Centralised counselling for PG medical seats: Will this end donations?

Bengaluru: Finally, Post Graduate Medical and Dental admissions in the state are expected to become free from donation and seat blocking.

In a decision that will have a far reaching impact, the state government has decided to hold single seat allotment counseling for all PG seats available in the government medical colleges and private medical colleges of the state.

As per the decision taken by the state government, in all the seats available in the government medical colleges, the government quota medical seats in private medical colleges and the all-India quota seats available in private medical colleges, will be filled through a single seat allotment process. This process will be done based on the rank secured by the candidates in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET).

Welcome move: According to experts and students, even though NEET was made compulsory for MBBS and BDS course admissions in the state this year, the whole purpose of implementing NEET failed due to the multiple admission processes carried out by private medical colleges.

“Private colleges conducted the admission process separately in the names of several consortiums. A lot of complaints were registered by students against these consortiums alleging lack of transparency. But with the implementation of a single admission process, total transparency can be ensured,” said an officer from the state medical education department.

According to sources, the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA) will be given the task of the seat allotment process. “KEA has already ensured total transparency through the online seat allotment process. KEA will be given this task too,” he added.

The exam will be held from December 5 to 13 at 86 test centres in 41 cities. It will be a computer based test and comprise 300 multiple choice questions from the MBBS curriculum.