NEET PG counselling: TN Health issues notice for PwD candidates, details

Chennai: The Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) Tamil Nadu, has issued an important notice for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) aspiring to join Postgraduate Medical Courses (MD,MS,Diploma) for the academic year 2025-26.

The announcement comes soon after the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) update on October 17, 2025, and aligns with the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) new interim guidelines aimed at ensuring fair and inclusive opportunities for PwD candidates in postgraduate medical admissions.

As per the notice, candidates applying under the PwD category must upload key documents - including their NEET PG 2025 scorecard, UDID card issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, and a self-certified affidavit as per Schedule-1 on the official portal till October 23, 2025 (3 PM). They must also visit the designated Regional Medical Board for verification of their affidavit and disability status. The NMC’s functional competency-based approach for this session focuses on each candidate’s ability to perform essential clinical tasks, ensuring that all qualified doctors - regardless of disability -have an equal chance to pursue postgraduate training with dignity and support.

Interim guidelines on assessment method for granting admission in post graduate courses to pwbd candidates for ay 2025-26 (as received from nmc on dated 15/10/2025) are given below:

Interim Admission Approach for AY 2025-26:

Defining essential competencies for each type of disability in each specialty involves a very complex process which is multi-dimensional & dynamic. Assistive devices & medical technologies are also rapidly advancing & evolving. Striking a balance between inclusion and the imperatives of patient safety and clinical competence in medical education and practice is of paramount importance.

Pertinent to mention that Post Graduate medical courses shall require specialty specific deliberations, as the required competencies and skills may vary over a wider range and therefore extensive consultations with medical experts/ beneficiaries/ stakeholders are needed.

In view of aforesaid facts, final guidelines after following all procedural aspects and further consultations, shall be notified & implemented from subsequent Academic Years. However, the admission process for PwBD candidates for AY 2025-26 must continue uninterrupted. Accordingly, the group of medical experts under the committee duly constituted by NMC (under the chairmanship of Dr. Achal Gulati), have unanimously reached to a conclusion to adopt interim guidelines for admissions in AY 2025-26.

Mandatory Use of UDID Portal:

As per Gazette Notification S.O. 1736(E) dated 05.05.2021, issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD), all disability certificates and UDID cards must be issued via the UDID online portal, effective June 1, 2021.

Accordingly, the UDID card has been established as a mandatory document for persons with disabilities. In this context, it may be regarded as an essential and authoritative proof for evaluating the eligibility of meritorious NEET PG candidates under the disability category.

Evaluation framework based on MoSJE guidelines:

Further in view of the paramount importance of patient safety and clinical competence, the assessment of candidates with disabilities may be conducted in accordance with the recently notified guidelines dated 12.03.2024 issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE). These guidelines provide a structured and uniform framework to ensure that the evaluation of disability is both comprehensive and consistent with the responsibilities inherent to medical practice.

Decision Taken:

The expert panel unanimously agreed on the following for PG admissions under the PwBD category for AY 2025-26:

1. PwBD candidates must submit:

a. A valid UDID card issued by a designated medical authority under MoSJE.

b. Self-Certified affidavits in the format provided under Schedule -I.

c. The candidate will have to approach the designated medical board for verification of their self-certified affidavit.

2. Designated Medical Boards (29 designated medical boards) are required to undertake following duties:

a. The competencies mentioned in the appendix under Schedule-I are basic & mandatory. The candidates, to the satisfaction of the designated medical board, may demonstrate the competencies that have been declared by him/her. If the board finds the declared competencies unsubstantiated based on the candidate's performance, it must issue a reasoned decision declaring him/her ineligible to pursue medical course.

b. If the candidate while self-declaring the essential competencies mentions one or more competencies in negative or is not able to demonstrate one or more of the listed essential competencies, the board shall see if he/she is able to compensate such deficits, by other alternative functionalities; and may take a holistic view regarding his capability to pursue PG course.

c. The designated medical boards may utilize standardized tests and tools to evaluate the abilities of the candidates, as per their declaration, instead of focusing on the disabilities.

d. All decisions of the designated medical board(s) shall be in the form speaking orders. The Board, based on the functional competency of the candidate, may also recommend the appropriate course, in case the board finds that the candidate may not be able to perform in the preferred course.

e. In case the candidate is aggrieved by the report/ certificate issued by the medical board, he/she may avail the existing appeal provision under the jurisdiction of DGHS/ MCC wherein the MCC may direct him/her to any other medical board for re-assessment.

Admissions will be processed by the counseling authority, based on NEET-PG 2025 scores, institutional preferences, and verification of required documents by the concerned designated medical board(s). Medical colleges will provide accommodations accordingly.

To view the official notice, click the link mentioned below:

https://medicaldialogues.in/pdf_upload/19102025004744-305211.pdf