NMC Issues New MBBS Admission Guidelines for PwBD Candidates

• NMC issues functional ability–based admission norms for PwBD MBBS aspirants.
• PwBD candidates must undergo assessment at one of 16 designated medical boards.
• Medical colleges must ensure accessibility, support mechanisms, and fair treatment.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has published interim guidance for admission of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) to MBBS courses for the academic year 2025–26. This development is consequential to a recent directive from the Supreme Court and in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPWDA) Act, 2016 and the guidelines issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment.

The new guidance was developed after review and suggestions made by an expert committee formed by the NMC which assessed the previous 2019 disability guidelines. The new guidelines do not rely merely on disability classification as a percentage but also rely on the functional capabilities of candidates to fulfill the academic and clinical requirements of the MBBS course.

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The new guidance has the following main features:

• Mandatory Documents: Applicants from the PwBD category must produce a valid Unique Disability ID (UDID) issued through the government portal and a self-certified affidavit in the format prescribed by Schedule-1.
• Verification by Designated Boards: Candidates in this category must report to one of the 16 designated medical boards in India, which will verify the affidavit and assess the candidate's functional capacity to enable him to complete the MBBS course.
• HAS TO Assess Functional Capacity: The boards will assess a candidate's capacity to perform essential tasks expected of the course instead of dependence on severity or percentage of disability.