NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court (SC) mandates NEET for Indian students to take MBBS admissions abroad. Introduced by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in 2018, this regulation ensures that all aspiring doctors meet the required standards to practice medicine in India. This new rule, effective from the 2025 academic session, ensures all candidates meet the same standards for practicing medicine in India. Although this rule does not stop students from working overseas, it emphasizes the importance of maintaining high-quality medical education.
The court ruled that making the NEET UG exam mandatory is fair and transparent, without violating legal provisions. This regulation aligns with the Graduate Medical Education Regulations of 1997, ensuring consistent standards in medical education.
A bench of Supreme Court ( SC ) Justices B R Gavai and K Vinod Chandran reviewed a petition challenging the regulation. Students opposed the ruling by arguing that the regulation was introduced without amending the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. However, the court clarified that the Medical Council had the authority to implement the regulation under Section 33 of the IMC Act.
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The bench emphasized that once the updated regulations take effect, students studying MBBS abroad must fully comply with the eligibility criteria required for practicing medicine in India. No exemptions will be granted under these rules. However, the SC clarified that these requirements do not limit student’s ability to practice medicine outside India.
The NEET UG 2025 registration is open and the last date to apply is 7 March. The NTA will conduct the exam on 4 May. This year, several new rules have been introduced for the NEET exam, impacting MBBS admission.
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