Proposed: NMC To Conduct NEET UG Exam

The (NMC) National Medical Commission, the apex medical regulator of the medical field, may soon take charge of conducting the 'National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test" (NEET, NEET-UG), the gateway to various graduate medical programs in India, including MBBS, BDS, BHMS, BAMS, BSc Nursing courses.

A Proposal to this effect has been put forward by the National Medical Commission (NMC) as it released the draft of the National Medical Commission (Graduate Medical Education) Regulations of Undergraduate Medical Education Board, 2023, in the public realm for comments.

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The draft regulations lay down the new management structure of UG Medical Education, that is, the MBBS program and cover different aspects, ranging from the holder of the NEET exam. And its counseling, the rules related to the syllabus, the aspects of admission, counseling and migration, the minimum standards of medical education, faculty development, etc.

This also leaves the possibility of even multiple agencies conducting the exam. The draft guidelines note that passing NEET will be the eligibility requirement for entrance to graduate medical education in India and abroad (elsewhere).

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The draft further sets the eligibility standards of NEET as 10 +2 with subjects of physics, chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology and English. The candidate has passed in the last two years of his education, setting the tie-breaker as the respective marks obtained in Biology followed by Chemistry and further followed by Physics in the NEET-UG shall be considered. If the tie continues, draw lots using the computer or IT with no human intervention, and the eligible aspirants shall be selected, the guidelines further add.

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Besides there, the Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the NMC shall determine the language, manner and modalities etc., of conducting the NEET-UG by way of Notification. Provided that the Under Graduate Medical Education Board shall notify with reasonable lead time when it decides to change its policies about the conduct of NEET-UG so that aspiring students are not put to a detriment

On the issue of Counselling, the draft calls for common Counselling based on the merit list for all medical institutions, which shall be conducted based on guidelines provided by the UGMEB. 

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