Andhra Pradesh urges Centre to lower NEET cut-off score

New Delhi: Andhra Pradesh Health Minister Kamineni Srinivas urged Union Health Minister J P Nadda to lower the cut-off score in the NEET exam to facilitate qualification of more students from the state.

At a meeting with Nadda, Srinivas said the reduction in the cut-off marks would help more students qualify for courses under the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

"The Union minister accepted my request in principle and assured a positive outcome. The move would help fill up vacant seats, including in non-clinical courses, in government colleges," Srinivas said.

Srinivas also requested a NEET exam centre in Tirupati to facilitate students in Rayalaseema region.

"We have centres in Vijayawada and Vizag. We have requested another centre in Tirupati to help students from Rayalaseema region," he said.

Srinivas also urged Nadda to hasten the process of setting up AIIMS at Mangalagiri.

"Apart from AIIMS, 3 more super speciality blocks in existing district medical college hospitals were requested.

The state government will be submitting a priority list of three locations for setting up the blocks after a meeting with Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu," he said.

A trauma centre in Nellore, virology lab in Guntur, second tranche of funds for strengthening medical colleges were part of the wishlist from the state.

Later, the state minister also met Union Environment Minister Anil Dave to discuss the Kolleru issue.