From Our Special Correpondent
Daijiworld Media Network - Bangalore
Bangalore, July 23: Those aspiring for medical seats from the Common Entrance Test (CET) cell in Government Medical Colleges in Karnataka need not despair, as yet anyway.
The State Government has decided to conduct extended counseling for allotment of 368 medical seats on July 26 and 27 (Monday and Tuesday) after obtaining approval from the Medical Council of India (MCI) for admission of students for MBBS course in five Government Medical Colleges in the State.
The extended counseling will be held at CET Cell in the city by the Karnataka Examination Authority (KEA). Cunseling for medical seats after June 14 following non-approval of admissions in medical colleges by the MCI.
KEA will not hold counseling in regional centres as in the case of engineering seats, according to Karnataka’s Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda.
The MCI had approved admissions for 500 seats in five colleges for the year 2010-11. Out of 500 seats, 45 seats have been allotted under the Central Government quota while 87 under the COMED-K quota.
A total of 368 seats would be allotted under the CET quota by the Government, the minister said.
The college-wise allotment of 368 seats is: Government Medical Colleges of Bidar, Raichur and Shimoga – 85 each, Karnataka Institute of Medical Sciences – 50 and S.S. Institute of Medical Sciences,Davanagere – 63.
According to the MCI guidelines, the last date for admission for MBBS course is July 31 and classes are supposed to commence from August 1.
Counseling for candidates who secured ranks from 1 to 2000 would be held on Monday. Those who secured ranks from 2001 will have counseling on Tuesday.
Out of a total of 3765 medical seats available in the State, 1780 seats come under the CET category, 164 seats under the Central Government category, 182 falls under the COMED-K category, he said.
40,018 Engineering Seats Available this year
Meanwhile, Karnataka’s Higher Education Aravind Limbavali said 40,018 engineering seats would be made available this year.
Already counseling had been completed for 12,000 seats. About 15,000 seats remained vacant in 2009-10 academic year in the State, he said.
Both Ministers said they have been proposing a single CET for admission of students for professional courses. Unfortunately, COMED-K has also been conducting examination and allotting seats.
As per the Supreme Court directive, the MCI should make arrangements for conducting a single CET for the medical course all over the country.
Unfortunately, students are forced to appear for 17 tests conducted by different states and medical institutions, they said urging the managements of private medical and engineering colleges of Karnataka (COMED-K) to accept the genuine demand of student community and their parents to have a single CET and thereby minimize the expenditure, travel and uncertainty for all concerned.