NEET-UG counselling not deferred, says govt

Aksheev Thakur

New Delhi, July 6

The Union Health Ministry today refuted the reports of postponement of the NEET-UG counselling as the process has not been officially notified yet.

The government’s response came after a few reports claimed that the NEET-UG counselling had been delayed without any new dates being announced. Earlier, the National Testing Agency (NTA) had assured the SC that the counselling would begin on July 6. However, the authorities had not notified any date or schedule. It is now learnt that the counselling will begin in the third week of July as the process of issuing permission letters to a section of medical colleges is underway and additional seats are likely to be added.

‘Clarify on 2 shifts’

• Medical bodies have sought clarity over the reason behind conducting the National Medical Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) in two shifts for the first time
• They also say the normalisation ratio to be applied in the exam this time had been marred by controversy in the past.

The Supreme Court will hear multiple pleas regarding the NEET-UG controversy on July 8. The Economic Offence Unit of the Bihar Police whose initial investigation revealed instances of paper leak will also submit its report to the court in a sealed envelope on the same day.

The counselling is held in multiple rounds for the students who qualify the NEET-UG examination.

Meanwhile, the Congress has demanded that the NEET-UG examination should be conducted again and all incidents of paper leaks should be thoroughly investigated under the SC’s supervision.