Despite NEET confusion, thousands take PGET
Even as the Supreme Court verdict on conducting the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for medical courses is pending, students aspiring for post graduate seats in medicine and dental courses in institutions in Karnataka appeared for the Post Graduate Entrance Test (PGET) on Sunday.
Since the state governments have been directed to conduct the state entrance tests for medical and dental courses while not announcing the results until the apex court verdict on NEET, Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) held the PGET.
More than 10,000 students from various parts of the country appeared for PGET on Monday across 13 places in Bangalore, which was the only centre for the exam. As many as 1,900 appeared for the dental entrance test and the rest took the admission test for medicine. If the Supreme Court upholds the national eligibility test, PGET will not be valid.
Many students appeared for the exam with an aim of specialising in Radiology. “It is still the most sought after subject,” said Priyanka, a candidate from Maharashtra. The confusion over NEET is still playing spoilsport for students, she added. Priyanka hoped the court would decide in favour of the national entrance test.
“NEET will ensure that the deserving candidates get government seats. This way, there is an opportunity for many more students to get seats in government medical colleges,” she said.
The PGET this year was similar to the NEET paper and one could easily crack it with adequate preparation, she added.
Gurunath, who is currently practising medicine and is on government posting in the state, was another aspirant who favoured NEET.
He felt the state entrance tests were mired in corruption and, there was a need for a national monitoring mechanism.
