States have challenged the court ruling that NEET or the common entrance exam will apply across the country. (Representational photo)
Over 65,000 students in Gujarat today appeared for a state medical entrance exam that they say may be pointless. On Monday, the Supreme Court had ruled that only the all-India National Eligibility and Entrance Test or NEET would be relevant for medical college admissions.
The court's order means that the Gujarat Centralised Entrance Test - like all state-level exams - becomes irrelevant except for paramedical courses. Most of the students who sat for the Tuesday exams are aiming for medical and dental colleges.
Their parents are pinning their hopes on the Gujarat government, which is expected to move the Supreme Court with a petition requesting a review of its order.
Himali Jhaveri, a science student, said that she was appearing for today's exam only at her parents' insistence knowing that the score will not count anymore for admission. Thousands like her appeared for the exam with the same feeling of uncertainty.
"At least through these state level exams we had some hopes of making it to the colleges in Gujarat. But with NEET, the Central Board for Secondary Education students will have an advantage. Their preparation is different, our courses are different," Himali complained.
Reema Anandani said her daughter was stressed and reluctant to take the exam. "Mental stress on the child has increased...they have literally gone into a depression mode. My daughter kept on asking me why are we appearing for an examination which has no value as of today," said Ms Anandani.
States have challenged the court ruling that NEET or the common entrance exam will apply across the country, saying central board students will have an edge over students who rely more on state level exams.
Thousands of students were caught short when they had to sit for the NEET exam two days after the Supreme Court's verdict.
State board students complain that two months is too short a period for them to prepare for NEET but are now seeking government intervention to bail them out.