The Supreme Court has ruled that Indian students must qualify NEET UG before enrolling in MBBS programs abroad if they intend to practice medicine in India. The court dismissed petitions challenging the rule and declined to grant any one-time exemption.
The regulation, introduced by the Medical Council of India (MCI) in 2018, ensures that students meet the necessary academic standards before pursuing medical education overseas. The court upheld this requirement, stating that it is a fair and transparent measure in line with the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 1997, maintaining uniformity in medical education.
No Exceptions to the Rule
Petitioners argued that the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, was not amended before implementing this requirement. However, the Supreme Court ruled that the MCI had the authority to enforce the rule under Section 33 of the Act.
The court refused to allow any exemptions, asserting that students who enrolled in foreign medical programs after the amended regulations came into effect must adhere to the requirement. However, the rule applies only to students who wish to practice in India—those planning to study and work abroad are not required to qualify NEET UG.
