NEET Exam to be Accepted in Govt. Institutions Only in Assam: Cabinet Approved 3 Big Changes

Updated on Mar 12, 2025 12:35

NEET exam will now be conducted only in government institutions. Read the following article to know the reason and where it is getting implemented!

Kolkata: Assam Cabinet has approved three major changes for the NEET exam. Firstly, the exam will now be conducted only in government institutions in Assam. Second, district authorities will supervise the entire exam process to ensure proper monitoring. Third, students will need to go through biometric checks, like fingerprints or facial-recognition before taking the NEET exam. These changes are aimed at making the exam process more secure and fair.

The Assam government will ask the National Testing Agency (NTA) and the Education Ministry to implement these changes. Expectedly, it will prevent cheating incidents and ensure transparency in the medical entrance exam.

How These Big Changes on Conducting NEET Exam Came into Light?

After a cabinet meeting, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma spoke at a press conference and shared concerns from medical college faculty in Assam. They pointed out that many students who score high marks in entrance exams often lack the practical or academic skills they should have.

Sarma said the government had asked the Special Branch to investigate this issue about a year and a half ago. The investigation found that most exam centers are in private institutions, not government schools or colleges.

What Explanation is Given by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma?

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma explained that the state government had not stepped in earlier because the exam is managed by authorities in Delhi. However, the Cabinet has now decided to ask the central government to make three changes.

The most important change is to conduct the medical entrance exam only in government schools in Assam. This will help ensure better supervision and fairness in the exam process.

Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the government has assigned the Chief Secretary to contact the National Testing Agency (NTA) Director General and the Union Education Secretary to inform them about the Cabinet?s decisions. Sarma also said that he will personally talk to Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan to make sure the proposed changes are put into action.

What Important Decisions are Made by Assam Cabinet?

The Assam Cabinet has made some important decisions. First, they decided to remove the quota for Char areas (riverine islands) in the Assam MBBS/BDS Rules 2017, starting from the 2025-26 academic year. Second, they plan to change the law related to Srimanta Sankaradeva University of Health Sciences (SSUHS). This change will make it mandatory for new nursing, dental, pharmaceutical, or healthcare colleges to get national security clearance from the Home Department before they can open. These colleges must also follow secular values and stay away from any activities related to religious conversion.

Additionally, the government plans to introduce a bill in the ongoing budget session to control private coaching centers, which are increasing quickly in the state. Lastly, the Cabinet has given land to the Industry Department to build two large industrial parks in Kamrup and Morigaon districts. These steps aim to improve education, healthcare, and industrial growth in Assam.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Ans: Yes, NEET scores will be accepted, but only for admissions to government medical institutions in Assam. Private colleges may not consider NEET scores.

Ans: Yes, private medical colleges in Assam can now conduct their own entrance exams or use alternative criteria for admissions, as per the new changes.

Ans: No, students applying to government medical colleges in Assam will still need to qualify in NEET, as it remains the sole entrance criterion for these institutions.

Ans: NEET will remain crucial for admissions to government medical colleges but may no longer be mandatory for private institutions in Assam.