Seeking to allay apprehensions of States opposed to the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) for MBBS, the Union Human Resource Development Minister Kapil Sibal expressed certainty on Tuesday that a final decision on the issue would be taken only after consultation with States.
Notifications issued by the Medical Council of India (MCI) for holding common entrance tests to graduate and post graduate courses have been withdrawn, Mr. Sibal said, quoting ‘The Hindu’. Addressing a press conference, he referred to the directive by the Union Health Ministry to the MCI to withdraw its notifications and said the consultation with States will be held from January 11 to 13. .
Responding to a query, he said that the proposal for establishment of Education Finance Corporation was under consultation by the Planning Commission. The funding agency that would provide educational loan at low interest rates for higher education learners would materialise once it (the proposal) reaches the Finance Ministry.
Mr. Sibal said colleges that fulfil quality parameters alone deserve to be permitted by the Central and State Governments to evolve into universities. Not all colleges can transform into universities, he said, observing that some universities were ineligible to hold on to the status.
To a question on the State Government’s request for compliance with communal reservation policy in admissions and appointments in the Indian Institute of Management – Tiruchi, Mr. Sibal explained that the Institute was bound by the legal framework for central universities and other IIMs.
When asked about the Central government’s role in increasing the number of universities as advocated by the National Knowledge Commission, Mr. Sibal said the (Central) Government alone cannot start 800 to 900 new universities. The State Government should start universities and encourage public private partnership in starting new ones. The National Accreditation Authority for Higher Education Institutions Bill, 2010, will ensure quality. Once this bill, along with the Foreign Education Providers Bill 2010, and the National Commission for Higher Education and Research Bill are passed, a broad framework could be evolved for expanding the gross enrolment ratio to 30 percent by 2020.
Of the Rs. 219 crore levied from 119 licencees as liquidated damages for not rolling out telecom services, a sum of about Rs. 73 crore has been realised so far, Mr. Sibal, who, who is also the Telecom Minister, said, adding that the process for arriving at a new telecom policy in a year’s time will be initiated in the next few months.
