The delay in the NEET retest and the subsequent postponement of medical counselling have disrupted the higher-education admissions cycle, prompting many medical aspirants to temporarily secure seats in engineering colleges. Counselling for medical admissions has yet to begin, while admissions to engineering colleges are ongoing.
About 10% of seats at engineering colleges are typically occupied by medical aspirants, who vacate them once they secure admission to medical colleges, say experts. These candidates will hold on to the seats longer, necessitating additional admission rounds, including late spot rounds, by engineering colleges to fill the seats.
ET Bureau
Sushma S Rawat, deputy director – admission at Amity University, said the delay is having an impact on students and colleges. “This is leading to extended periods of uncertainty, academic disruption, and increased mental stress, to medical aspirants and graduates,” Rawat said.
Many students are exploring alternative paths within the life sciences sector, particularly in biotechnology, she said. “This shift is reflected in a surge of admissions into biotechnology programmes, especially B Tech – Biotechnology, as students seek stable career options outside traditional medical route.”
Ranchi University vice-chancellor Saroj Sharma said many students whose first preference is medical have blocked engineering seats because of the delay.
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Some educators, however, expect the impact to be marginal. “There are always a few students who pursue both options (medical and engineering) together,” said Ranjana Jha, vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women.
Minimum Withdrawals
Roughly about 10% of such (medical) students also take seats at engineering colleges,” said Ranjana Jha, vice-chancellor of Indira Gandhi Delhi Technical University for Women. “This year’s delay in NEET counselling may lead to some overlap between medical and engineering admissions,” she added. At VIT Vellore, the impact of the delayed NEET counselling is minimal, said director-admissions S Sashikumar. VIT offers three bio-related B Tech programmes — Biotechnology, Health Sciences & Technology, and CSE (Bioinformatics). “Only a very small number of students leave these programmes to pursue MBBS through NEET counselling,” he said.
Rajiv Chaudhary, chairperson of the B Tech admission committee at Delhi Technological University, said withdrawals from B Tech programmes (for admissions to medical courses) are usually minimal. “We do not expect this number to change much this year as well,” he added.