Eligibility for appearing in NEET (UG), as per related Regulations of NMC and DCI are as follows:-
5.1.1 He/she has completed 17 years of age at the time of admission or will complete that age on
or before 31 December of the year of his/her admission to the first year of the Undergraduate
Medical Course.
Accordingly, the lower age limit shall be as under:
For Candidates of General (UR)/General-EWS born on or
before
For Candidates of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD Category 31.12.2006
5.1.2 Upper age limit: As per Letter No. U-11022/2/2022-UGMEB, dated 09 March 2022
received from National Medical Commission (NMC), Under Graduate Medical
Education Board (UGMEB) regarding the upper age limit, there is no upper age limit.
5.1.3 Indian Citizens/ Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) intending to pursue Undergraduate Medical
Courses in a foreign Medical/ Dental Institute also need to qualify for NEET (UG).
5.2 Criteria for NRI / OCI / Foreign Nationals
5.2.1 Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Foreign Nationals are
eligible for admission in Medical /Dental Colleges subject to rules and regulations framed
by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India, as the case
may be. The NRI and OCI Applicants/Candidates have to upload a Certificate from the
concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence in support of their
claim as an NRI/OCI Candidate, along with their online Application Form for NEET (UG) -
2023 and retain the original of such document for producing it at the time of Counselling /
Admission to the Courses covered under NEET (UG). Similarly, a foreign applicant for
NEET (UG) 2023 shall also upload Documentary Proof (e.g. relevant pages of a valid
passport or a Certificate from the Competent Authority in the country of his/her nationality
regarding his/her citizenship status) in support of his/her Nationality, along with online
Application Form. The format of Embassy Certificate and Citizenship Certificate or any
Documentary proof of Citizenship are given in Appendix - XVII A and XVII B. Foreign
nationals may confirm their eligibility from the concerned Medical/Dental/ College/State.
5.2.2 Eligibility of OCI cardholders for NEET (UG):
The Ministry of Home Affairs vide Notification dated 4 March 2021 specified the rights
to which an OCI cardholder shall be entitled under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Clause (4) (ii) of the said Notification reads as under:
“(4) parity with Non-Resident Indians in the matter of,-
(ii) appearing for the all India entrance tests such as National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Joint
Entrance Examination (Main), Joint Entrance Examination (Advanced), or such other tests to
make them eligible for admission only against any Non-Resident Indian seat or any
supernumerary seat Provided that the OCI cardholder shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved
exclusively for Indian citizens.”
The above Notification provides the following Explanation:
“The OCI Cardholder (including a PIO card holder) is a foreign national holding passport
of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.”
Similarly, the PIO cardholder and foreign nationals shall not be eligible for admission against
any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens.
Hence, OCI/PIO will be treated as foreigners and be eligible for NRI seats only and will not
be eligible for Indian National Seats including paid seats of deemed universities. This is also
in pursuance of the Judgement dated 03 February 2023 of the Hon’ble Supreme court of
India in W.P (C) No. 891 of 2021.
5.3 Participation of UT of J&K and Ladakh in All India Quota
5.3.1 Candidates from UT of J&K and Ladakh are eligible for 15% All India Quota and the
candidates from respective UTs can participate like other States.