BENGALURU: Karnataka Medical Education Minister Sharan Prakash Patil said recent controversies surrounding the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) have highlighted the need for a fresh national discussion on medical admissions.
He announced plans to invite medical education ministers from across the country for a meeting next month to deliberate on possible reforms. Patil said states should be given a greater role in assessing medical aspirants and suggested that marks obtained in Plus Two/Pre-University Course (PUC) examinations along with Common Entrance Test (CET) scores should be given weightage in the admission process.
In the present system, students from small villages and rural areas will find it difficult to compete against someone from urban areas. Recalling the background of the examination system, Patil said he was among those who had suggested the idea of a single national-level medical entrance examination during a meeting with Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Bengaluru in 2014. At that time, he said, the proposal was aimed at reducing the burden on students who had to appear for multiple medical entrance examinations conducted by different institutions and states.
“During that period, there were several parallel examinations, and students were facing a lot of pressure. A common examination was seen as a solution,” Patil said. He said when he had proposed it originally, PM Modi had asked if it was possible.
He said the Union government started it subsequently, after a court order. However, he added that concerns were raised after the recent NEET-related fiasco for re-evaluation of the system. The objective should be to ensure a fairer and more balanced admission process that considers the academic performance of students at the state level as well. “After the recent NEET issue, there is a need to rethink the process. This is why we want to bring together ministers from different states and discuss the way forward,” he said.
Patil said the proposed meeting would provide a platform for states to share their experiences and explore possible changes in the medical admission framework. We want to do it in an objective way without politics, otherwise BJP-ruled states may find it difficult to participate. He also maintained that Karnataka remains better positioned than many other states in the field of medical education, citing the state’s established medical institutions and infrastructure.