NEET DATES OUT, OPEN SCHOOL, PVT STUDENTS INELIGIBLE

NEW DELHI: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) will hold its National Eligibilitycum-Entrance Test (NEET) for medical aspirants on May 6.

Announcing the date for the nationwide test, the board opened the registration of candidates from Thursday midnight. Online applications will be accepted by the CBSE till March 9 up to 11.50 pm.

Students of all governmentrecognised secondary school examination boards are eligible to apply for the test except those who passed the class 12 board exam through any open school in the country including the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).

Students who have passed their class 12 board examination as “private candidates” are also not eligible to take the test.

“Candidates who have passed 10+2 from open schools or as private candidates shall not be eligible to appear for NEET. Furthermore, study of Biology/Bio-technology as an additional subject at 10+2 level also shall not be permissible,” the CBSE said.

The Medical Council of India (MCI), under the health ministry, had barred open school students from taking the entrance test from this year on the grounds that they cannot be considered on par with students who complete 12 years of schooling in regular mode with practicals in the science subjects. HT had reported this on January 17.

The NIOS, which functions under the Human Resource Development (HRD) ministry, had requested the MCI not to bar its students from the exam, pointing out that its examination system was rigorous.

HRD minister Prakash Javadekar and Health minister JP Nadda in January held a meeting to resolve the issue.