MHRD To Reconsider The Decision On NEET Conduct; NEET 2019 To Continue In Pen And Paper Mode Only

Prakash Javadekar, a month before, had made an announcement that National Testing agency will conduct NEET from 2019 onwards, twice a year and in online mode only. However now, the Health Ministry is claiming some major drawback of this decision. As per various newspaper reports, it is also being said that the Ministry of Health has written a letter to MHRD about how the public announcement on the NEET being conducted in CBT mode was made “without formal consultation” with them. Thus, now MHRD might reconsider the decision of NEET 2019 conduct.

As per the reports, there are 8 major problems highlighted in the letter by Health Ministry to MHRD. One of the major problems is that if the Computer Based Test (CBT) is implied, then rural and economically poor families will be at a disadvantage.

The Health Ministry also fears that if NTA would conduct exam in February and May, this would mean a continuous period of 4-5 months of exams for the class 12 students as, during the February-March period, class 12 students also appear in the Board exams. This may add to the pressure on students.

Health Ministry fears that NTA conducting NEET in online mode will be unfair to the economically backward students and the NTA proposed NEET calendar will add to extra pressure on the class 12 students.

Now that Health Ministry disagrees with MHRD’s decision, a meeting was held between officers of the Health and HRD ministries, suggests the newspapers reports. After which the decision to maintain the status quo, only for the NEET, till 2019, has been made.

Thus, until at least 2019, NEET might continue in Pen and Paper mode only. In addition to that, newspaper report also claims that CBSE and not National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct NEET in 2019. Also, NEET might remain an annual entrance examination, which means in 2019, NEET will be conducted once.

Summarising, we can now say that the decision of conducting NEET 2019 by NTA, twice a year and in CBT mode remains unclear. If the Ministry of Health’s concerns are taken into consideration by MHRD then, NEET 2019 will be conducted once a year, in pen and paper mode and by CBSE.

Students are advised to not worry about the mode and time of conduction of the examination. The NEET 2019 syllabus is the same. Also, no changes will be made in the exam pattern and eligibility. Thus, the preparations must go on without any hindrances. Until any final notice or official announcement of NEET 2019 – Stay prepared for the exam in the best possible manner.

Do you think the Ministry of Health’s concerns are legit? What do you think the mode of conduction of national entrance examinations like NEET and JEE Main should be? Should these exams be bi-annual? Do let us know your opinions in the comment section below. Stay tuned with AglaSem news for more!