New Guidelines for NEET UG 2025: Fresh Disability Certificates for PwBD Candidates

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has introduced new guidelines for NEET UG 2025 specifically for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) candidates, aiming to enhance fairness and accessibility in medical admissions under the All India Quota (AIQ).

Key New Rules for PwBD Candidates in NEET UG 2025

• Mandatory Fresh Disability Certification:
  • PwBD candidates must obtain a new disability certificate from one of the 16 MCC-designated disability certification centres across India.
  • Certification is based on a functional competency assessment considering communication, mobility, vision, hearing, and cognitive skills rather than only the percentage of disability.
  • Candidates must have a valid UDID card (Yellow or above category) to be eligible under the PwBD quota.
• Alignment with Legal Frameworks:
  • These rules align with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
  • They comply with the Supreme Court’s recent directives (citing Om Rathod vs Union of India) and the updated disability evaluation framework notified by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment on March 12, 2024.
• Reduced Disability Percentage Restrictions:
  • The National Medical Commission (NMC) has lowered disability percentage criteria, easing eligibility conditions to ensure better access for disabled candidates.
• Standardized Process:
  • The new guidelines promote uniform assessment and certification using a standardized form based on the RPwD Act.
  • This replaces older mechanisms that primarily focused on disability percentage rather than the ability to function in a medical education environment.

Implications of the New MCC Rules

• Greater Equity in Medical Education: By emphasizing functional abilities over rigid disability percentages, more PwBD candidates who are capable of undertaking medical education can participate, promoting inclusivity.
• Streamlined and Transparent Certification: The requirement to obtain disability certificates only from MCC-approved centres reduces chances of fraudulent or inconsistent certifications.
• Ensured Compliance with Judiciary and Policy Updates: The changes timely incorporate Supreme Court orders and updated government notifications, making the NEET counselling process legally robust.
• Potential Increased Competition: Since certification now requires an assessment of actual functional capacity, some candidates may need to prove their capability more rigorously.
• Administrative Coordination: Medical institutions and candidates will need to coordinate with designated centres for certification, which enhances standardization.

In summary, the MCC’s new rules for PwBD candidates in NEET UG 2025 mark a shift towards a more functional, rights-based, and uniform approach in assessing disability for medical admissions, aimed at enhancing fairness and accessibility while complying with recent legal and policy frameworks.