Up until last year, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) scores were used for admission in MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses. However, from 2021 onward, NEET scores may be used for admission in B.Sc. Nursing and B.Sc. Life Sciences also in addition to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses, said the official notice of the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The official notice quotes:
“The NEET (UG) 2021 is going to be conducted by NTA for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Courses as per the relevant norms / guidelines / regulations notified by the concerned Regulatory Bodies. The Result of NEET (UG) – 2021 may be utilized by other Entities of Central/State Governments (including Indian Nursing Council/ Nursing Colleges/ Schools, JIPMER) for counselling / admission to relevant courses [including B.Sc. (Nursing) and B.Sc. (Life Sciences)] in accordance with their rules / norms / guidelines.”
Now, students are asking “Is NEET UG Required for B.Sc Nursing Admission?”
So, if the notice is carefully read, then it is clear that “The Result of NEET (UG) – 2021 may be utilized by other Entities of Central/State Governments (including Indian Nursing Council/ Nursing Colleges/ Schools, JIPMER) for counselling / admission to relevant courses [including B.Sc. (Nursing) and B.Sc. (Life Sciences)] in accordance with their rules / norms / guidelines.”
Therefore, it is not compulsory for the institutes to take admission in B.Sc. (Nursing) and B.Sc. (Life Sciences) via NEET scores, they may use it. This is because the notice, has not clarified whether NEET will now be the only entrance exam in India for admission to BSc nursing programmes, like MBBS.
More information about BSc Nursing and Life Sciences will be available when the NEET 2021 information bulletin is released.
As per the various admission notices available till now, it has been noted that institutes are conducting their own entrance exams for admission in B.Sc nursing courses.
For example, Christian Medical College, Vellore will hold its own entrance exam for admission in the B.Sc Nursing course on August 10, 2021.
Indian Army will also hold Indian Army B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam or known as the Military Nursing Service (MNS) 2021. The application process for it is complete. However, the exam has been postponed due to COVID-19.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU) grants admission in B.Sc. Nursing, B.Pharma (Ayurveda), Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT), and Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) via an entrance exam. However, for this year the details are awaited.
Mahatma Gandhi Mission Common Entrance Test 2021 is being conducted by Mahatma Gandhi Mission Institute of Health Sciences, Maharashtra for admission in B.Sc Nursing course offered by the Navi Mumbai campus. MGM CET 2021 application form released. However, the exam date is yet to be notified.
Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education & Research, Chandigarh is also holding e PGIMER B.Sc Nursing Entrance Exam 2021 for admission in B.Sc Nursing course on July 31, 2021.
However, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, has announced that this year, admission in B.Sc nursing and allied health science courses will be done based on NEET 2021 scores. Until last year, JIPMER used to hold the JIPMER BSc entrance exam for admission in B.Sc. Nursing and B.Sc. Allied Health Science Courses.
Therefore, the candidates must be clear about the fact that NEET 2021 is not the only medical entrance exam in the nation for admission in B.Sc Nursing courses. It will be dependent on the institutes if they want to use NEET scores for admission in B.Sc Nursing and Life Science courses.
Hence the students who are interested in admission to B.Sc Nursing and Life Science courses must check the official notification for admission by the institute about the selection process and take action accordingly.