Biology as additional subject for NEET UG eligibility

The Under Graduate Medical Education Board being an Autonomous Board of the National Medical Commission is issuing the present Public Notice in view of the large number of queries / representations, as well as, the various pending court cases involving the common issue as addressed herein below.

• The erstwhile Medical Council of India through the provisions of the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997 including the various amendments, under Chapter-II had regulated the admission & selection to MBBS course. The same included that candidates must have undergone 2 years of regular / continuous / coterminous study of the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology, in Class 11 th & 12 th with practical, alongwith English. The said 2 years study was required to be completed from regular schools and not from open schools or as private candidates. Further, the study of Biology / Biotechnology or any other requisite subject, could not be completed as an additional subject after passing Class 12 th.
• The aforesaid provisions had been challenged before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court and were quashed vide judgement dated 11.05.2018 passed in the case of Anshul Aggrawal Vs. Union of India & Ors.– W.P. (C) No. 1813 of 2018 & other connected matters and judgement dated 17.08.2017 passed in the case of Tanishq Gangwar & Ors. Vs. Union of India & Ors. – W.P. (C) No. 6773 of 2018 & other connected matters.
• The aforesaid had a consequential bearing on the candidates seeking admission in Graduate / Primary Medical Courses in Foreign Medical Institutes due to the Statutory Regulations in R-15014/(GEN)(54)/2023-REGN. I/3630958/2023 this regard i.e. the Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 & the Screening Test Regulation, 2002.
• In the aforementioned background, candidates had been debarred from NEET-UG Test as also their applications seeking Eligibility Certificate were rejected. 6. In the meanwhile, the National Medical Commission has framed the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 as notified on 02.06.2023. Regulation 11(b) provides that candidates who have passed 10+2 or its equivalent with the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology & English shall be eligible for appearing in 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 National Medical Commission in its meeting held on 14.06.2023 after detailed deliberations while taking into consideration the New Education Policy, which permits great extent of flexibility in the study of various subjects in Class 12 th, decided that the previous approach of the erstwhile Medical Council of India needs to be revisited by permitting candidates to undertaken study of the requisite subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology alongwith English) even as additional subjects after passing Class 12 th from duly recognized boards by the concerned Govt. Such candidates shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG Test and resultantly also be eligible for grant of Eligibility Certificate.
• The present decision shall be applicable retrospectively also on candidates whose applications for grant of Eligibility Certificate have been rejected on the grounds contemplated in the present public notice. However, for the purpose of appearing in NEET-UG, candidates who become eligible after the date of the present public notice, shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG-2024. Further, court cases filed by MCI / NMC, as before any Hon’ble Court, in this regard shall be withdrawn and that the current position with the present public notice shall be explained in all pending litigations filed by candidates, against MCI / NMC, so that the same could be disposed at the earliest.

Source : NMC