being taken to redress the same; and

(e) whether the Government plans to give larger say to State Governments in decision on medical education in the country, if so, the details of steps being taken to redress the concerns of State Governments regarding NEET?

THE MINISTER OF STATE IN THE MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND
FAMILY WELFARE
(DR. BHARATI PRAVIN PAWAR)

(a) to (e) : Section 14 of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019 mandates for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to be conducted as a common/ uniform entrance test for admission to the undergraduate and postgraduate courses in all medical institutions in the country. NEET is a historic reform promoting meritocracy and providing opportunity to meritorious students to get admission in the best medical institutions in the country. It has resulted in curbing malpractices in medical admission, greater transparency and reducing the burden on prospective students of appearing in multiple entrance exams.



NEET is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA). To help the students to practice well for NEET (UG) exam, NTA has launched a Mobile App ‘National Test Abhyas'' to facilitate candidates'' access to high quality mock tests online, free of cost. The syllabus of NEET (UG) is based on the syllabi of all the State Boards and National Boards.Question Papers are prepared taking the help of the State level Experts. Further, to enable the candidates from State Boards and rural areas to understand the questions properly, the Question Paper for NEET (UG) 2021 was set in different languages.
The number of UG seats have increased from 51,348 before 2014 to 89,875 seats which is an increase of 75%.

The Government has taken following steps to further increase the number of seats and colleges in the country:-
i. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for establishment of new medical college by upgrading district/ referral hospital under which 157 new medical colleges have been approved and 71 are already functional.
ii. Centrally Sponsored Scheme for strengthening/ upgradation of existing State Government/Central Government Medical Colleges to increase MBBS and PG seats.
iii. Central Sector Scheme for upgradation of Government Medical Colleges by construction of Super Specialty Blocks. A total of 75 projects have been approved and 55 have been completed.
iv. Under Central Sector Scheme for setting up of new AIIMS, 22 AIIMS have been approved. Undergraduate courses have started in 19 AIIMS.
v. Relaxation in the norms for setting up of Medical College in terms of requirement for faculty, staff, bed strength and other infrastructure.
vi. DNB qualification has been recognized for appointment as faculty to take care of shortage of faculty.
vii. Enhancement of age limit for appointment/ extension/ re-employment against posts of teachers/dean/principal/ director in medical colleges upto 70 years.
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