Not Biology, Physics to be prioritised for NEET tie-breaker: NMC GMER 2023

New Delhi: In a major overhaul, the tie-breaker criterion for NEET has been revised by the apex medical regulator, National Medical Commission (NMC) which is likely to be applicable from the next academic year.

In its recently released final Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, the NMC has modified the process for determining ranks of candidates having an identical NEET score, prioritising marks obtained in Physics, followed by Chemistry and Biology. This is unlike the current practice of priority- first, the marks in Biology, followed by Chemistry and then Physics.

It is further mentioned that if the subject marks do not resolve the tie, then the draw of lots using computers will be conducted to draw the merit list. There would be no human intervention in the draw of lots.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that introducing changes in the undergraduate medical education system, the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 were finally published in the official Gazette by the NMC on June 2nd.

These regulations entail admission, counselling and migration processes involving the MBBS admissions including the conduct of NEET UG, the eligibility criteria, tie-breaker for NEET UG, common counselling, and student migration.

Further, it addressed the skills expected of a scholar graduating from UG Medical Education, the duties of medical universities to partner with NMC, maintenance of proper records by the universities and institutes, development of strategies for optimal utilization of evolving technology along with the minimum standards of requirements for medical education, the competency-based dynamic curriculum at the UG level, training period and maximum duration of UG medical students, choice-based credit courses, mandatory internship, faculty development programme, and student welfare.

Specifically, on the tie-breaker criteria for NEET, Chapter III Point 10 of the NMC regulations clearly states:

“Break of tie-in marks at NEET-UG– In case of tie-in marks of the students appearing for NEET-UG, the respective marks obtained in Physics followed by Chemistry and further followed by Biology in the NEET UG shall be considered;

Provided if the tie were to continue, then draw of lots by using the computer, with no human intervention, the eligible candidates shall be selected.”

Read Also: NMC releases final Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023, check out details

The NEET results for this year’s admissions were declared on June 13.

According to the existing guidelines, if two or more candidates obtain equal marks/percentile scores, the tie-breaker rule is followed to decide their ranks – A candidate with higher marks in Biology is ranked above the rest. In case of identical marks in Biology, the same rule is applied to Chemistry, followed by Physics. If the scores still remain identical, the older candidate gets the higher rank.

This process will be followed this academic year as well since the NMC had already released its clarification on the matter declaring: "Previous procedure/rules (as per Information Bulletin published by NTA) shall be followed for deciding "the inter-se-merit of candidates for tie-breaking" in NEET-UG 2023 result."

However, speaking to PTI about the development, the official sources have said, “The National Testing Agency, which conducts the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for admission to undergraduate medical courses, and the National Medical Commission (NMC) will be deliberating on the issue further.”

The NMC had also issued a clarification on the minimum age criteria for NEET.

While previously, the cut-off date was December 31 of the concerned admission year, in the newly notified GMER 2023, NMC modified this provision. The new provision stated that candidates appearing in the NEET examination must have completed the age of 17 years on or before January 31 of the concerned admission year to be declared eligible for the exam.

According to previous Regulation 4(1) of the Medical Council of India Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, "No Candidate shall be allowed to be admitted to the Medical Curriculum proper of first Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) Course until: (1) He/she shall complete the age of 17 years on or before 31st December of the year of admission to the MBBS Course."

Therefore, with the change in the NEET age criterion, aspirants were worried and they wondered about their chances of being eligible for the examination. However, NMC UG Medical Education Board clarified, "The word "January" in Clause 11(a) under the heading "ADMISSION, COUNSELLING, MIGRATION ETC." in Chapter III of GMER 2023 may please be read as "December". Necessary amendment is being issued separately."

Read Also: NMC Clarifies on NEET Age Criterion, Keeps Tie-Breaking Rules Unchanged for 2023