Minister contradicts KEA sked

Just a day after the KEA announced the delay in counselling for Indian Systems of Medicine and Homeopathy (ISM&H) courses, Medical Education Minister S A Ramdas on Monday said the counselling would be held as scheduled, that is, on June 23 and 24.

Ramdas, at the event held to felicitate the CET top rank-holders here, said that the Central Council of Indian Medicine (CCIM) was expected to grant permission to 18 out of 54 ISM&H colleges in the State in a day or two. “Once the permission is granted, we will hold counselling as per the schedule,” he said.

Extra medical round

The Minister also announced an extra round of counselling for medical or dental seats between the first and second rounds of counselling.

He said: “The Medical Council of India is meeting today (on Monday) to decide on 700 medical seats. Besides, three private medical colleges in Bangalore are expected to get approval.”

Several colleges are likely to increase their intake, and it would lead to an additional 2,000 medical seats, the Minister said.  Once these seats are approved, an extra round of counselling will be held.

Deemed varsities

Ramdas also said the Government was considering filling 25 per cent of medical or dental seats in all deemed universities through CET. Of the eight deemed universities offering medical or dental courses in the State, only Manipal University offers seats through CET. Besides ISM&H and medical, there is confusion over counselling for engineering, as nearly 40 prominent Bangalore-based colleges are yet to receive approval from AICTE.

KEA officials told Deccan Herald that there has no point in holding counselling without approval for these colleges, as students would be eager to take admission in these 40 colleges. AICTE has already cleared intake for 140 engineering colleges this year.