The government on Wednesday said it favoured holding a general common medical entrance test for admissions in MBBS and BDS courses but the test should be conducted from next year.
"The government, in principle, is in favour of a general common admission test. However, this is not the decision of the government. This is the directive of the court (to the government)," Parliamentary Affairs Minister M. Venkaiah Naidu told the Lok Sabha.
He was responding to concerns raised by some members in the Lok Sabha during Zero Hour.
The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) replacing all other private and state medical entrance tests across the country is scheduled to be held on July 24.
Naidu said if the NEET is conducted from next year, then the students can have adequate time to prepare for the exam.
The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader also assured the members that the government will again approach the apex court in this regard through the Attorney General.
"I will convey the concerns of the members to the union HRD minister and health minister. We will also try to convince the (apex) court," Naidu said.
Earlier, raising the matter, Trinamool Congress member Kakoli Ghosh demanded that a legislative initiative should be taken up by the government to address the concerns of students.
"How can students be asked to appear in the test within such short span of time. The government should take legislative initiative in this regard so that we can stand by students. We can't let them suffer," she said.
Shiromani Akali Dal member Prem Singh Chandumajra demanded that Punjabi be included in the list of regional languages in which candidates can take the NEET exam.
Congress member Rajiv Satav said that either the government should again approach the apex court or bring an ordinance to give relief to the students.
--IANS
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