Student Must Qualify NEET UG Exam for Studying MBBS Abroad – Supreme Court

The Decision Came on the Petition Challenging Regulation of NEET UG Necessity for Pursuing Medicine Study Abroad

The Supreme Court of India has turned down the petition challenging necessity of NEET UG for studying MBBS abroad and later practice in India. Now all those students, who wish to pursue MBBS from Medical colleges and universities abroad and later practice medicine in India, will have to first clear NEET UG examination.

Although still students, who want to study MBBS and practice abroad, do not need to qualify NEET-UG.

What was the Petition?

Students had filed petition in the Supreme Court challenging the regulation introduced in 2018 by the Medical Council of India (MCI) under which the MBBS aspirant will have to clear NEET-UG prior seeking admission for the study of medicine in foreign countries.

The regulation wanted to ensure that the medical student must have the required and uniform standards for practicing medical profession in India. Petitioners had argued that the regulation was introduced without any amendment in the Indian Medical Council Act 1956.

Supreme Court Upheld Regulation Making NEET UG Mandatory

However, Supreme Court in its verdict upheld the regulation stating that MCI has the authority to implement the regulation under section 33 of the Indian Medical Council Act. Supreme Court ruled that Indian students pursuing MBBS abroad will have to qualify NEET UG examination first if they plan to practice in India.

While the rule applies only to those who wish to study medicine abroad and practice in India, the students can still study medicine and work in other countries without NEET UG. Petitioners had also sought one-time exemption for the students who had taken admission after the enforcement of the regulation.

On the plea seeking one-time exemption to the regulation, the apex court maintained that the students who sought admission for MBBS abroad after the enforcement of the regulation must comply with the regulation.

Regulation Making NEET UG Mandatory is Fair Measure

Rejecting the plea of the petition, Supreme Court ruled that the regulation, which was introduced to make NEET UG mandatory for the students seeking MBBS abroad and later practice in India, is a fair measure.

This regulation does not violate any legal provisions and also aligns with the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 1997, and ensures uniformity in medical education standards.

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