JOIN USBio-tech student can take MBBS entrance test
As of now only students with physics, chemistry and biology can sit for the pre-medical entrance test. The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) introduced biotechnology as a subject for class 12 courses in 2005.
Initially, close to 7,000 students enrolled themselves in biotechnology but soon the number dipped to 4,000 as students found that biotechnology was not an eligible subject for PMT.
In 2010, more than 7,00,900 students took the CBSE 10+2 examination, 50-60 per cent of whom were from the science stream. Even at a conservative estimate more than 3,50,000 students chose the science stream, a small percentage of whom opted for biotech.
The previous MCI regime under Ketan Desai did not permit biotechnology as an eligible criterion in PMT despite being approached by the CBSE, sources said.
Biotechnology has been included as a subject at the plus-two stage by the Indian School Certificate-affiliated schools also. The CBSE conducts the common entrance test for 15,000 seats of a total of 32,000 undergraduate MBBS seats every year.
Some of the states conduct their own examinations while a few private colleges too hold their own entrance tests.
The health ministry approval comes in the wake of the new MCI board of governors taking a positive view on those studying biotechnology courses.
Following the nod, the MCI will have to amend its regulations to include biotechnology as an eligible subject for those seeking to enter the field of medicine following which the CBSE will notify the eligibility.