Centre wants NEET to be conducted in single phase on July 24, approaches Supreme Court

New Delhi: A day after the Supreme Court paved the way for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) to be conducted this year for admissions to medical colleges, the Centre approached the apex court on Friday seeking deferment in the first phase of examination.

The Attorney General asked the court to reconsider its order approving to conduct the first phase of NEET on May 1, in place of the scheduled All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT).

The AG today requested the court to allow for the holding of NEET in one phase instead of two phases, on July 24 so as to give time to students.

The AG also urged the Supreme Court not to scrap state medical exams.

While allowing for the NEET to be conducted this year for admission to medical courses, both in government and private colleges, across the country, the Supreme Court had yesterday also approved the NEET schedule proposed by the Central government, the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and the Medical Council of India (MCI).

As per the proposal, NEET will be conducted in two phases this year.

The first phase of NEET will be conducted on May 1 instead of the scheduled AIPMT; second phase will be held on July 24.

The proposal says 6.5 lakh candidates can appear in the first phase of NEET while 2.5 lakh candidates can sit for the test in the second phase.

A joint result will be announced on August 17 and the entire admission procedure will be completed by September 30.

The apex court had earlier this month paved the way for holding the NEET, a single common entrance test for medical courses including MBBS, BDS and PG courses in all medical colleges, when it scrapped its 2013 order to stop the single common entrance test.