National Testing Agency (NTA) is a Government of India organization which has been approved by the Union Council of Ministers. NTA was established in the year 2017 by The Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) and Government of India (GOI). The main objective of NTA is to conduct various entrance examinations for higher educational institutions. NTA is an autonomous, independent, and self-sustained premier organization. Government of India has appointed Vineet Joshi as the first Director-General of the agency.
The objectives of NTA include:
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The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET), previously known as All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is a national level medical undergraduate entrance examination conducted in India by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for students who are interested in studying graduate and postgraduate medical courses such as MBBS, MD, MS, and dental courses such as BDS or MDS. This entrance test allows the students to apply for admission to various government, private, and deemed medical institutions across India.
| “There shall be conducted a uniform entrance examination to all medical educational institutions at the undergraduate level and post-graduate level through such designated authority in Hindi, English and other languages and in such manner as may be prescribed and the designated authority shall ensure the conduct of uniform entrance examination in the aforementioned manner; Provided that notwithstanding any judgment or order of any court, the provisions of this section shall not apply, in relation to the uniform entrance examination at the undergraduate level for the academic year 2016-17 conducted in accordance with any regulations made under this Act, in respect of the State Government seats (whether in Government Medical College or in a private Medical College) where such State has not opted for such examinations”. |
Letter No. MCI (34) (41) (Gen) Med/.140542-44 dated 22/10/2018 received from Medical Council of India
In 2013, AIPMT was replaced by NEET UG and was declared as the single entrance test to be conducted for admission to various medical colleges across India. Every year there are approximately 1,00,000 MBBS and BDS seats available for admission across India. From 2017 onwards, as per a Supreme Court directive made in 2016, AIPMT and other state-level medical entrance tests were replaced by NEET UG. It is now the only test that offers admission to all government, private and deemed colleges, dental colleges, and universities across the country. All India Institute of Medical Sciences in New Delhi (AIIMS) and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER) are the two examinations which are conducted outside the purview of NEET.
NEET UG, the qualifying test for undergraduate programs for MBBS and BDS courses is currently being conducted by the National Test Agency (NTA). NTA provides the results to the Directorate General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The test was by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in collaboration with Prometric Testing Pvt. Ltd headquartered in the USA till 2019.
The implementation of NEET UG resulted in nullifying around 100 medical entrance examinations in India. Significantly, this reduced the cost incurred by students as it eliminated the examination fees, the fees for counseling, and other miscellaneous expenses such as travel expenses.
