Pros and Cons of NEET

From 2019 onwards, NEET is conducted by newly constituted NTA (National Testing Agency). It was earlier conducted by CBSE. NEET has now replaced AIPMT, all state level medical entrance exams and those conducted by various private medical colleges. Admission in medical/dental colleges of different states and private institutions offering MBBS or BDS courses is now done based on NEET merit list. In this post, we will discuss about NEET and its pros and cons in detail.

  
 

History of NEET: The AIPMT-NEET Saga

 

NEET was conducted for the first time in the year 2013. It received strong opposition from states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Gujarat etc and private medical colleges. On 18 July 2013, the apex court called it unconstitutional and scrapped it.  

 
 

In 2014, AIPMT once again replaced NEET. But, its pattern was changed. Earlier AIPMT included two stages- Prelims and Mains exam. From 2014 onwards, it became a single stage medical entrance exam. Questions were reduced from 200 to 180. In 2015, Supreme Court ordered CBSE to re-conduct AIPMT when reports about large scale use of unfair means in examination were proved in the court. It was a dark phase but it showed the path ahead. 
 

In 2016, Supreme Court reversed its earlier decision and gave a historic verdict in favour of NEET. It scrapped AIPMT and ordered CBSE to conduct NEET as a single medical entrance exam at the national level. Some states were allowed to conduct their own medical entrance exam for one more year. From 2017 onwards, for taking admission into MBBS or BDS course, in government or private medical colleges, NEET was made mandatory.  
 
In 2018, government set up National Testing Agency (NTA) to conduct NEET and other similar entrance exams, earlier conducted by CBSE to ease its workload and bring transparency.  
 

Admission in AIIMS, JIPMER, BHU, AFMC and AMU through NEET 

Initially, only in medical colleges like BHU, AFMC and AMU, admission process was brought under the umbrella of NEET. These colleges used to conduct their own entrance exams earlier. AIIMS and JIPMER, established under parliament act were kept out of the ambit of NEET. They were allowed to conduct their own entrance exams for the time being. 

 

From 2020 onwards, AIIMS and JIPMER have also been brought under the ambit of NEET. Admission in these two prestigious medical colleges of the country will now be based on NEET merit list. Hence, now it can be said that NEET is truly “THE SINGLE MEDICAL ENTRANCE EXAM” in India. Also Read: "MBBS Seats in Bihar under State Quota | UGMAC Counselling 2020"

 

Pros and Cons of NEET 

Undoubtedly, NEET has been one of the highly debated entrance exams of the country. Its existence was challenged earlier and it is still observing resistance in some states. But, the verdict of Supreme Court is acting as the backbone for NEET this time. Union and state governments are bound to implement the guidelines of the apex court regarding this exam. Now let us discuss pros and cons of NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test). 
 

Pros of NEET 
 

1) No Shock for AIPMT lovers: If, you were fan of AIPMT earlier then you don’t have any reason to get upset with NEET. Syllabus and question paper pattern of both exams are almost identical. Like AIPMT, 15 percent All-India Quota seats are filled through NEET too.  

 

2) NEET has now replaced numerous medical entrance exams conducted by prestigious institutions (AIIMS, JIPMER, BHU, AFMC), various states and private medical colleges. It reduces financial burden from the shoulders of guardians and mental stress of students significantly. Now, they need to prepare just for one exam. It saves both time and money. Earlier, students used to fill numerous applications. They used to travel multiple times for various medical entrance exams. Even after draining themselves out physically, mentally and financially, if students didn’t get admission in medical college, how it felt; one can just imagine.  

 

3) After reading second point it is clear that NEET saves both time and money. Now students don’t need to submit application for multiple medical entrance exams. It also saves transportation and lodging expenses. As there is only one medical exam, students need to prepare just for NEET, which saves precious time too. 

 

4) Through NEET, students can now take admission in the prestigious medical institutions of India like AIIMS and JIPMER. NEET 2020 is historic in this regard as for the first time in the history of AIIMS, any medical exam has replaced the entrance exam of the premiere medical institute. 

                                   

 

5) NTA only conducts NEET and prepares its Merit List. For admission under state quota seats, counselling is still conducted by various state boards like BCECEB in Bihar, JCECEB in Jharkhand, etc. It means, like earlier, a student from Bihar can take admission in PMCH Patna under state quota, only when he has the residential certificate or domicile of Bihar. It applies to all states and hence NEET does not snatch rights of a native student from any state. Also Read: "MBBS and BDS Seats in Jharkhand under State Quota | JCECEB Counselling 2020"

 

6) NEET is expected to bring transparency in the admission process of private medical colleges. One of the significant benefits of NEET is that a student can claim an MBBS or a BDS seat of private medical college, based on NEET merit list. Earlier, huge amounts were charged as donation for the same.  

 

7) Soon NEET will be conducted twice in a year just like JEE Main. It will give students two attempts in a single year to improve their score and rank. Best score out of the two would be considered for medical counselling. 

 

8) After 2015 AIPMT incident, lots of steps have been taken to keep NEET free from use of unfair means. NTA is expected to conduct NEET online in coming days. It will get rid of paper leak menace and will bring transparency in the entire examination process. 

 

9) Unlike AIPMT, NEET is conducted in 10 regional languages to help students of different state boards, studying in native language.  

 

10) NEET will prompt state boards to adopt syllabus similar to that of CBSE. A uniform syllabus will calm down critics of NEET.  

 

11) NEET supporters often question its critics by asking that if CBSE with enough resources, failed to conduct AIPMT 2015 smoothly, how states could conduct medical entrance exam with limited resources, free of errors and malpractices. 
 
 

Cons of NEET 

 

1) Students of different state boards, where syllabus is not similar to that of CBSE, are on receiving end. Though, there is no change in syllabus for NEET currently, NTA is expected to fix this issue in future. 

 

2) States like Tamil Nadu where admission in medical colleges were earlier carried out based on performance in class 12, NEET has received stiff opposition. Now, NEET is mandatory for taking admission in any medical college in the country.  

 

3) NEET has not played any role whatsoever in reducing fees of private medical colleges, though it checked donation during admission. 

 

4) Several medical aspirants commit suicide due to stress every year. Surely, it has everything to do with the limited number of medical seats in a country of 1.3 billion people. More than 18 lakh candidates appear in NEET every year for approximately 1,00,000 Medical seats. Opening of new medical colleges is the clear demand of prevailing situation. 

 

5) Students who reach at exam centres late on exam day; often miss their exam. NTA must conduct special NEET exam for these students as many come from remote areas and even other states. Currently, they lose one precious year and sadly they don’t have second opportunity like earlier.

 
 

NEET may have some loopholes currently. But, probably it is one of the biggest steps for bringing reforms in the medical education in India. In long run, it should benefit students and strengthen health sector of the country.