NEET UG 2023 eligibility criteria revised for Indian candidates abroad

NEW DELHI: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has revised the eligibility criteria of the non-resident Indian (NRI) candidates for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2023. Now Indian nationals, NRIs, overseas citizen of India (OCI), persons with Indian origin (PIO) and foreign nationals are eligible for admission in medical, dental, ayurveda, siddha, unani and homeopathy colleges subject to rules and regulations framed for it. Earlier, OCI cardholders were allowed for admission against a Non-Resident Indian (NRI) seat or a supernumerary seat only. The decision came after the Supreme Court’s judgment in a related case. NEET UG 2023 Exam City Slip Live Updates

“In pursuance of the Judgment dated 03.02.2023 of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India in W.P(C) 891/2021 and connected matters and in supersession of earlier corrigendum dated 31.03.2023 on the subject, aspiring OCI Candidates of NEET (UG) 2023 are hereby informed that the amended provision of Clause 5.2.2 of the Information Bulletin of NEET (UG) 2023 dealing with the Eligibility of OCI Cardholders for NEET (UG) shall be read as follows,” an NTA statement said.

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As per NTA, the existing provision for OCI candidates provided in NEET UG 2023 information bulletin said that tThe OCI cardholder including a PIO card holder is a foreign national holding passport of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.

Similarly, it added, the PIO cardholder and foreign nationals shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens. Hence, OCI and PIO will be treated as foreigners and be eligible for NRI seats only and will not be eligible for Indian national seats including paid seats of deemed universities, the existing provisions said.

The modified eligibility criteria reads, “Indian Nationals, Non Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), Persons with Indian Origin (PIO) and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical/ Dental/ Ayurveda/ Siddha/ Unani/ Homeopathy Colleges subject to rules and regulations framed by the respective State Governments, Institutions and the Government of India as the case may be.”