Revised medical, paramedical intake norms spark confusion as standards diverge

Ahmedabad: A revision of eligibility criteria for medical and paramedical admissions by the Gujarat govt has left students bewildered, with the new rules pulling sharply in opposite directions depending on the course.The minimum requirement for admission to medical, dental, ayurveda and homeopathy courses has been eased — reduced from 50% in Class 12 to merely passing the examination.Yet students aspiring to paramedical programmes such as physiotherapy, optometry and occupational therapy now face a stiffer bar. A newly constituted board overseeing paramedical courses has raised the eligibility threshold for these courses to a minimum of 50% marks in Class 12, up from the earlier requirement of simply passing with a science background.The change effectively shuts out students scoring less than 50% marks from these programmes.The impact is expected to be significant. Historically, students who narrowly missed the cut for medical or dental seats treated paramedical courses as a viable alternative pathway. That route may now be closed to a sizeable section of applicants. Sources suggest the timing of the change has added to the distress, catching many prospective students off guard during an already stressful admissions cycle.The decision comes after authorities earlier considered making NEET mandatory for paramedical courses as well, a proposal that was ultimately abandoned given the sheer volume of applicants and the logistical challenges of administering the exam at that scale.Education experts warn the stricter norms could have an unintended consequence: a surge in vacant seats. Colleges offering physiotherapy and allied courses have long struggled to fill capacity even under the more permissive old rules, and the tighter eligibility requirements are expected to deepen that problem.