New Delhi: In a major move aimed at ensuring greater accessibility and fairness in medical education, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued a comprehensive notification for candidates applying under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category for NEET UG 2025. The guidelines come in compliance with the recent Supreme Court directives and are aligned with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the updated disability framework issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment (MoSJE) on March 12, 2024.
According to the notice dated July 21, 2025, only those PwBD candidates who possess a valid UDID card (Yellow or above) and are certified by designated medical boards will be eligible for the 5% horizontal reservation in medical college admissions under the All India Quota (AIQ).
Disability Certification Mandatory from MCC-Approved Centres
PwBD candidates must now visit one of the 16 MCC-designated disability certification centres across India to obtain a fresh disability certificate specific to NEET UG 2025. This certificate will be issued based on a functional competency assessment, not merely on the percentage of disability. The board will evaluate candidates in terms of their communication ability, mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive skills, depending on the nature of their disability.
| NEET UG Counselling Guide 2025 | |
|---|---|
| State-wise MBBS/BDS Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| MCC NEET UG Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
| AACCC AYUSH NEET Counselling Guide eBook 2025 | 📥 Download |
Required Documents
Candidates must carry the following during their visit:
- NEET UG 2025 result
- Valid UDID card (excluding visual disability for AIQ)
- A self-certified affidavit (Appendix A)
- Disability-specific affidavit based on the type (Appendix B–F)
- Supporting assistive device details (if any)
Only candidates certified by these centres will be able to view and opt for PwBD-reserved seats during AIQ counselling.
Join NEET News 2025 Functional Assessment at the Core
In a significant shift, the MCC guidelines prioritise functional ability over static disability percentages. A series of structured assessments will gauge whether a candidate is capable of handling the rigours of the MBBS course. This aligns with the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) new interim assessment guidelines for the 2025–26 academic year.
States to Follow Suit
While MCC handles AIQ certification, candidates applying under the 85% state quota must get their certificates from State Disability Boards. However, states are now bound to follow the NMC 2025 guidelines for certification, ensuring a uniform assessment process nationwide.
MCC Assures Expansion of Centres
In response to concerns over accessibility, MCC announced that the number of disability certification centres is likely to increase soon. This would reduce travel burdens for PwBD aspirants, many of whom travel long distances for assessments.
