NEET UG Eligibility Criteria 2024: The National Medical Council (NMC) has relaxed the eligibility criteria for the NEET UG 2024 exam. As per the erstwhile Medical Council of India’s provisions, “Candidates must have undergone 2 years of regular/ continuous / coterminous study of the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology, in Class 11th & 12th 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 12th.”
However, the aforesaid provisions were challenged before the Hon’ble Delhi High Court and were consequently quashed.
In its meeting held on June 14, 2023, the National Medical Commission carefully considered the New Education Policy, which advocates significant flexibility in the study of subjects during Class 12. In light of this, the Commission decided to reassess the previous approach of the erstwhile Medical Council of India. The new directive allows candidates to pursue the required subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English) as additional subjects after completing Class 12 from duly recognized boards sanctioned by the respective government. Such candidates are now eligible to take the NEET-UG exam and, consequently, can qualify for the issuance of an Eligibility Certificate.
In other words, the National Medical Commission (NMC) granted permission for Class 12 students to participate in the NEET-UG examination, provided they have studied physics, chemistry, biology, or biotechnology along with English, even if taken as an additional subject.
