Jaitley calls all-party meet to discuss issues related to NEET

Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley has called for an all-party meeting at 7 p.m. today to discuss issues related to the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Jaitley had earlier said the government is holding talks with the states on the Supreme Court's order on a common medical entrance test.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda today chaired a meeting of State Health Ministers on the issue of common medical entrance test in New Delhi.

The meeting was convened after several parliamentarians opposed the common medical entrance test, saying the NEET has created confusion among the students who have already applied for state entrance exams.

"Met Health Ministers of States today. They shared their views on holding NEET this year," Nadda tweeted after the meeting.

"I have noted their many concerns about NEET this year. Will soon formulate further course of action," he said.

The Supreme Court had earlier ruled that the students will have to appear for NEET starting this academic session to seek admission to any medical or dental colleges in the country.

Earlier this week, the apex court also turned down a batch of appeals by the states seeking to conduct their own medical admission tests and ruled that only NEET will enable students to get admission to MBBS or BDS studies.

The opposition parties have raised concerns that the students passing out from the state boards in vernacular languages and living in remote areas may not be able to perform well enough in common entrance exam despite being competitive.

Several lawmakers have also demanded the government to bring forth an ordinance to stall the NEET for the current academic session.