After legal hurdles, NEET takes off amidst tight security across 52 cities
The competitive examination, held for entrance to MBBS and BDS courses across the country, was held amidst tight security this year.
The All Indian Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) 2016, being treated as the first phase of the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), was held in 1,040 examination centres across 52 cities on Sunday.
The competitive examination, held for entrance to MBBS and BDS courses across the country, was held amidst tight security this year. Around 6,67,000 aspirants appeared for the first phase of NEET on Sunday. The second phase of the common medical entrance test will be held on July 24. Aspirants were allowed to bring only admit card, a passport size photo and a postcard size photo and nothing else, not even pen/pencil or paper.
Aspiring medical students across the country said that the paper was easy but lengthy. "The biology section, was a bit lengthier as compared to other sections. Some of the questions in the section were also out of syllabus. Only those who studied beyond NCERT would have been able to answer those questions," said Rishab Sood, one of the aspirants.
Meanwhile, more than 30 students coming to Bal Bharati Public School in Pitampura failed to sit for the medical examination due to alleged irresponsible behaviour of the school authorities. Parents and students claimed that the school did not give clear directions for the entry to the school and there were four gates due to which the students got confused. "We were standing in the queue but the school authorities closed the gates at 9.30 am and did not let us enter to sit for the examination. The school should have managed the examination and have done the necessary arrangements," said Anil Thakur, one of the parents.
The school authorities later called the police after some of the parents created ruckus outside the premises. Aspirants were not allowed to enter examination centre wearing caps, rings, bracelet or any religious symbols. Candidates had to take off wallets, shoes and wrist watches.
Students had a proper dress code to adhere to as they were not allowed to enter the examination hall in shoes or carry any kind of stationary with them. Mobile phones were also not allowed. Taking note of previous year's All India Pre Medical Test that was nullified by Supreme Court due to incidents of cheating, the CBSE officials left no stone unturned to ensure a foolproof examination. Stringent security measures were put by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to deter any wrongdoing.
The Supreme Court on April 28 cleared the deck for the medical students by allowing holding the NEET, a single common entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in two phases. The decision will have a remarkable impact on the student's career as now no private institute can hold any individual entrance test. The new decision will force the private institutes to give admissions.
Sources in the Health Ministry had said private institutes had become money-minting machines as they used to charge huge sum from the students by offering them a single seat.
Also read:
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NEET Medical Entrance Test: Supreme Court agrees, MCI disapproves test this year