NEET 2016: 2nd phase to be held on July 24; Centre and CBSE should start preparations, says Supreme Court

New Delhi: In a major development with regard to the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET), the Supreme Court on Tuesday asked Centre and CBSE to start preparations and said that the second phase of NEET would be held on schedule i.e. on July 24.

The development came during hearing by a bench of Justices AR Dave, Shiva Kirti Singh and AK Goel, a report published in TOI said.

The apex court also said that forcing students to take multiple entrance exams across the country is an excessive burden on medical aspirants.

The students would have to spend thousands of rupees filling up forms, the Supreme Court added.

The Supreme Court on Tuesday rebuffed the plea of private medical colleges that the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) violated their autonomy and fundamental right to run educational institutions and stuck to its stand that a single-window test was good for students.

Also, the Supreme Court on asked Medical Council of India (MCI) to respond to state governments' plea to hold separate exams this year.

The MCI has to respond to the plea by Thursday.

The development came as the Supreme Court heard the petitions by some states and private medical colleges seeking permission to continue with separate tests for admissions in the MBBS and BDS courses.

The apex court had also upheld the provisions of a Madhya Pradesh law which enables government to have 50 per cent shares in management seats in private dental colleges.

NEET schedule 

According to the schedule, the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) held on May 1 was treated as first round of the NEET.

However, those who have not applied for AIPMT will be given opportunity to appear in round two on July 24.

The combined result will be declared on August 17, in order to complete the admission process by September 30 - the deadline set by the apex court in its previous orders.