Can Indian Students without Biology in HS become doctors ?

An important decision has been made by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to permit students who are not majoring in biology to sit for the NEET-UG test, which is required to enrol in undergraduate medical programmes like MBBS and BDS.

Candidates who have passed their 10+2 exams in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English will be eligible to take the NEET-2024 exam, according to a public notification posted by the NMC on November 22. Furthermore, individuals may sit for the NEET-UG exam without taking biology or biotechnology topics if they finished their 10+2 with physics, chemistry, mathematics, or computer science, among other subjects.

According to the order, in addition to English, candidates for MBBS admission were required to study Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and other subjects for two years in classes 11 and 12, in addition to practical sessions, as per the Graduate Medical Education-1997 regulations of the former Medical Council of India (MCI).

On May 11, 2018, these rules were declared void due to legal challenges in the Delhi High Court. This decision had an impact on numerous candidates’ eligibility for the NEET-UG exam as well as their applications for eligibility certificates.The NMC made the decision to review the previous MCI approach in light of the National Education Policy (NEP-2020), which allows for flexibility in class 12 courses. After class 12, candidates are now permitted to continue studying the required subjects—Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English—even as electives from accredited boards.

The NMC made it clear that candidates whose eligibility certificates were denied for the reasons listed in the public notice will likewise be affected retroactively by this judgement. Candidates who become eligible after the notice is released, however, will still be able to participate in NEET-2024.

However, a few specialists have questioned the NMC’s decision, raising worries that the new standards may affect the calibre of medical education.