The CBSE gets a nod from the Supreme Court on Thursday to hold the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) 2016-17 in two phases. The Medical Council of India's schedule for the common entrance exams for undergraduate medical and dental courses starting 1 May 2016 was approved by the court.

In spite of strong protests from Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh and Tamil Nadu that it was very late, a Bench of Justices S.K. Singh, Anil R. Dave and A.K. Goel revived the NEET across all States. The NEET notifications of 21 December 2010 were revived by the court. The court said that the common entrance exam would be held in the current academic year, notwithstanding any contrary orders from other courts. According to the order, all challenges would come before the SC directly and would heard in due course.

As per the CBSE NEET schedule, the All India Pre-medical/Pre-dental Entrance Test scheduled for 1 May will be considered as NEET-1. A total of 6,67,637 would appear from 1,040 centers in 52 cities, including abroad, for NEET-1. Remaining candidates would appear for NEET-2. The whole process, from collection of information from the States till the result declaration, would begin from 7 May 2016. On 24 July 2016, NEET-2 would be held, while the results would be out from the CBSE on 17 August 2016.

- Sumana