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Bhubaneswar: The Odisha government on Tuesday decided to select students for Undergraduate medical courses in government-run as well as private colleges through the All-India Pre-medical/Dental Test (AIPMT) for next academic session and gave its consent to the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) regarding this.
In a letter to an official of CBSE, who conducts the test, the Health and Family Welfare Department said the state government is willing to participate in the national level examination for the UG medical courses.
Sources said the entrance test will be held across the country on May 4, 2014 and students can register themselves online from December 26 to January 25.
"CBSE has sent a proposal to us which said the decision for the national level test depends upon the final outcome of verdict of SC. We will join the examination like other states of the country," said Pradipta Mohapatra, Health Secretary.
The state will reserve 85% of its total seats for domicile candidates while the rest will be filled up with all-India candidates, Mohapatra added.
Sources added there will be two merit lists - one would be state merit list for students who want to pursue medical education in colleges across Odisha and the other will be national merit list for institutions outside the state.
The government will conduct the counseling of qualifiers and publish the final list for admission to the courses, said Priyabata Sahoo, Secretary, OJEE.
Last year, Odisha government had joined the national eligibility-cum-entrance test (NEET 2013) conducted by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Dental Council of India (DCI) for admission to graduate and postgraduate courses replacing state-level examinations. But the Supreme Court in July this year declared the NEET 'unconstitutional'.
Meanwhile, on the basis of appeal from the Central government, the apex court decided to review its verdict on NEET on November 25.
