Karnataka CET "MUST" for Dental Courses in 2009

The government on Friday withdrew its earlier decision to scrap the CET for BDS and the Indian System of Medicine (ISM) courses. The election code of conduct has prevented the government from enacting legislation to cancel CET.

Medical Education Minister Ramachandra Gowda announced on Friday that students who intend to take a seat through the government will have to appear for the Common Entrance Test (CET) in May. Candidates for Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Homeopathy, and Naturopathy will also have to appear for the CET test.

Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) officials confirmed that in lieu of the government’s decision, the examination and counselling dates for these courses will be as specified in the application/brochure issued for this year. According to the minister, the Bellary Dental College could fill only three seats out of the 50 last year. The rest of the seats were filled after the local representatives took permission from the government.

Interestingly, the huge vacancy of seats in dental colleges across the State leaves open the possibility that a student, who is willing to take risk, can directly get admitted without opting for CET.