New Delhi: A common entrance test for students aspiring to study medicine is likely to be introduced from the next year, the Medical Council of India (MCI) said on Tuesday.

"The common entrance test for undergraduate and postgraduate students will soon be a reality. The health minister has approved (it). We are awaiting the notification to be issued. Once the notification is issued it should be implemented for 2010-2011," MCI's Board of Governors' chief S.K. Sarin said.

The MCI has proposed a common entrance test (CET) for all medical colleges in the country. According to Sarin, it will cover the private as well as government medical colleges across the country.

"It will be convenient for the students who presently have to take 10 to 15 different entrance tests," he said.

Ranks will be given to students on the basis of this test which will be used for admission in colleges all across the country. The move is also being seen as an attempt to bring an end to the management quota seats and other unfair means practiced in giving admission in private medical colleges.

"This test will ensure transparency, every college will have to take the students on the basis of the ranks," he said.

However, the inclusion of All India Institute of Medical Sciences and other central medical colleges is not clear yet.

"These institutes are not under MCI. We have proposed their inclusion," Sarin added.

The health ministry proposal comes as the human resource development (HRD) ministry has proposed a common entrance test for medical as well as engineering.

Sarin, however, said that the modalities of the CET is yet to be finalized and the council is in dialogue with Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and HRD ministry as well.

"Reducing the burden on students is the main concern and it can be done in coordination with the HRD ministry," he said.

"They can have common test for physics and chemistry. The modalities are yet to be finalized," he said. IANS