SC Upholds NEET Requirement for Studying Medicine Abroad, Dismisses Pleas for Exemption

New Delhi, 21st February 2025: The Supreme Court has upheld the 2018 regulation set by the Medical Council of India (MCI), making qualification in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) mandatory for students seeking admission to undergraduate medical courses in foreign institutions. The court refused to grant any exemption, affirming that the rule ensures a fair and transparent process.

A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K. Vinod Chandran ruled that the NEET qualification requirement does not violate any legal provisions and serves to maintain academic standards in medical education. “We see no reason to interfere with the regulation. The request for a one-time exemption for the petitioners cannot be entertained. Once the amended regulation came into effect, candidates opting to study medicine abroad must comply with it,” the bench stated.

Addressing concerns raised by the petitioners, the court clarified that the rule does not prevent students from pursuing medical education outside India, nor does it restrict their right to practice in foreign countries. “The regulation, including the additional eligibility criteria, is neither unconstitutional nor arbitrary. It aligns with the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act and serves the purpose of ensuring a qualified medical workforce,” the judgment read.

With this ruling, all petitions challenging the regulation have been dismissed, reinforcing the mandatory requirement for NEET qualification before seeking medical education abroad.