The National Medical Commission’s (NMC) relaxation of eligibility norms for NEET-UG, letting Class 12 students without biology as a main subject to pursue medical studies, has evoked mixed reactions among high school students aspiring to be doctors.
The move
NMC has announced that students who have passed their 10+2 exams with physics, chemistry, and mathematics can now appear for NEET UG. However, there’s a rider — the aspirants have to pass an extra biology/biotechnology examination at the 10+2 level from any recognised board.
“… decided that the previous approach of the erstwhile Medical Council of India needs to be revisited by permitting candidates to undertake study of the requisite subjects (Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology along with English) even as additional subjects after passing Class 12th from duly recognised boards by the concerned Government,” NMC said.
“Such candidates shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG Test and thus will be eligible for a grant of eligibility certificate,” it said in a notification, in a clear defiance of Medical Council of India rules for admission to MBBS and BDS courses.
The reactions
Students aspiring to be doctors are a little unhappy with the move while those without biology as a core subject in 10+2 have welcomed the decision. The parents of the latter are also elated with the NMC move to allow all students from science background to sit for medical entrance exams.
“It’s unbelievable. How can NMC allow students without biology as a core subject in their 10+2 to appear for NEET UG. To study medicine, you need to have in-depth knowledge of biology and that’s not possible to get just by passing an extra exam,” says Sunaina, a Class XII student of Heritage School in Delhi-NCR.
“The decision should immediately be revoked otherwise people will lose faith on doctors in the future. You can’t play with the lives of people. Biology is a must to go for medical studies just superficial knowledge won’t help,” says Priya Rao, another Class XII student of Salwan International School, who’s a medical aspirant.
“Playing with medical education is like playing with fire. We expect a rational move from the authorities at the earliest. It’s like trivialising the medical education system in our country, where it’s the dream of many students to become doctors,” says Hardik Sharma, a Class IX student of Heritage.
However, not all are unhappy with the move, particularly those who study in government schools.
“This will allow even those who don’t study biology as a core subject to become doctors. What’s wrong in that. One can well make up during MBBS course. After all, you have to pass MBBS as well after getting a seat,” says Chitra, a Class IX science student of a government school.
