In line with its decision to revamp medical education in the country, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has proposed to hold national eligibility-cum-entrance tests (NEET) for post-graduate and super speciality courses in a changed format from next year.
A total of 1,50,000 under-graduate candidates, who have completed internship, or those expecting to complete by March 31, 2012, will be eligible to take the tests for entrance to post-graduate courses.
It will be notified in August 2011 with applications collected by September end, MCI sources said.
The admit cards will be dispatched by the middle of November, The examination will be online type conducted in the middle of January, 2012, and the number of sessions will be finalised after the feasibility is explored.
The MD/MS courses will commence from May 2, 2012. The candidates aspiring for direct five-year neurosurgery and neurology super-specialty or similar courses will have to take this NEET-PG examination for the courses commencing in August.
Common paper
There will be a common paper with 180 questions at MBBS standard to be answered in three hours.
The NEET for super specialities (NEET-SS) for 2012 would be held for candidates who have completed post-graduation or those expecting to complete post-graduation by June 15, 2012.
About 6,000-7,000 candidates are expected to take the examination with courses commencing from August 1, 2012. It will be notified in February 2012 in all online formats by April end. The admit cards will be dispatched by the middle of May and the exam will be conducted in the middle of June.
The paper will consist of about 150-180 questions of three hours duration, the sources said, adding the examination will be online.
The changes in the examination patterns are yet to be cleared by the Union Health Ministry.
Another proposed examination, the MCI Indian Medical Graduate licentiate examination is also proposed to be held for the first time in 2013.
The examination will consist of questions to assess minimum defined standards for an IMG. Approximately 35,000-40,000 medical graduates will take the licentiate examination. Foreign graduates who intend to practice in India will have to qualify in the examination.