Health Minister JP Nadda will meet President Pranab Mukherjee on Monday to brief him on the Centre’s Ordinance that seeks to defer the National Eligibility-cum Entrance Test for admission to medical and dentistry colleges in the country. According to the Times of India, the minister wants to impress upon Mukherjee the urgent need to pass the Ordinance, which has to get his approval before it can be enforced. Mukherjee has sought legal advice on the Ordinance before he makes his decision.

The Centre’s move would partially overturn the Supreme Court’s verdict that stipulated that the NEET should be conducted across the country this year itself. The court’s move was seen as a safeguard against the corruption and irregularities allegedly rampant in state-level exams. However, states have been protesting saying the students have not had enough time to prepare given the suddenness of the court’s ruling, and also argued that regional students would face a language barrier during the NEET.

The next phase of the NEET is scheduled for July 24. The first phase took place on May 1, and nearly 6.5 lakh students appeared for the exam.