NEET Likely to be Mandatory for Agriculture Courses from 2019

It might be the last year for agriculture aspirants to seek admission to UG agriculture courses based on Class 12 merit/ percentage or based on the rank in state-level entrance tests. From next year, i.e. 2019, the central government is planning to make NEET mandatory for the admission to agriculture courses across the country. However, Indian Council of Agriculture Research (ICAR) has not come up with any proposal.

Since central government made NEET mandatory for Veterinary Sciences, ICAR is planning to include agriculture courses too. If ICAR sends the proposal regarding the inclusion of agriculture courses under the purview of NEET, it will be tabled before the parliament for discussion and final approval. In all, the process of bringing agriculture courses under the purview of NEET will not be finalised this year.

Also Read: Three New Agricultural Colleges to Come Up in Bihar

Vice-Chancellor of Tamil Nadu Agricultural University (TNAU), Professor K Ramasamy stated that 13 agriculture courses in Tamil Nadu were considered as professional courses. Across the state, there are 24 affiliated and 14 constituent colleges that offer agriculture courses. At present, the central government is conducting a Common Entrance Test (CET) for 15% of seats in all the agricultural colleges, he added.

On the other hand, the number of seats in agricultural courses is expected to increase this year since many colleges have applied for affiliation.

Also Read: Maharashtra Govt. Makes Entrance Test Mandatory for Agriculture Courses

The idea to make NEET compulsory for agricultural courses was not well received by the parents and aspirants. If NEET is made mandatory, students from rural areas will be the most affected, they opined.

So far, there has been no official announcement from the central government in this regard, and aspirants need not panic.