By: Nikita Kochhar
October 20 2020
NEET (PG) is a single entrance examination for admission to various MD/MS and PG Diploma courses.
NEET (PG) is a single entrance examination for admission to various MD/MS and PG Diploma courses. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG), formerly the 'All India Pre-Medical Test' (AIPMT), is an entrance examination in India for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical courses (MBBS) and dental courses (BDS) in government or private medical and dental colleges in the country. The test was introduced in 2013. Section 14 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, provides a common and uniform National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to the undergraduate medical courses in all medical institutions, including those governed under any other law. Thus, the admission to the MBBS course in AIIMS, New Delhi, JIPMER, and all AIIMS like institutions are through NEET. NEET-PG is an eligibility-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination to various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses according to Section (10) of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. It is a single-window entrance examination for PG courses. No other entrance examination, either at state or institution level, is valid for entry to MD/MS/PG Diploma Courses as per the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It has been established as a premier, specialist, autonomous, and self-sustained testing organization to conduct entrance examinations for admission/fellowship in higher educational institutions. The NTA has been established by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), now known as the Ministry of Education. In July 2019, the Union Health Ministry proposed to do away with NEET-PG and considering the final MBBS examination results for admission to MD and MS programs. The amendment was incorporated in the revised draft National Medical Commission (NMC) Bill. But, so far, the bill has not been passed. Therefore, as per the National Medical Commission, Act NEET(UG) remains the common and uniform entrance test for getting an MBBS seat in Indian medical colleges. Hence, the claim that one needs to pass a NEET(PG) test for admission in an undergraduate course like MBBS is not true.