• The state medical university (Tamil Nadu Dr M G R Medical University) has decided to permit colleges recognised by the state nursing council to admit students to nursing courses, even if they don’t have a nod from the Indian Nursing Council (INC).
• The admission to nursing courses will begin in September,2020. The university said it had sought legal opinion from experts including the advocate general before making the decision.
• “So far, we never allowed colleges that don’t have recognition from the national body to take part (in the admission process). But last year, the Supreme Court ruled that the INC doesn’t hold power to grant recognition. Following this, the council deleted names of recognised colleges from its webpages,” said university registrar Dr T Balasubramanian.
• After legal experts said the university can permit colleges recognised by the state council to admit students, the university has given all colleges the go ahead. Administrators of colleges, both government and private, said the decision was a huge relief as they take permission from the Tamil Nadu Nursing Council, the state government and the affiliating university already. “It makes a lot of difference when we don’t need INC permission,” said senior nursing professor Synthia John.
• Admissions to government nursing colleges and government quota (35%-50%) seats in self-financing colleges are done through single window counselling by the selection committee just like MBBS and BDS admission.
• State selection committee secretary G Selvarajan said admission to paramedical courses, including nursing, will begin after the state wraps up admission for MBBS and BDS. “The prospectus should be available for download by 15/09/20. We should be able to publish rank lists and begin counselling by August,” he said.
• According to the Tamil Nadu Nursing Council, as of May 2018, there are 189 recognised medical colleges/universities offering BSc nursing courses and 210 colleges/universities offering diploma in nursing.
• Many students who have joined arts and science colleges and engineering courses in self-financing colleges say the delay in counselling may leave them having to pay the entire fee in the colleges they are currently admitted to if they opt to move out, which may add up to Rs 1.5 lakh. “I joined a bachelor’s course in physics because I did not know if I had a chance to join BSc nursing or physiotherapy. The government should ensure that I wouldn’t have to pay the entire course fee if I choose to switch courses,” said G Ashok