CHENNAI: The Directorate of Medical Education announced the sale of applications for MBBS/BDS courses for the academic year 2016-17. This comes after the Supreme Court directive allowing the State-run medical colleges to remain outside the ambit of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for a year.
The sale of applications began on Wednesday (May 26). But downloading of forms have already started from Tuesday, while sale of hard copies began Wednesday. Applications can be downloaded from www.tnhealth.org.
The merit list will be released on June 17 while counselling will begin on June 20.
Government medical colleges are offering 2,650 seats for the MBBS course this academic year, with 15 per cent (397 seats) allotted for all India quota.
There were 2,655 government medical seats last year but five seats were reduced this year. “There were 2,655 seats last time because Madurai Medical College had offered 155 seats. However, the Medical Council of India (MCI) inspected the colleges, and demanded it be brought down to 150 seats,” Dr G Selvarajan who serves as additional director of medical education and secretary of the selection committee told Express. Private medical colleges are offering 760 MBBS seats including 290 management quota seats.
Government dental colleges are offering 100 seats. Private dental colleges, on the other hand, are touting 1,610 seats, 640 of which come under management quota. Director of medical education, Dr R Vimala said, “We are going to start distributing applications in all the government medical colleges by May 26 and the forms can also be obtained online.”
She also said the latest move would be a boon for students from rural areas and the Tamil medium. “It will definitely benefit them,” she added.
Dr Selvarajan said there were problems with NEET being introduced right away. “Students have already written exams of 10+2 under State Board. Now, they can’t write the NEET entrance for CBSE. Practically, it’s difficult. Students had less time to prepare, which was also a problem.”
No 1 eludes Virudhunagar for fifth straight year
Virudhunagar has lost first place in overall pass percentage in SSLC examination for the fifth consecutive year. With 97.81 pass percentage, it stands third in the State this year. From 1985-86 till 2010-11, no other district could beat Virudhunagar. Decline began in 2011-12, when it slipped to third. In the subsequent year, it slipped to fifth, and in 2013-14, Virudhunagar finished fourth. It was a consolation of sorts for the district education officials when it climbed to second last year with 97.98 per cent.