Parliament passes Indian Medical Council (Amendment Bill), 2016

Rajya Sabha on 1 August 2016 passed Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016 by voice vote. 
•    The Bill seeks to amend the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956. 
•    It also seeks to replace the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016. 
•    The Bill states that its provisions will come in to force from 24 May 2016.
•    The bill was passed in Lok Sabha on 19 July 2016 after being introduced by Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Jagat Prakash Nadda on the same day. 
•    It seeks to introduce a uniform entrance examination for all medical educational institutions. 
•    This would be applicable at the undergraduate and the post-graduate level.
•    It states that the entrance examinations will be conducted in Hindi, English and other languages.
•    It provides powers to the MCI to frame regulations with regard to:
    The authority designated with the conduct of the exams
    The manner of conducting the exams
    Specifying languages other than English and Hindi in which the examinations may be conducted.