Students who studied physics, chemistry, biology, or biotechnology in addition to English in class 12 from duly recognised boards will be eligible to take the NEET-UG exam. The National Medical Commission (NMC) stated in a public notice issued on Wednesday that this decision will apply to students whose applications were previously rejected.

The erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) regulated admission and selection to the MBBS course under Chapter-II of the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997, including various amendments. The NMC's Undergraduate Medical Education Board stated in a public notice that candidates must have completed two years of regular or continuous study in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Biotechnology in Class 11 and 12 with practical, in addition to English.

The two-year study had to be completed through regular schools rather than through open schools or as a private candidate. Furthermore, after passing Class 12, the study of Biology and Biotechnology, or any other required subject, could not be completed as an additional subject.

The provisions were challenged in the Delhi High Court and were quashed in a case and other related matters on May 11, 2018. Due to the statutory regulations in this regard, namely the eligibility requirement for taking admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002 and the Screening Test Regulation, 2002, this had a significant impact on candidates seeking admission in graduate and primary medical courses in foreign medical institutes.

In this context, candidates were barred from taking the NEET-UG Test, and their applications for an eligibility certificate were denied.