Students who have chosen physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology along with English as additional subjects after completing class 12 from recognised boards are now eligible to take the NEET-UG test, as per a public notice issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on Wednesday.
“This decision will be applicable even to those students whose applications were previously rejected,” NMC stated.
The previous regulations, established by the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), mandated two years of regular or continuous study in physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology, along with English, during class 11 and 12, as outlined in the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997.
“The two years of study had to be completed from regular schools and not from open schools or as private candidates,” The notice explained. Moreover, the study of biology and biotechnology or any other necessary subject, could not be pursued as an additional subject after passing class 12.
These regulations were challenged and subsequently quashed by the Delhi High Court on May 11, 2018, leading to implications for candidates seeking admission to medical courses in foreign institutions.
In response to this, the NMC formulated the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, which came into effect on June 2. Regulation 11(b) of these new regulations stipulates that candidates who have passed 10+2 with physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, and English are eligible to appear in NEET-UG.
The NMC, in a meeting on June 14, 2023, considered the New Education Policy and decided to revisit the previous approach, acknowledging the flexibility in subject study under the policy. The NMC decided to permit candidates to study the required subjects, including physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, and English, even as additional subjects after passing class 12 from recognised boards.
“Such candidates shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG Test and thus will be eligible for grant of eligibility certificate,” notice stated.
This decision applies retrospectively to candidates whose eligibility certificate applications were previously rejected.
For candidates becoming eligible after the notice’s date, they will be allowed to appear in NEET-UG-2024. Additionally, court cases filed by MCI/NMC in this regard will be withdrawn, and the current position with the public notice will be explained in all pending litigations filed by candidates against MCI or NMC for swift resolution.
With inputs from PTI.