Finance
The National Medical Commission (NMC) on Wednesday enabled Class 12 students who studied physics, chemistry, biology, or biotechnology in addition to English to take the NEET-UG examination.
A note on the NMC website indicates that this decision will apply even to students whose applications were previously rejected.
The erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) governed admission and selection to MBBS courses under Chapter-II of the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, including several revisions.
The requirement at the time mandated undergraduates to have completed two years of continuous study in physics, chemistry, biology, or biotechnology with practical, along with English, during Class 11 and 12. Additionally, students were obligated to pursue these studies through conventional schools rather than open schools or as private candidates.
The notice further states that after graduating Class 12, students can complete the study of biology and biotechnology or any other required subject as an additional subject.
The Delhi High Court challenged and quashed these restrictions imposed by NMC in a case and other related matters on May 11, 2018.
This, as per the NMC notice, had a “consequential bearing on the candidates seeking admission in graduate and primary medical courses in foreign medical institutes due to the statutory regulations in this regard i.e. the eligibility requirement for taking admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 and the Screening Test Regulation, 2002.”
In this context, candidates were prevented from taking the NEET UG exam, and their applications for eligibility certificates were denied.
Meanwhile, on June 2, the NMC published the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023.
Candidates who have passed 10 2 or its equivalent with the disciplines of Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology, and English are eligible to take the NEET-UG.
“Therefore, after the framing of Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 the earlier Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997 including the various amendments stand repealed prospectively,” the NMC notice said.
The NMC held detailed deliberations in a meeting held on June 14, 2023 and took into consideration the New Education Policy, which permits a great extent of flexibility in the study of various subjects in Class 12.
The authority decided to revisit the previous approach of the erstwhile Medical Council of India by allowing candidates to study the requisite subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, along with English) as additional subjects after passing Class 12th from duly recognized boards by the concerned Government.
The notice states that candidates meeting these criteria would be permitted to take the NEET-UG Test, making them eligible for the grant of an eligibility certificate.
The current decision applies retroactively to candidates previously denied eligibility certificates based on specified grounds. However, candidates becoming eligible after the current public notice date can participate in NEET-UG-2024.
Meanwhile, the NTA has made the NEET UG syllabus available.
Source:IE
