SC decision fair, say most students: AIPM Test

MUMBAI: After spending an anxious month over the paper leak, Asad Rawoot, medical aspirant from RN Podar School, will have to start preparations for the all-India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) all over again. The Supreme Court on Monday directed the CBSE to conduct a retest within four weeks. Most students are unhappy with the development but are happy with the court’s fair decision.
“There is no other way out after a paper leak.We were dreading it, my son was expecting the worst. He has already started preparations for the retest. It will be very difficult now to concentrate and go back to the same syllabus, students have no choice,” said his father, Ajaz.
Several students in the state, especially those from CBSE schools, rely on the AIPMT scores even for admissions to the state’s government colleges. An SC directive had made it mandatory for state government colleges to set aside 15% of seats for admissions on the basis of AIPMT scores. These admissions are conducted by the Centre. While the state has around 2,500 MBBS and BDS seats in 22 government and civic hospitals, 375 seats are filled using the AIPMT scores.
Radhika Nair, another aspirant, said that she was also worried about the difficulty level of the question paper in the retest. “There is always a perception that the second set of question paper released after a paper leak is tougher. I do not have great scores in MH-CET, so a retest is my last option to try my luck for an MBBS/BDS seat,” she said. Shaili Shah, PACE Junior Science College, said that it the court’s decision is right as students from a few states should not get an unfair advantage over others due to the paper leak.
Pravin Shingare, director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research, said the first round of admissions will not be affected. In the second, when the state compiles vacant seats, it includes all-India quota vacant seats. “The second round may be delayed. We will wait for the Centre’s directive,” he said.