In a significant development, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has revised the eligibility criteria for individuals aspiring to pursue a career in medicine. According to the latest guidelines, candidates who have cleared their 10+2 exams with physics, chemistry, and mathematics as core subjects can now become doctors by clearing the biology/biotechnology examination as an additional subject at the 10+2 level from any recognized board.
The public notice issued by NMC states that candidates who have studied physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, along with English, even as additional subjects after passing Class XII, will be permitted to appear for the NEET-UG test. This opens avenues for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in India. Additionally, such candidates will also be eligible for the grant of an eligibility certificate, a legal proof certifying their eligibility to pursue undergraduate medical courses abroad.
The earlier criteria mandated two years of regular/continuous/co-terminus study of physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology in Class XI and XII with practicals, along with English for eligibility to pursue MBBS or BDS. The study period was required to be completed in a regular school and not as a ‘private’ candidate or from an open school.
This revision by NMC represents a significant shift, allowing individuals to pursue a medical degree even if they did not have biology/biotechnology as a core subject in Classes XI-XII. The decision comes in light of the National Education Policy’s flexibility in the study of various subjects in Class XII.
The relaxation of criteria by NMC is expected to provide more opportunities for aspiring medical professionals and aligns with the evolving landscape of education in India.
