The government has reconstituted the Veterinary Council of India (VCI).
The newly constituted VCI has decided to start the process of admission to private and government veterinary colleges for the current academic year. The date of admission has also been extended from October 1 to November 30, said an official release.
The VCI also decided to withdraw recognition of universities and private colleges if they fail to give an undertaking to follow minimum standards prescribed by VCI by March 2015.
It also permitted the government veterinary colleges with sufficient manpower and infrastructure to increase the intake capacity from 60 to 100.
"The above initiatives will prove to be a milestone in removing the shortage of veterinary professionals in the country and also give a moral boost to all the passed out veterinary graduates from these colleges, who were awaiting clearance of VCI and were not in a position to practice in spite of having valid degree," the Agriculture Ministry said.
The Ministry said the reconstitution of VCI, which was long pending, will have "far-reaching implications for the entire veterinary professionals in the country".
In the first meeting of newly-elected members of VCI, Agriculture Minister Radha Mohan Singh suggested removal of bottlenecks with respect to giving recognition to government and private veterinary colleges.
