MCI debarment of NIOS Candidates: CBSE clarifies its position

New Delhi: The CBSE has refused to get dragged into any controversy regarding the Medical Council of India’s decision to bar both the NIOS and private candidates who have appeared for their class XII board exam from the National Eligibility Entrance Test exam(NEET), from this year.

Setting aside student queries on the issue, the CBSE officials have asked students to pose their question to the Medical Council of India alone. A notice (FAQ) released by the Board urged NEET (national eligibility-cum-entrance test) aspirants not to ask the body an answer on a decision taken by the MCI.

The response was issued to a Frequently asked question that was directed to the body which questioned

I have passed class XIIth from the National Institute of Open Schooling/State Open School. Now, I have been made ineligible for NEET(UG) 2018, kindly accept my candidature.

The response stated

CBSE is responsible for holding the examination. The eligibility criteria have been provided by Medical Council of India (MCI) which is stipulated in the Information Bulletin. Many queries are being received on the eligibility criteria from candidates who have passed from open school, private candidates etc. Such candidates are advised to follow the instructions given by MCI. CBSE has no role to play in it. Therefore no reply to any such query on the eligibility condition will be given by the CBSE.

To ensure your eligibility, the simple formula is that you kindly verify your eligibility by ensuring that you must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology/BioTechnology with English (Core) continuously for 02 years and must have secured 50% marks individually and otherwise.

The students' queries included requests on their part to be allowed to appear for the forthcoming NEET entrance to be held on May 6.The NEET exam was open to both NIOS students and private candidates as well last year.

As many as 4,460 students registered for the medical entrance test, of which 4,114 gave the examination and 1,412 qualified in the year 2107. More than 50% of the successful candidates, 864 to be exact were from the NIOS,

Medical Dialogues team had in December reported that the Medical Council of India (MCI) had issued a notice clearly stating that a person who had passed his/her 10+2 from NIOS or State Open Schooling Boards, is not eligible to take admission in MBBS or equivalent medical course in a medical university/medical college outside the country. The apex medical regulator had also stated that in such cases, the Medical Council of India will not accept applications for Eligibility Certificate from all students intending to take admission in foreign medical institutions from the academic year 2017-18 and onwards till further orders.

Read also: Centre reverses MCI ban on NIOS students appearing for NEET