President Pranab Mukherjee signed the Natioanal Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) ordinance, a day after he met Health Minister JP Nadda.

The President had sought legal advice from the Attorney General on the ordinance, as well as some clarifications from the Health Ministry before he signs the ordinance.

The ordinance, cleared by the Union Cabinet on Friday, is aimed at “partially” overturning a Supreme Court verdict which said all government colleges, deemed universities and private medical colleges would be covered under NEET. The Health Minister says the ordinance deals with the concerns of the state governments.

More than 15 states were opposed to NEET and had raised issues like different syllabus and languages during the recent state health ministers’ meeting. The next phase of the exam is scheduled for July 24. Nearly 6.5 lakh students have already taken the medical entrance test in the first phase of NEET held on May 1.

Once the ordinance is issued, students of state government boards will not have to sit for NEET on July 24. They, however, will have to become part of the uniform entrance exam from next academic session.