Aspiring medical students planning to pursue an MBBS degree abroad must now take note: the Supreme Court has upheld that qualifying the NEET-UG exam is mandatory for anyone seeking a medical degree from a foreign institution.
This decision reinforces a rule set by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which mandates NEET-UG as a prerequisite for admission to undergraduate medical courses—whether in India or overseas. The ruling aims to uphold consistent standards in medical education and ensure equitable healthcare delivery.
The Supreme Court emphasized that the NMC regulation does not violate any statutory provisions. “It is clear that once the amended regulations came into effect, any student who knowingly seeks admission to a foreign medical institution must meet the eligibility criteria outlined—chief among them, passing NEET-UG. This rule, however, does not restrict the student’s right to practice medicine outside of India,” stated a bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai and K. Vinod Chandran.
Following this judgment, medical aspirants are strongly advised not to pursue foreign MBBS degrees without first clearing the NEET-UG, as such degrees will not be considered valid for medical practice within India.