MBBS admissions at AIIMS, INIs only on basis of NEET: AIIMS Governing Body

The proposal for a separate entrance examination for UG-level admissions at AIIMS and institutes of national importance (INIs) distinct from NEET has been rejected by the governing body.

The governing body of AIIMS headed by Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya has rejected the proposal for a separate entrance test for MBBS admissions at all the AIIMS and other institutes of national importance. The decision was taken on December 6, in a meeting. It was decided that the admissions will continue to be held through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

"After deliberations, it was felt that the current practice of a combined entrance examination for all medical colleges be continued," the minutes of the meeting read, as reported by NDTV. 

AIIMS was established as an INI by an Act of Parliament in 1956. Subsequently, more institutions -- PGIMER- Chandigarh, JIPMER, Puducherry (2008) and 21 newly established AIIMS for undergraduate and postgraduate education -- were added. 

The NEET-UG exam is conducted for over 80,000 MBBS seats and has a large number of stakeholders including students and colleges. 

The proposal details

"In pursuance of highest standards and maintain the spirit of innovation, the admission into postgraduate (INICET-PG) and super-specialty (INICET-SS) medical courses is now done through a Combined Entrance Test (CFT) administered by AIIMS, New Delhi. It is in this context, it is proposed that admission into undergraduate courses in the INIs should be done through a Combined Entrance Test (INICET-UG)," a note submitted to the governing body stated. 

"It was suggested that the MBBS entrance exam for AIIMS may be separated from the NEET-UG exam and reverted to the situation that existed till 2019. Similar to the pattern prior to 2020, admission to MBBS seats at all AIIMS may be done through a separate entrance exam. This exam could include MBBS seats of all INIs and be called the INICET-UG entrance exam," the official stated.

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