A significant change this time as compared to last year’s interim guidelines is that the assessment boards have been asked to record in writing the reasons a candidate has been considered to be ineligible.Even as the National Medical Commission (NMC) has released guidelines to assess the eligibility of NEET candidates with disability for MBBS admissions, activists have questioned the timing of the move – coming almost two weeks after the results for the medical entrance test was announced.On Monday night, the apex regulator issued guidelines to assess whether a NEET candidate with disability is eligible, eligible with reasonable accommodations, or ineligible for admissions. It had also directed all colleges under its aegis to set up ‘Enabling Units’ to ensure that students with disability are able to get reasonable accommodations so that they are able to complete all course-work.With hearings underway in the Anmol Vs Union of India case in the Supreme Court, the regulator is rushing to comply with several directions.“This is the second time that NMC has come out with guidelines for assessing disability at the last moment, without giving the usual 30-day time for stakeholder consultation,” said Dr Satendra Singh, a disability rights activist. A doctor living with disability, Dr Singh was an expert in two of the key Supreme Court cases in this regard.While the dates for counselling for this year are yet to be announced, the interim guidelines were released just two days before the process started in 2025.The body is yet to come up with similar assessment guidelines for post-graduate medical courses.The new guidelines also do not mention that the assessment boards should have a doctor with disability, as recommended by the court.A significant change this time as compared to last year’s interim guidelines is that the assessment boards have been asked to record in writing the reasons a candidate has been considered to be ineligible. Other changes in the new guidelines are:– The new guidelines refer to the ‘disability certificates’, which medical aspirants with disability had to apply for each year, as ‘eligibility certificate’ now. “…it is intended to certify the candidate’s eligibility or otherwise for admission to the MBBS course,” the guideline says.– The number of assessment centres has been increased from 16 to 61. “For years, candidates with disability had to travel to different states to get the certificate as there were only 16 designated centres across the country. We argued that no other aspirant needs to travel for the admission process, then why should it be different for candidates with disability? Now the number of centres have been increased, though it is still not (the case) in all states,” said Dr Singh. The guideline says that “further expansion” of the number of centres is possible.Story continues below this ad– Three, the guidelines, for the first time, mention reasonable accommodation. “Prior to declaring a candidate ineligible, the Medical Assessment Board shall examine whether reasonable accommodation, assistive technology, adaptive devices or appropriate infrastructural support would enable the candidate to successfully pursue and complete the MBBS course,” the guidelines state.– Further, it says if a candidate is still determined to be ineligible, the board has to record in writing: the nature and extent of disability, the findings of functional competency assessment, reasonable accommodations that can be considered, reasons for determining a candidate’s eligibility or ineligibility, and the final recommendation of the board. Dr Singh says: “Now a person cannot be disqualified arbitrarily as the board will have to record the reason.”– Four, an appellate mechanism will be set up by the Directorate General of Health Services. Any aspirant wishing to challenge the findings of the board can go to the appellate authority. So far, students just had to go from one assessment board to another to get a decision in their favour. “The Appellate Authority shall pass a reasoned and speaking order, clearly recording the basis for affirming, modifying, or setting aside the findings of the Medical Assessment Board,” the guidelines state.Anonna Dutt is a Principal Correspondent who writes primarily on health at the Indian Express. She reports on myriad topics ranging from the growing burden of non-communicable diseases such as diabetes and hypertension to the problems with pervasive infectious conditions. She reported on the government’s management of the Covid-19 pandemic and closely followed the vaccination programme. Her stories have resulted in the city government investing in high-end tests for the poor and acknowledging errors in their official reports. Dutt also takes a keen interest in the country’s space programme and has written on key missions like Chandrayaan 2 and 3, Aditya L1, and Gaganyaan. She was among the first batch of eleven media fellows with RBM Partnership to End Malaria. She was also selected to participate in the short-term programme on early childhood reporting at Columbia University’s Dart Centre. Dutt has a Bachelor’s Degree from the Symbiosis Institute of Media and Communication, Pune and a PG Diploma from the Asian College of Journalism, Chennai. She started her reporting career with the Hindustan Times. When not at work, she tries to appease the Duolingo owl with her French skills and sometimes takes to the dance floor. ... Read More Tags:National Medical Commission