Admission to all postgraduate courses in medical colleges across India from next year will be through a common entrance test to be conducted by National Board of Examination from November 23 to December 6, 2012.

The test will be applicable for PG seats of all the 350 medical colleges across India, which account for close to 20,000 seats, except the three institutes set up by acts of Parliament – AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh and JIPMER, Puducherry.

In a statement, the Health Ministry said the new system would help promote transparency and streamline admission to Post Graduate medical and dental courses.

"The Government has decided to introduce a single entrance examination to be known as National eligibility– cum–Entrance Test (NEET) from the next academic year 2013–2014.

"The National Board of Examination (NBE) will conduct NEET–PG for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma Course courses offered by all medical colleges/institutions coming under the ambit of the Medical Council of India," the Health Ministry said.

The first NEET–PG in 2013–14 will be held online by NBE from November 23 to December 6, 2012 at various centres in 34 cities of the country.

Details of NEET–PG for medical courses are available at www. Nbe. Gov. In/neetpg.

The NEET–PG for dental courses will be conducted by the AIIMS for admission in MDS courses offered by all the dental colleges/institution coming under the ambit of the Dental Council of India.

AIIMS will notify the dates of the examination in due course of time.