The Medical Council of India (MCI) has decided to recommend one entrance examination for all medical colleges in the country.

Confirming the development, a MCI official said: "We are planning to introduce single national entrance examination instead of multiple entrance examinations to offer fair and transparent selection procedure based on merit."

The examination suggested would cover 290 institutes of medical education of the country. It includes institutes and deemed universities managed by central government, state government, public sector undertakings, local self governments, trusts, charitable societies and other organisations.

At present, a candidate hoping to get into medical school has to sit for large number of examinations, with different schools often requiring different tests.

It should be noted here that the 50-odd seats at the AIIMS alone are fought over by more than 60,000 applicants. Those who are not able to secure their seats need to take a host of other exams.

As per MCI 290 medical colleges, including private and government-run will be the part of this proposed entrance examination.

The MCI has already sent this proposal to the Health Ministry on June 24 last month.

Even the Supreme Court has mandated a common entrance test.