NEET PG 2026 counselling: MCC tightens NRI document rules and clarifies PwD eligibility
Candidates claiming NRI seats in Round 1 must now submit sponsor passports, while disability eligibility queries must go to the NMC.
The Medical Counselling Committee has revised the documentation requirements for Non-Resident Indian candidates and directed doctors with disabilities to seek eligibility decisions directly from the National Medical Commission ahead of NEET PG 2026 counselling.
The Directorate General of Health Services under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare issued the corrigendum, introducing an additional verification layer for candidates seeking postgraduate medical seats under the NRI quota during Round 1 registration.
Under the updated rules, candidates falling into Category I—those who are NRIs themselves or whose parents or real siblings hold NRI status—and Category IV, comprising Indian citizens who have acquired NRI status, must furnish a valid passport belonging to the relevant parent, sibling, or sponsor.
This passport requirement is mandatory and sits alongside the documentary checks already published in the NRI section of the NEET PG 2026 Information Bulletin. Health authorities stated that the check aims to establish clear proof of status before seat allocation commences.
Summary of revised NRI candidate categories
| Category | Description | Document required |
|---|---|---|
| Category I | Candidate, parent, or real sibling is NRI | Valid passport of parent or real sibling |
| Category IV | Indian citizen who has become NRI | Valid passport of candidate or sponsor |
Other NRI categories remain unaffected by the corrigendum. Candidates who fail to present an active, valid passport during registration and verification risk the rejection of their quota claim.
PwD eligibility redirected to National Medical Commission
In a concurrent advisory, the committee clarified its administrative role regarding Persons with Benchmark Disabilities participating in postgraduate medical admissions.
The MCC stated that it serves strictly as an executive body tasked with conducting counselling and seat allocation. It holds no legal authority to evaluate, relax, or amend disability standards set for postgraduate medical training.
Candidates with questions regarding permissible degrees of impairment, qualifying disability groups, or course suitability must submit their queries directly to the National Medical Commission. These disability criteria cover locomotor, visual, hearing, speech, intellectual, learning, and mental health conditions across MD, MS, and DNB programmes.
The counselling authorities advised affected candidates to approach the commission with their disability certificates and medical documentation before Round 1 begins, ensuring any eligibility determinations are resolved in writing prior to allotment.
Key numbers
| What | Figure | Source |
|---|---|---|
| NRI Categories affected | Category I and Category IV | Directorate General of Health Services notice |
| Mandatory additional document | Valid passport of parents, real sibling, or sponsor | Medical Counselling Committee corrigendum |
| Counselling stage for submission | Round 1 registration and verification | Medical Counselling Committee corrigendum |
In this story
| Name | Role in the story |
|---|---|
| Medical Counselling Committee | Executive authority conducting the admissions counselling that released the notices. |
| National Medical Commission | Statutory body responsible for establishing and interpreting disability eligibility rules. |
