19k appear for MHT-CET, wait for SC order

Nashik: Nearly 19,578 students from Nashik appeared for the Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET) on Thursday from 47 centres across the city even as they wait for the Supreme Court's decision regarding the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET).
This MHT-CET, conducted by the state government's State Common Entrance Test Cell, is a combined test for engineering and medical admissions.Nashik, being the headquarter of Maharashtra University of Health Sciences (MUHS), was the epicentre of discussions over the Apex Court hearings on giving relaxation to MHT-CET candidates from appearing for NEET. However, as the hearing about NEET will continue on Friday, students and parents appeared to be anxious about the decision.
"My MHT-CET paper was good. But, we are still concerned. If the Supreme Court turns down the review petition and makes admissions based on NEET mandatory, the preparation and score in MHT-CET would go in vain," said Avantika Deshmukh, who appeared the test from KTHM College.
Parents were also hopeful that the Apex Court would continue the state government's CET at least this academic year. "As a precautionary measure, we are already in process to let our children appear for the NEET in the second schedule, which will be held on July 24. However, the syllabus for NEET is vast and it takes more time for preparation. We are hopeful that SC would consider all the aspects of the issue," said Sudhir Bhagat, whose son appeared for MHCET.
In Nashik, the number of students appeared for the MHT-CET indicated that they are hopeful about the SC granting its approval to the continuation of the state-level test for this year. Only 324 of 14,091 students absent for Biology paper.
About 1,100 employees, including teaching and non-teaching staff, were deployed for the smooth conduct of the examination. Unconfirmed reports of students protesting against the rule of not allowing them to wear wrist watches during examination at some centres came by the evening. Apart from these incidents, the examination was held peacefully across the city.
Total number of students appeared for MHT CET in Nashik (47 centres)
PaperPresentabsent Total
Physics/Chemistry 1916541319578
Biolgoy1376732414091
Maths1424227914521