**Summary:**
This document summarizes the Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 2297, answered on August 1, 2025, regarding criteria for NEET and MBBS admissions.
The response clarifies the role of the National Medical Commission (NMC) as the apex statutory body regulating medical education in India. As per the Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023, framed by the NMC, the minimum age for appearing in the NEET UG examination for MBBS admission is 17 years as of January 31st of the examination year. The regulations do not specify an upper age limit.
Eligibility criteria further mandate that candidates must have passed 10+2 or an equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.
The response also addresses the eligibility of students who completed the now-repealed PUC (Pre-University Course) for NEET and MBBS admissions but does not offer specific details.
Key Entities Referenced
MINISTRY OF HEALTH AND FAMILY WELFARE: The Union Ministry responsible for health and family welfare policies and programs in India.
LOK SABHA: The lower house of the Parliament of India, where the question regarding NEET and MBBS admissions was raised.
NEET: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, an entrance examination in India for students who wish to study undergraduate medical courses (MBBS, BDS, etc.) in government and private medical colleges.
MBBS: Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery, the primary undergraduate medical degree in India.
SMT. ANUPRIYA PATEL: The Minister of State in the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare who provided the answer to the Lok Sabha question.
National Medical Commission (NMC): An apex statutory body constituted by an Act of Parliament to regulate and oversee medical education across the country.
Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023: Regulations framed by the NMC prescribing eligibility criteria for appearing in NEETUG Examination for admission to undergraduate course MBBS.
NEETUG: National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Undergraduate, the undergraduate entrance examination for medical courses.
GOVERNMENTOFINDIA
MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
DEPARTMENTOFHEALTH AND FAMILYWELFARE
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION No. 2297
TO BE ANSWERED ON1STAUGUST, 2025
CRITERIAFORNEETAND MBBS ADMISSIONS
2297.KM.SUDHAR:
Will the Ministerof HEALTHANDFAMILYWELFAREbe pleasedtostate:
(a) whether the Government proposes to have a policy to stipulate a maximum or minimum
age limit for MBBS admissions, especially in view of instance where candidates aged 68
yearsand64yearsare seeking MBBS admissions this year;
(b) if so, the details thereof along with the reasons for not prescribing maximumage limit for
NEETexamination andMBBS admissions;
(c) whether Biology at Plus Two level in school is mandatory for NEET and MBBS
admissions andif so, the detailsthereof;
(d) whether the Government is planning to allow other subjects in place of Biology along
with Physics andChemistry inPlusTwo leveltobe eligible for NEETand MBBS admissions
andif so, the detailsthereof;
(e) whether 10+2 Two examination is mandatory for NEET and MBBS admissions and if so,
the detailsthereof; and
(f) whether students who had completed the now-repealed PUC are eligible to write NEET
andseek MBBS admissions andif so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
THE MINISTER OFSTATE IN THE MINISTRYOFHEALTH AND FAMILY
WELFARE
(SMT. ANUPRIYAPATEL)
(a) to (f): The National Medical Commission (NMC) is an apex statutory body constituted
by an Act of Parliament to regulate and oversee medical education across the country. The
Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023 framed by the NMC prescribe eligibility
criteria for appearing in NEET-UG Examination for admission to undergraduate course
(MBBS). As per provisions under the regulations minimum prescribed age is 17 years as on
or before 31st January of the yearthat the candidateshall be appearingfor examination.These
regulations do not prescribe upper age limit for appearing in the said examination. Further,
the candidate must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) with subjects of Physics, Chemistry
Biology/ BiotechnologyandEnglish.
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