NMC Clarifies on NEET Age Criterion, Keeps Tie-Breaking Rules Unchanged for 2023
New Delhi: In a major relief to the medical aspirants in the country, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has reversed the age criterion for appearing in the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET-UG) examination.
Apart from this, the NMC UG Board has also clarified that there will be no change in the tie-breaking rules for deciding the ranks of NEET-UG 2023. "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," NMC UG Board mentioned in the Public Notice issued yesterday.
With the publication of the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023 in the official Gazette of India on June 02, 2023, changes had been introduced in the age criterion for appearing in NEET and also the tie-breaking rules for the examination.
Also Read: NMC releases final Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023, check out details
NEET Minimum Age Criterion:
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that by introducing changes in the rules of the NEET-UG examination, NMC had revised the minimum age criterion for the candidates appearing for the exam.
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 has now clarified the matter.
Issuing a Public Notice in this regard, the President of the UGMEB, Dr. Aruna V. Vanikar referred to "Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023" that was published on 2nd June 2023 and also the guidelines issued by UGMEB on 12.06.2023 for admission in MBBS Course.
Referring to these rules, Dr. Vanikar informed, "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."
With this, the apex medical commission has now reversed the rules regarding the minimum age criterion to become eligible for NEET-UG examination.
Also Read: NEET Age Criterion revised in NMC GMER 2023
NEET-UG 2023 Tie-Breaking Rules:
In Section 10 of the recently notified GMER 2023, NMC introduced changes in the tie-breaking criteria for NEET-UG and mentioned, "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," it added.
According to the tie-breaking rules notified earlier, the tie-in marks of the students appearing for NEET-UG will be decided by considering the respective marks in Biology, Chemistry, and Physics and if the tie continues, negative marks are considered.
However, issuing the Public Notice dated 13.06.2023, UGMEB President Dr. Aruna V Vanikar clarified, "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."
To view the notice, click on the link below:
https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/ugmeb-notice-211815.pdf
Also Read: NEET 2023: All You Need To Know About Tie Breaking Criteria
