NEET UG Counselling 2021: MCC hints at delay due to Supreme Court case

NEW DELHI: The wait of 16 lakh candidates who appeared for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2021 might not get over soon as the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) issued a notice last night informing that a plea challenging EWS and OBC reservation in AIQ quota is still pending in the Supreme Court.

“All candidates desiring to participate in NEET-UG, 2021 Counselling are hereby informed that the Office Memorandum dated 30.07.2021 is under challenge before the Supreme Court of India," the MCC said in an official notice. “the hearing of the proceedings shall be listed on 6 January 2022. This is for information to candidates,” it added.

MCC notice, neet ug counselling 2021, supreme court case, ews, obc quota, aiq seats, mbbs admissions

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The Central Government has told the apex court that it has decided to review Rs 8 lakh criteria for determining Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category in NEET All India Quota (AIQ) and will come up with a fresh decision within four weeks, the LiveLaw reported.

Centre has formed a committee to review criteria for determining EWS category, secretary, R Subrahmanyam, ministry of social justice and empowerment announced on social media.

SC had asked the Centre whether it would like to revisit the limit of rupees eight lakh annual income fixed for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category for reservation in NEET admissions for medical courses.

The Centre had justified before the top court its decision to set the limit of Rs 8 lakh annual income fixed for determining the Economically Weaker Sections (EWS) category for reservation in NEET admissions for medical courses.

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The Supreme Court on November 23 heard a batch of pleas challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) July 29 notice providing 27 per cent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 per cent for EWS category in NEET admissions for medical courses.

Following court’s orders, MCC issued a notice on the website stating, “Counselling for NEET-PG, 2021 has been put on hold due to the pending court case before the Supreme Court of India. The NEET PG counselling will resume after the clarifications are received.”