You can Submit NEET-UG forms Online

The online window for submission of application forms for the maiden national eligibility cum entrance test for undergraduate (NEET-UG) medical and dental courses is now open. Students can submit their forms by accessing the website - www.cbseneet.nic.in - for the single entrance test, which is to be held on May 5, 2013.

The Maharashtra government has already conveyed to the central government its commitment to be a part of the NEET-UG scheme from 2013 onwards. Consequently, the Maharashtra Health and Technology Common Entrance Test (MHT-CET), which was the combined entrance exam for admissions to the health sciences, engineering and pharmacy degree courses in the state, has been scrapped. The exam has since been renamed MT-CET for the engineering and pharmacy courses.

The state directorate of medical education and research (DMER) has posted a detailed notification related to the NEET-UG, which will be conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The Union government had published the NEET-UG 2013 exam plan for medical and dental admissions in the official gazette on February 15, while the Medical Council of India issued a notification on April 26 declaring that there will be a single national eligibility cum entrance test.

In Maharashtra, the NEET-UG will also be mandatory for admissions to the other health science degree courses such as ayurveda (BAMS), homeopathy ( BHMS), unani (BUMS), physiotheraphy (BPTh), occupational therapy (BOTh), prosthetics and orthotics (BP&O), audiology and speech, language pathology (BASLP), BSc nursing and paramedical technology (BPMT), the DMER notification states.

The DMER has cautioned all candidates aspiring for a seat in health science courses other than medical and dental, to ensure that they appear in the NEET-UG 2013 to qualify for admissions to the other courses. "The state government will not be responsible if such desirous candidates fail to apply for NEET-UG 2013," the notification states.

The NEET 2013 will be conducted in 16 cities in the state. In Pune, the DAV Public School on the DP Road, Aundh has been designated as the facilitation centre for the candidates from the city.

An admission notice issued by the CBSE states that the NEET-UG shall consist of one paper containing 180 objective type questions, ie, each question carrying four options with single correct answer, from physics, chemistry and biology (botany and zoology). The duration of the paper would be three hours.NEET-UG important dates.

Manipal University will introduce 12 new courses

 Manipal University will introduce 12 new courses in the forthcoming academic year. At present the varsity is offering 320 courses in 18 streams. 

GK Prabhu, registrar of Manipal University, said here on Monday that the university would conduct online entrance tests (OET) for all its courses, including MBBS, BTech and BPharm from April 15 to May 15, 2013. The number of test centres has been increased from 30 to 50 this year, he added. 

"There is no clarity in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to medical courses introduced by the Union government. As a result several deemed universities have moved court. We have also moved court against NEET and if the Supreme Court directs us to admit students through NEET, we will do that. However, we will conduct the online entrance tests as per the schedule," he added.

This year, the university has added a new feature to the entrance test. The candidates will be allowed to take a second test, if they are not satisfied with their performance in the first attempt. "The better score will be considered for the merit list," he said. 

He also said that even though there is a need for more nurses in the country, there is a decline in the demand for nursing courses. To encourage more students to take up the course, the university has introduced scholarships for nursing students. 

"Candidates who have scored above 80% in their 12th standard exam and whose parents' family income is below 12.5 lakh are eligible for the scholarship," he added. 

The university has also increased the funds set aside for scholarships from Rs 18.13 crore to Rs 25.01 crore. "There is also a 10 percentage tuition fee waiver in all course for Konkani speaking students," he said. 

A few seats in all the courses are reserved for schools and colleges of Academy of General Education. Some of the scholarships offered are Graduate Aptitude Test in Engineering (GATE) scholarship for qualified students, All India Council of Technical Education (AICTE) scholarship, merit-cum-means scholarship.