The Karnataka State Medical Education Department wrote to the Central Government to allocate 50 per cent seats in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for the state candidates. As per the request, the reservation would be in deemed medical universities. Media reports suggest that this recent initiative was put forward after D.K. Shivakumar took charge as the Medical Education Minister. For such a move, he claimed that the state is in need of doctors. Now, if the centre accepts it, the quota can only be implemented from next year.

While discussing this, Shivakumar at a press meet said that the enrolment of students from Karnataka was very low and that students from other states enrol in the universities through national medical entrance test, NEET. He was quoted in Bangalore Mirror as saying, “We are awaiting a response from the Centre on our letter for allocation of 50 per cent of the All India Quota seats under NEET exclusively for our students in deemed universities. We can implement it from next year.” Shivakumar went on claiming that the state government got permission for 322 seats, but due to technical glitches, they could not implement the same this year.

Since the post-graduate counselling for this year has already begun, hence Karnataka will have to wait for some time. The officials in the same report further suggested that a one-year programme or a degree course for para-medical courses is on the planning chart. In fact, the education department could enhance the strength of supporting staffs in state hospitals for which they target the class 10th pass students who dream to work in the medical sector.

(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Jul 26, 2018 01:56 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).