With Centre taking Ordinance route to defer the controversial all-India level test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses, J&K authorities are waiting for the President’s decision on the issue to take a final call on holding the state-level Common Entrance Test, officials said on Sunday.
The J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examination authorities said the decision on mode of admission for MBBS and BDS courses will be taken only after the President’s decision on the Centre’s Ordinance that seeks postponement of the National Eligibility and Entrance Examination or NEET, by one year.
“Things will become clear by Monday evening or Tuesday after the President takes a final call on the fate of NEET for this year. Till then we have to wait,” said G H Tantray, chairman of BOPEE.
He said the examination body was not in a position to decide how and through which examination the J&K aspirants could get admitted to state’s MBBS and BDS courses.
Tantray said the Government of India had been “well informed” about the issue related to exams in J&K, including the recently held JKCET.
“I have not seen the NEET Ordinance but the government (GoI) was informed well about these issues (exams),” he said.
The Prime Minister Narendra Modi-led cabinet recently decided to pass an ordinance seeking postponement of NEET as the entry route to MBBS and BDS. While the ordinance is in the President’s office and awaits his nod, J&K aspirants are worried whether missing the recently-held CET has deprived them of a chance to get admission in state’s medical and dental colleges.
Tawfeeq Ahmad, an aspirant from central Kashmir’s Budgam said he was ‘aghast’ at the recent developments.
“I did not appear in JKCET as my sole aim was MBBS which wasn’t an option with the state-level test after NEET. What will I do now?” he said.
On the other hand, candidates who had appeared in JKCET for admission to courses like BE and BUMS, are worried that they will have to appear again in exams if BOPEE conducts another admission test for other courses.
According to reports, Union Health Minister, J P Nadda will meet President on Monday to clarify the decision to move an ordinance seeking postponement of NEET for one year.