JOIN USThe Medical Council of India’s (MCI) plan to hold a single national entrance examination for all medical colleges in the country is an excellent idea and should be implemented from the next academic year. The plan has been forwarded to the Union health ministry which hopefully will clear it well in time. The move is based on a suggestion by the Supreme Court which had to look into many cases relating to medical admission in different parts of the country. An expert committee set up by the MCI to follow up the court’s suggestion came up with the proposal to conduct an all-India test whose results will be binding on all medical colleges, run by Central and state governments and private managements of various types. There are about 300 medical colleges in the country and they hold a multiplicity of tests with different admission criteria, standards and practices.
A single test will benefit students who now write many tests and waste much time, energy and money. Since the exams are held around the same time they have to move from one place to another in a short period and sometimes have to forego an examination when dates overlap. Apart from convenience, a single national exam ensures transparency and uniformity of standards. Though donations and capitation fees have been banned in all states it is well known that they are very much a part of the admission process in many private medical colleges. It may be possible to eliminate this malpractice if admissions are made solely from a list of candidates who qualify for admission after taking a common test. The standards of the medical profession will also improve if the best candidates are selected for medical education. Students will also be able to choose from a larger pool of colleges on the basis of their rank in the merit list or according to their convenience.
The MCI has proposed that the Centre should set up a separate authority to conduct the national test. The examination will be based on a common syllabus and will have the best evaluation methods that will eliminate the scope for subjective errors and other problems. Holding the examination will call for a major organisational effort but the benefits from the test will be worth the effort. It is hoped that the plan will not be scuttled by vested interests.