Implementation of common entrance examination for medical courses from this year continued to draw objections from lawmakers with members in the lok Sabha on Monday raising the issue again as the Government admitted “practical problems” and assured the House that it would try to resolve the issue in consultations with the Health Ministry.
Members said some States have already taken their separate medical exams and the common entrance examination should be held from the next year.
Parliamentary Affairs Minister M Venkaiah Naidu noted that the decision was taken by the Supreme Court and not the Government. The Minister said he cannot answer on behalf of the court. Naidu said he will convey the concerns of members to the Health Minister, who in turn will consult law officers.
KC Venugopal (Congress) called the decision “hasty and not practical” and said it has triggered much “confusion and apprehension” among parents.
He did not oppose the common entrance examination but said it should have been implemented from next year onward, noting that some states had already taken their exams.
The two-phase test, first on May 1 and second on July 24, is also “discriminatory” as questions asked in the first phase will not be asked in the next.
“It will create havoc,” he said, asking the Government to take necessary step to maintain status quo.
Another Congress member Rajiv Satav also spoke on similar lines, saying the decision will affect 80 per cent of Maharashtra students. He asked the government to file a Special leave Petition in the apex court.
Naidu objected to Venugopal blaming the Government for the decision, saying the order had come from the Supreme Court.
“There are some practical problems, some heart-burning also,” he said. The issue was raised last week too when members of various parties had opposed holding of the first phase of common entrance test for MBBS and BDS on May 1, saying it gives little time to students.