NEET for admissions in private medical colleges in Maharashtra

Maharashtra: State Education Minister Vinod Tawde in his recent statement to the media has clearly implied that students seeking admissions in private medical colleges here will have to appear for the NEET II. The exam is scheduled on July 24. The minister also confirmed that 2,810 seats in government medical colleges with filled through MHCET only.

It may be noted that President Pranab Mukherjee had recently signed an ordinance on NEET-to defer it by another year.

Tawde in his statement implied that there are states like Andhra Pradesh and Karnataka which have reserved seats for state government in private medical colleges. However, Maharashtra does not have any such provision for reservations in the state. So, students seeking admission in private medical college will have to take the NEET route.

Tawde said to Express that the state’s lawyers will file caveats and put its stand before the Supreme Court on Wednesday. While the minister advised students, who can afford to study in private colleges, to prepare for NEET II, he also said the state will convene a meeting of expert academicians to check whether any changes are required in the state board syllabus. The changes will be suggested to the chairman of the board of higher secondary education.

He implied that students should follow a curriculum which should make them comfortable with the course. Parents are not happy with the decision of admission of private medical college admission through NEET. They feel that the ordinance on NEET should have been for private medical colleges too.

“We will meet Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis and request him to consider our case,” said Ruiee Kapoor, a parent to Express who has been protesting against the Supreme Court verdict making NEET compulsory for all medical aspirants. Parents said the chances of general category students of getting a seat in a government medical or dental college will reduce drastically.