States have accepted NEET route for admission to Indian medicine and Siddha courses, minister says

CHENNAI: Almost all states, including Tamil Nadu, have accepted Centre’s decision to make National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for admission to Indian medicine and Siddha courses, said Union minister of state for Ayush Shripad Yesso Naik on Wednesday.

The Union health ministry has made NEET mandatory for candidates wishing to pursue Indian medicine, just like medical or dental courses. “This exam is important to ensure quality of students even at the entry level. No state has opposed it, orally or in writing,” Naik said. Although some states moved courts seeking exemption, pleas have been rejected.

In February, the ministry advised all states to issue wider publicity advising aspiring doctors to write and clear NEET 2018 scheduled for May 6.

“We have also written to states asking them to consider NEET as sole merit for admissions to all AYUSH courses,” he said.

He said the ministry is working on several education reforms to improve quality of education with a hope that it will encourage more people to opt for Ayush.