Eligibility to appear in NEET (UG) – 2021
Eligibility for appearing in NEET (UG), as per related Regulations of NMC and DCI are as follows:-
4.1.1. 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
Undergraduate Medical Course.
Accordingly, the lower age limit shall as under:
For Candidates of General (UR)/General-EWS
born on or before
31.12.2004 For Candidates of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD Category
4.1.2. The upper age limit for NEET (UG) is 25 years as on the date of examination with a
relaxation of 5 years for the candidates belonging to the SC/ST/OBC-NCL category and
PwBD Candidates.
4.2 Criteria for NRI / OCI / Foreign Nationals
4.2.1. Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizen 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 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) 2021 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) 2021 shall also upload Documentary
Proof (e.g. relevant pages of a valid passport or a Certificate from 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 Embassy
Certificate and Citizenship Certificate or any Documentary proof of Citizenship are
given in Annexure- XIV A and XIV B.
4.2.2. Foreign nationals may confirm their eligibility from the concerned Medical/Dental/
College/State.
4.2.3. Eligibility of OCI cardholders for NEET (UG):
The Ministry of Home Affairs vide Notification dated 4th 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 (Mains), 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.
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4.3 Participation of UT of J&K Ladakh in All India Quota
i. Students from UT of J&K and Ladakh were not eligible for 15% All India Quota
seats as erstwhile J&K opted out of the All India Scheme since its inception.
So far as the UT of J&K is concerned, the matter for inclusion of the UT in the
All India Quota is under deliberation and any decision in this regard shall be
placed on the website of NTA in due course. Hence, the candidates from J&K
qualifying NEET (UG) 2021 shall not be entitled to participate in the
counselling conducted by MCC/DGHS for admission to the MBBS / BDS seats
under the All India 15% quota. However, depending upon their marks/ score,
they would be able to participate in the counselling conducted by the J&K
Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBPEE) for admission to
MBBS/ BDS Courses in the Medical Colleges in J&K. For details, the website of
JKBPEE (www.jkbopee.gov.in) and Directorate of Medical Education, J&K
Administration, may be visited by the candidates from J&K from time to time
for latest updates. The Candidates from the UT of J&K, if they claim eligibility,
must submit an online Self Declaration which will be generated and printed
automatically along with Confirmation Page for the record and they need to
present the same during counselling. The Self-Declaration Form is given in
Appendix-III. If the declaration is found to be false at any time, the
candidature/admission of such candidates shall be cancelled and criminal
proceedings may be initiated against such candidates. Candidates from the
UT of J&K can appear in NEET (UG) 2021 for admission to Private
Medical/Dental/ Colleges or any Private/Deemed University and AFMC,
AIIMS, JIPMER subject to the fulfillment of respective eligibility conditions.
ii. However, from the academic year 2021-22, the students of UT of Ladakh shall
be eligible for admission to 15% of All India Quota seats.