The Central government is keen to push for a common entrance test for medical colleges across the country. An earlier effort to implement such a system had failed in 2013.

In a strong move that has future implications for medical education in India, the Medical Council of India (MCI) on October 1, approved a joint proposal of the Health Ministry and the MCI to have a unitary ‘Common Entrance Test’ to be held by a designated authority for admission to MBBS and PG medical courses.

What’s Happening Now
MCI said the joint proposal was unanimously adopted and it was for the ministry now to take the matter further. The MCI was also, in favour of an amendment to the Medical Council of India Act (1956) to ensure proper implementation of the new system. Government sources, however, said even an “executive order” would be good enough to implement the change.

Health Minister J P Nadda is taking precautions to ensure that it does not fall through this time as it did in 2013. So far, “all signals are positive” in this direction, said a top government source. With Vyapam and other scams scarring entrance tests, both MCI and the government feel a common entrance test would be the best way to benefit students and get rid of corruption in the system. The move to have a common entrance test for medical students across the country was first initiated in 2009, when MCI was headed by Dr Ketan Desai.

Previously
The Supreme Court had, in June 2013, ruled the MCI’s notification for holding common entrance tests for MBBS, BDS and post-graduate medical courses as invalid. A three-judge bench by a 2:1 verdict held that the notification was against the Constitution. The majority verdict by the then Chief Justice of India Altamas Kabir and Justice Vikramajit Sen said MCI was not empowered to prescribe all India medical entrance tests.

What this means for medical students
If this major declaration were to be approved by all deciding parties, it comes as a major relief for first time medical aspirants and PG seat seekers who would not have to prepare for multiple exams. They would However, the government’s decision to approve and apply the common admission test largely depends on the private colleges.

Private Colleges
The CAT would also take away from private colleges the right to choose the best students. Private colleges while having their own tests, tend to use a variety of other criteria such as- viva, practices, community service stints, research papers etc to choose the best students. Also what happens to rights of minority institutions to select students? Can they no longer have those criteria in place and have to accomodate those who score the highest in the CAT?

In the end, the common admission test would be a boon to medical students and future doctors looking to be a part of this noble profession. It would also put out a level playing field for all students aspiring to be doctors. Time will tell if this move for the exam will actually be implemented or like 2013, sound promising but never go beyond the drawing board and planning stages.

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Original Post- Times of India

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