Karnataka Govt To Scrap NEET for UG, PG Admission; Plans for In-state Medical Entrance Test

Karnataka medical course admission is likely to be conducted based on the state's own medical entrance test instead of the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET) for UG and PG medical courses admission namely MBBS, BDS, MD, MS, MDS and other programmes. 

Medical Admission in Karnataka: The Karnataka Government is planning to scrap the National Entrance cum Eligibility Test (NEET) exam in the state amidst the NEET UG paper leak controversy. The cabinet, on Monday, approved the proposal to scrap NEET exam as the eligibility criteria for undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses admission in Karnataka. The cabinet approved the proposal and they are planning to pass a circular in both hours during the ongoing session, as reported by the Hindustan Times. 

The NEET UG exam is conducted for MBBS and BDS courses admission, while the NEET PG exam is conducted for MD, MS and PG Diploma courses in the country. However, the state is proposing to conduct its own entrance test for medical course admission in Karnataka. 

Reportedly, Karnataka state will have its own medical entrance test if the bill is passed in the session. The authorities are proposing to scrap NEET in Karnataka as it is depriving the state-board students as they have to fight against this in their own home state. Further, the authorities also raised concerns about the NEET exam sanctity which has been affected. 

"The NEET exam has created numerous challenges for our students. It's time for Karnataka to take charge and ensure a more equitable and contextually appropriate assessment for medical aspirants," stated D.K. Shivkumar, Deputy Chief Minister 

Karnataka: Second State After Tamil Nadu Aganist NEET 

Tamil Nadu, in June 2024, proposed to scrap NEET examination and recuperate to the previous system of state-based medical admission based on class 12 scores. The Tamil Nadu government claimed that poor and rural area students are unable to afford to prepare for the NEET examination. 

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