Private Bill In Parliament Proposes Amendment That Will Give States Choice To Opt Out Of NEET

On Friday DMK Member in Rajya Sabha P.Wilson introduced a Private Member's Bill that would give states the choice to opt out of National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admissions into medical courses. The Medical Education Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021 also seeks to amend Section 10-D of the Dentists Act, 1948 to grant exemption to States opting out of Uniform Entrance Examination.

The Bill seeks to introduce the following after Section 14 (3) of the Principal Act:

"The provisions of this section shall not apply...at the undergraduate level or postgraduate or super-speciality level in respect of State Government seats unless such state has opted for such National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test."

The Bill, in its Statement of Objects and Reasons, states that NEET has not only given CBSE schools an upper hand but also greatly disadvantaged students from economically weaker sections of the society. It also states that students have to opt for private coaching which is extra-ordinarily expensive and cannot be afforded by a common man.

It also states that since education Is a matter placed in Entry 25 of List III of the Seventh Schedule of the Constitution, thereby the State Legislature also have the legislative competence over the filed and the Executive of the State. It also states that the power of the State Government in the field of admissions to the colleges by conducting examinations in available to them under Entry 25 of List III as has been enunciated by the Supreme Court in The Modern Dental College v The Tamil Nadu Medical Officers Association.

Click here to read/download a copy of the Medical Education Laws (Amendment) Bill, 2021