Maharashtra: NEET now mandatory for nursing aspirants

MUMBAI: Nursing aspirants will now have to appear for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). While Maharashtra admits nursing degree aspirants based on NEET scores, several states take in students based on class XII marks.
This year, the National Testing Agency has mandated all BSc (Nursing) graduates to take the NEET (undergraduate). Applications have opened for the same and students can apply till August 10. The exam will be conducted on September 12.
“Even since the NEET was introduced, the number of candidates joining the nursing programme has fallen and vacancies have gone up,” said Ramling Mali, former head of the Maharashtra Nursing Council. This year too, the state has 20% seats that have remained unfilled. In other states, medical universities issued a circular to colleges asking them to admit nursing aspirants for the BSc programme based on NEET scores.
The entrance test can also be taken by candidates from state open schools recognized by state govts and The National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS).