NEET 2018: MCI issues clarification regarding eligibility criteria

NEW DELHI, April 25: The Medical Council of India (MCI) has issued an official notice clarifying various points pertaining to the NEET 2018 eligibility criteria for the information of all students concerned about their chances of appearing for the exam this year.

Dated April 24, 2018, the notice has been issued on the basis of directives given by the Delhi High Court, which is currently hearing a case around the newly introduced controversial clauses in the NEET 2018 eligibility criteria.

Timeline of the NEET eligibility controversy

As per changes introduced by the MCI to the “Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997” through a Gazette of India notification issued on January 22, 2018, all medical aspirants above the age of 25, those who completed their schooling from the NIOS Board or privately, those who had a gap year between Classes 11 and 12, and those who studied Biology as an additional subject in Class 12 were barred from appearing for NEET 2018.

The changes were challenged in the Delhi High Court soon after the release of the official NEET 2018 Prospectus on February 8, 2018. Interim orders passed by the two member Bench of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and Chander Shekhar on February 26 and February 28 had allowed all of these candidates to apply, with the Court deciding to adjourn its hearing on whether these candidates would be allowed to apply to April 16, 2018.

Despite the interim order, many categories of candidates remained confused about whether their qualifications would render them ineligible from appearing for the exam, given the subsequent lack of communication from the MCI in this regard. After prolonged court hearings on April 16 and 17, and subsequently on April 24 and April 25, the Bench directed the MCI to post on its official website a detailed clarification regarding eligibility of various categories of candidates who wished to appear in NEET 2018. The same can be seen below -

MCI Clarification explained

Comprising a total of 8 points, the last two of which are currently being challenged before the Court, the notice seeks to make clear once and for all the rationale used to bar candidates from NEET this year.

Candidates can check a concise explanation of the clarification below -

 

Out of the above mentioned 8 points, candidates have taken the MCI to court regarding the last two points, as per which those students who studied in NIOS/State Open Schools or completed their Class 12 with PCM and only appeared for the Biology/Biotechnology exam as an additional subject after clearing their Class 12 are not eligible to appear in NEET 2018. Apart from this, the Delhi High Court is also hearing petitions challenging the upper age limit of 25 years (30 years for Reserved Categories) as part of the same case.

The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), the official exam conducting body of NEET 2018, had released the admit card of the exam on April 17, 2018. However, candidates from open schools and others rendered ineligible were not issued the same.

The verdict around the NEET 2018 eligibility criteria is expected to be declared on April 26, 2018. With NEET 2018 scheduled for May 6, 2018, the affected candidates are anxiously hoping for a decision in their favour so that they are able to download their admit cards and focus on preparing for the exam in the final few days.