SC allows candidates above 25 years to appear in NEET

The Supreme Court has allowed Medical aspirants older than 25 years to appear in National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) undergraduate exam 2019 for MBBS and BDS seats across the country. However, the court has clarified that the final admission would be subject to the final outcome of the case on the validity of CBSE decision to fix upper age limit.

The apex court has also extended the last date for submitting filled NEET forms by a week from tomorrow to enable aspirants who did not qualify under the earlier age criteria to apply. The Central Board of Secondary Education, CBSE had notified the upper age limit of 25 and 30 years for general and reserved categories respectively to apply for NEET exam.

The Supreme Court's decision comes in the matter of Medical Council of India's decision to keep an upper age limit for NEET for admission to medical colleges.

The Delhi High Court, had on May 11, upheld the regulation. Senior advocate Amarendra Sharan, arguing for the petitioners, told the court that the regulation is artificial and serves no real objective and said MCI Oversight Committee, as well as the central government, had has recommended deletion of the upper age limit as the country needs more doctors.