NEET Not Necessary to Study MBBS Abroad, MCI Orders

The Medical Council of India (MCI), in a recent major development on NEET 2020, has announced a one-time exemption for the NEET aspirants intending to pursue the MBBS degree abroad due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. However, the council has made it clear that such candidates need to appear for and qualify the NEET either in the current year or in 2021.

Latest MCI Update on NEET Exam 2020-21

The decision comes as an effect to an appeal by an MBBS aspirant to the Delhi High Court last month. Due to the continuous postponement of the exam, the candidate had approached the HC with an appeal to direct the authorities to provide her with an eligibility certificate without qualifying the NEET, which would enable her to start her MBBS course scheduled to commence in Uzbekistan in August 2020. According to her plea, as the NEET exam had been scheduled for 13th September, it wouldn’t be possible for her to meet the eligibility.  

The MCI had made the NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) mandatory for pursuing MBBS courses abroad according to a gazette notification in March 2019. Due to the ongoing pandemic, the NEET exam, after being postponed twice, was scheduled to be held on 13th September.

In her plea, the aspirant sought a one time exemption from clearing NEET for getting admitted to a overseas MBBS course for the current session. The HC directed the MCI to consider the plea as a representation and come to a decision in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare within 3 weeks.

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NEET Not Necessary to Study MBBS Abroad for 2020-21 Academic Session

After due consideration, the MCI has allowed for a one-time exemption from qualifying NEET for all candidates looking forward to pursuing MBBS abroad. As per the MCI announcement, “In order to address the grievance of candidates like the Petitioner, owing to the extraordinary situation of COVID 19 Pandemic, as a one-time measure, it would be appropriate to permit such aspirants to take admission in Foreign Medical Institutes, provided they fulfil the criteria as provided in the “Eligibility Requirement For Taking Admission In An Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002” as well as “the Screening Test Regulations, 2002” read with “Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997” for admission to MBBS course.”

But the MCI had made it clear that such candidates would need to appear for and clear the NEET either in 2020 or 2021, failing which they would not be entitled to registration by the State Medical Councils even if they complete their courses. The declaration by MCI has come as a respite to foreign MBBS aspirants across India.

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It is quite clear from the MCI verdict that even if NEET is not necessary to study MBBS abroad this year, candidates anyways have to clear the exam before their program completion. Stay tuned to Leverage Edu for more news updates around education, courses and universities abroad.