Separate NEET for BAMS, BUMS, BSMS; Separate NEET for Sowa-Rigpa under NCISM Regulations 2023

New Delhi: There shall be a separate National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) for admission to Ayurveda, Unani, and Siddha undergraduate courses and a separate NEET for admission to Sowa-Rigpa courses, mentioned the recently released National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (National Examinations for Indian System of Medicine) Regulations, 2023, which were published in the Gazette notification dated 20.12.2023.

These newly introduced regulations mentioned that the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (NCISM) shall conduct the NEET for admission to Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha courses through the National Testing Agency (NTA) or any other agency designated by NCISM.

However, the NEET for Sowa-Rigpa courses shall be conducted independently by the Commission every year through designated authority or agency or institute, the gazette said

The details of these separate NEETs for admission to Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa undergraduate courses are as follows:

(1) National Eligibility-Cum-Entrance Test for Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha:

Who Shall Conduct the Test?

The new Regulations mentioned that the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for admission in undergraduate courses of Ayurveda, Siddha and Unani (ASU) shall be conducted in each academic year by the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine through the National Testing Agency or by any other agency designated by the Commission.

Eligibility Criteria: 

As per the NCISM Regulations 2023, the eligibility criteria for appearing National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test examination and admission in undergraduate courses of Ayurveda, Unani and Siddha shall be, as specified in regulation National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Ayurveda Education) Regulations, 2022, the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Unani Education) Regulations, 2022 and the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Siddha Education) Regulations, 2022 respectively.

Process of Counselling and Admissions: 

(2) National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test to Sowa-Rigpa: 

Who shall Conduct the Test? 

According to the new Regulations, the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test to undergraduate course of Sowa-Rigpa shall be conducted independently by the Commission every year through designated authority or agency or institute for the admission to the undergraduate course of Sowa-Rigpa in all SowaRigpa institutions.

Mode of Examination: 

The examination shall be conducted offline or the mode as specified by the Commission from time to time.

Eligibility Criteria: 

The eligibility criteria for appearing National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Sowa-Rigpa and admission to undergraduate courses of Sowa-Rigpa institution shall be as specified in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Sowa-Rigpa Education) Regulations, 2022.

Merit List: 

The new regulations mentioned that an All-India common merit list of the eligible candidates shall be prepared on the basis of the marks obtained in National Eligibility-cum- Entrance Test for Sowa-Rigpa and the qualified candidates shall be considered for admission to undergraduate course as specified in the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Sowa-Rigpa Education) Regulations, 2022 and such merit list shall be applicable for that particular academic session only.

Counselling Process: 

According to the new regulations, the process of counselling and admissions in undergraduate courses of Sowa-Rigpa shall be as per the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Sowa-Rigpa Education) Regulations, 2022 and admission guidelines issued by the Commission from time to time.

Further, the new regulations added that "the institution of Sowa-Rigpa shall submit the details of admitted students as per the Appendix-V or as may be specified by the Commission, on or before cut-off date for admission into Sowa-Rigpa institution for verification."

Technical Committee for National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Sowa-Rigpa:

The tech panel shall consist of –

(i) Controller of Examinations – Chairperson;

(ii) Nominee from designated agency as Director, National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for SowaRigpa – Member;

(iii) Nominee from designated agency as Chief Co-ordinator, National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Sowa-Rigpa – Member;

(iv) Member, Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa – Member;

(v) Member, Medical Assessment and Rating Board for Indian System of Medicine – Member;

(vi) Three Experts of Sowa-Rigpa system – Member; and

(vii) Deputy Controller of Examinations - Member Secretary

Terms of reference:

(i) the term of the committee shall be for two successive examinations or re-constitution of the committee by the Commission, whichever is earlier;

(ii) the Committee shall meet as required;

(iii) the Committee can co-opt any expert member as per the requirement and with the approval of the President, Board of Unani, Siddha and Sowa-Rigpa;

(iv) the Committee shall specify the syllabus and develop a ‘blue print’ of the question paper for every examination;

(v) the committee shall prepare the schedule of entire examination events;

(vi) the committee shall prepare the list of chief superintendent of exam centres, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine observers, experts and moderators for question paper setting and evaluators for evaluating answer scripts;

(vii) the Committee shall coordinate with the assigned agency for conducting examination;

(viii) the committee shall prepare information brochure and examination-counselling-admission guidelines; and

(ix) the Committee shall ensure the confidentiality of the matters connected with the examinations.

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