Latest news with #CENTAC
New Indian Express
2 days ago
- New Indian Express
Puducherry Parents' Association wants 14 medical aspirants disqualified over fake nativity, caste certificates submission
PUDUCHERRY: Puducherry Parents and students association has sought immediate action against 14 students who allegedly have submitted fake nativity and caste certificates to secure MBBS seats under the government quota in Tamil Nadu, Kerala, and Puducherry. According to the petition, eight students have applied for MBBS seats under government quota in in Tamil Nadu and Puducherry, while six students have done the same in Kerala and Puducherry. The complaint demands the disqualification of these candidates from the ongoing medical admission process conducted by CENTAC (Centralised Admission Committee) in Puducherry. The petition also points out that CENTAC has so far received 1,657 applications for MBBS seats under the government quota, and the current revised merit list includes 1,576 students. However, the number is expected to rise to 1,590 as a few more applications are under review. The issue also extends to the highly competitive JIPMER (Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research) admissions. Over 1,000 students have applied for 64 first-year MBBS seats under the JIPMER Internal (Domicile) Quota in Puducherry and Karaikal. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is scheduled to release the final admission list for these seats on Saturday, August 9. The petition further calls on the Directorate of Health and the Health Department of Puducherry to intervene and initiate legal proceedings where necessary. The Medical Council Committee has also been requested to initiate criminal proceedings against the 14 students to uphold the integrity of the admission process and protect the interests of eligible candidates.
New Indian Express
6 days ago
- Business
- New Indian Express
Puducherry grants 10% reservation for government school students in non-NEET courses
PUDUCHERRY: The Puducherry Government has issued a notification granting 10% horizontal reservation to students from government schools in admissions to undergraduate non-NEET courses. The government has previously granted a 10% reservation for NEET-based courses in 2023-2024. This clears the deck for the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) to begin counselling for the academic year 2025–26. According to the notification issued by the Higher Education Department on August 1 and released on Monday, the reservation will apply to seats under the Government Quota in both government and private self-financing institutions. Eligible courses include Engineering, Veterinary, Agriculture and Horticulture, Nursing, Biology-based Paramedical degree and diploma courses, Pharmacy, Law, Arts, Science, and Commerce. To qualify, students must be residents of the Union Territory of Puducherry and must have studied exclusively in government schools within the UT continuously from Class VI to Class XII, passing the Higher Secondary Examination (+2). This provision marks a variation from the Health Department's order, which grants a 10% reservation in NEET-based courses to students who have continuously studied in government schools from Classes I to XII.
Hans India
02-08-2025
- Politics
- Hans India
Dual nativity row hits medical admissions in Puducherry UT again
Puducherry: The contentious issue of dual nativity has once again marred the medical admission process in Puducherry, with allegations surfacing over irregularities in the draft merit list released by the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) for MBBS and other NEET-based courses under the government quota. The Pondicherry State Students and Parents Welfare Association has raised an alarm over suspected misuse of nativity claims, with its president V. Balasubramanian revealing that at least two students were found to be listed in both Puducherry's CENTAC merit list and the Tamil Nadu Health Department's list. This duplication, he said, points to potential fraud in the declaration of nativity, a critical factor in admissions under the Union Territory's government quota. In a formal petition addressed to the Lieutenant Governor, Chief Minister and senior officials of the UT administration, the association has demanded an immediate probe and intervention. It has urged authorities to prevent candidates from other states from cornering seats meant exclusively for Puducherry natives. The association has also sought a thorough cross-verification of applicants' NEET scores, rank numbers, and personal details against the merit lists released in Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, and Kerala. Balasubramanian expressed concern that multiple similar cases may have gone undetected due to insufficient scrutiny. Despite clear provisions in Puducherry's admission guidelines — which disqualify any student claiming nativity in more than one state during the same academic year — the issue continues to recur annually. The rules also mandate a parental declaration affirming the legitimacy of the nativity claim, but activists allege that enforcement remains weak. Last year, eight students were disqualified on dual nativity grounds. However, the association criticised CENTAC and the Puducherry Health Department for not implementing the rules effectively. Balasubramanian alleged that the departments have failed to take proactive steps to detect and deter fraudulent claims. Drawing attention to recent action taken by Tamil Nadu authorities, who disqualified over 23 students for submitting fake documents under the NRI and other quota categories, the association urged the Puducherry government to adopt similar strict punitive measures. It also called for action against students, parents, and intermediaries involved in procuring bogus nativity certificates. With the admissions process underway, the association has warned that failure to address the issue promptly could deny deserving local candidates their rightful opportunity to pursue medical education.
New Indian Express
01-08-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Forum raises concerns over dual nativity in Pondicherry medical admissions
PUDUCHERRY: The issue of dual nativity has once again cast a shadow over medical admissions in Puducherry, with a forum of students and parents flagging serious irregularities in the draft merit list released by the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) for MBBS and other NEET-based courses under the government quota. According to V Balasubramanian, president of the Pondicherry State Students and Parents Welfare Association, two students have been found to figure in both Puducherry's CENTAC merit list and the Tamil Nadu Health Department's list, raising doubts about the authenticity of their nativity claims. He also expressed apprehension that similar cases involving students from other neighbouring states could have gone unnoticed. In a petition to the Lt Governor, Puducherry CM and senior officials, the forum urged immediate intervention to prevent candidates from other states from occupying medical seats reserved for Puducherry natives. The association demanded a comprehensive cross-verification of applicant data — including NEET scores, rank numbers, and personal details — with merit lists from Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka and Kerala to identify dual applicants. They further called for strict action against students, parents, and any intermediaries involved in obtaining fraudulent nativity certificates. Despite existing provisions in Puducherry's admission guidelines — which state that any student claiming nativity in more than one state during the same academic year would be disqualified — complaints continue to surface annually. The norms also include a clause requiring a parental declaration to reinforce compliance. Last year, eight students were disqualified on similar grounds. However, Balasubramanian alleged that CENTAC and the Puducherry Health Department have failed to enforce the rules strictly. Meanwhile, Tamil Nadu has disqualified over 23 students for submitting fake certificates under the NRI and other quota categories. The forum urged the Puducherry administration to adopt similar punitive measures.
New Indian Express
26-07-2025
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Puducherry: NEET, non-NEET courses' counselling to be held together
PUDUCHERRY: In a major shift from previous years, the Centralised Admission Committee (CENTAC) will conduct counselling for both NEET and non-NEET courses simultaneously this year. The process is expected to begin in the first week of August. The decision comes amid mounting pressure to meet the August 14 deadline set by the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE) for completing admissions to engineering and related courses. Students and parents have raised concerns over the delay in announcing the counselling schedule. 'CENTAC is currently awaiting a government notification regarding the proposed 10% reservation for government school students in non-NEET courses,' CENTAC Convenor Cheryl Shivan told TNIE. While this reservation already exists for MBBS and other NEET-based programmes, CM N Rangasamy had earlier announced its extension to non-NEET courses in the Legislative Assembly. Sources indicated that the decision is being processed through the cabinet by circulation. Chief Minister Rangasamy and some ministers have already signed the proposal, and the remaining ministers are expected to sign soon. The file will then be sent to Lt Governor K Kailashnathan for final approval. Officials clarified that his absence from the station will not delay the process, as approval can be granted through the e-office system.
