The Maharashtra State Common Entrance Test (CET) Cell has issued a notice for all NEET UG 2026 candidates who have registered under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category and want a seat in MBBS or BDS courses. The notice passes on instructions from the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), New Delhi, which itself is implementing brand-new 'Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for Admission to the MBBS Course, 2026' issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on 27 July 2026. In short: every PwBD candidate must now obtain a fresh document called an 'Eligibility Certificate' from a designated Medical Assessment Board before counselling starts, and must upload it while registering for Maharashtra's State Counselling. This is an announcement, not a result or an application window — it tells candidates what to do and by when in the process.
PwBD candidates cannot be shown PwD seat choices in NEET UG 2026 counselling unless they first obtain a valid Eligibility Certificate from a designated Medical Assessment Board and upload it at the time of State Counselling registration.
What exactly changed
Until now, PwBD candidates typically carried a 'Disability Certificate' certifying the existence and percentage of their disability. Under the new NMC Guidelines, 2026, this document is now called an 'Eligibility Certificate' — because it certifies not just the disability but whether the candidate is functionally able to pursue and complete the MBBS course, with or without reasonable accommodation (assistive devices, adaptive aids, etc.).
The determination of eligibility is no longer based only on the disability percentage shown on the UDID card. The Medical Assessment Board must independently assess the candidate's functional competency — what the candidate can actually do — against the essential skills required for the MBBS course.
The number of designated assessment centres has also been expanded from 16 to 61 across the country, so candidates have more centres to choose from.
Who must act, and by when
This applies to every candidate who has registered as a PwBD candidate in NEET UG 2026 and wants to claim admission to MBBS/BDS under the PwBD category — whether through the All India Quota, State (85%) quota, or any other counselling route.
The certificate must be obtained before the admission/counselling process begins. Only candidates who have obtained a valid Eligibility Certificate from a designated Medical Assessment Board will be shown choices of PwD seats. The certificate must then be uploaded at the time of registration for Maharashtra's State Counselling.
Documents you must carry to the Medical Assessment Board
To obtain the Eligibility Certificate, a candidate must visit one of the designated Medical Assessment Boards and submit the following documents:
- NEET UG 2026 score card demonstrating eligibility for the MBBS course
- Permanent UDID (Unique Disability Identity) Card issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment — a temporary or provisional UDID is not the document referred to here; it must be the Permanent card
- Self-Certification Affidavit — Appendix-A (a general affidavit every PwBD applicant must fill declaring functional abilities, notarised)
- An additional disability-specific affidavit matching your disability category: Appendix-B (Hearing Impairment), Appendix-C (Locomotor Disability — Upper Extremity), Appendix-D (Locomotor Disability — Lower Extremity), Appendix-E (Mental Illness/Speech Disorders/Specific Learning Disorder/Autism Spectrum Disorder), or Appendix-F (Visual Disability)
- Candidates with any other benchmark disability (not covered by Appendix B–F, e.g. blood disorders like Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Disease, or chronic neurological conditions) only need to submit the general Appendix-A affidavit
How the certificate is issued, and possible outcomes
The Medical Assessment Board generates the certificate based on the disability details in your UDID card and the affidavit you submit, subject to you meeting the eligibility criteria set out in the NMC Guidelines. The Board records its findings in writing and issues one of three outcomes:
- Eligible — you qualify for the PwBD category without any conditions
- Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation — you qualify, but the Board specifies the accommodation(s) (assistive devices, adaptive aids, etc.) you will need
- Ineligible — the Board finds, with written reasons, that you cannot acquire the essential MBBS competencies even with reasonable accommodation, or that your disability poses an unmitigable patient-safety risk
Where to get assessed — Medical Assessment Boards in Maharashtra and nationwide
The MCC notice lists 61 designated Medical Assessment Boards across India (Annexure-1). Candidates can visit any of these centres, but not every centre certifies every disability — some are limited to specific categories. A few centres relevant to Maharashtra candidates are listed below; the full list of 61 centres is attached to the MCC notice.
Candidates who wish to claim a PwBD seat under the 85% State quota can visit State Medical Assessment Boards for their certificate, but the evaluation must still follow the NMC Guidelines, 2026 — the same standards apply regardless of which board conducts the assessment.
| Centre | City/State | Disabilities Covered |
|---|---|---|
| Grant Government Medical College, J.J. Hospital Compound | Mumbai, Maharashtra | All disabilities mentioned in the Disability Certificate |
| All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR) | Mumbai | Locomotor Disability only |
| Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities, Bandra | Mumbai, Maharashtra | Hearing Disabilities only |
| AIIMS, Nagpur | Nagpur, Maharashtra | All disabilities mentioned in the Disability Certificate |
Traps that can cost you your seat
This process has several strict rules. Missing any one of them can mean losing eligibility for the PwBD category or, worse, losing an already-allotted seat.
- ⚠️ Minimum benchmark disability is 40% — you must have a disability of not less than 40% as per the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, to be eligible for PwBD reservation at all.
- ⚠️ Only a Permanent UDID Card is accepted as documentary evidence — this is the primary proof the Board relies on.
- ⚠️ The Eligibility Certificate is not automatic — the Board independently assesses your functional competency; a high disability percentage on your UDID card does not guarantee eligibility, and a lower percentage does not automatically make you ineligible.
- ⚠️ If your UDID Card or affidavit is found to be FAKE, your seat will be CANCELLED and legal action will be taken against you.
- ⚠️ The Eligibility Certificate is valid only for this academic session (2026-27) — you cannot reuse an old certificate from a previous year.
- ⚠️ You must get the certificate BEFORE the admission/counselling process begins — do not wait until seat allotment to start this process.
- ⚠️ Without a valid certificate, you will not even be shown PwD seat choices during counselling — you need to plan the visit to a Medical Assessment Board well in advance.
- ✅ If you disagree with the Board's decision, you can appeal to the Appellate Authority constituted by the DGHS within the time and manner notified by MCC — do not assume the Board's decision is final without checking your appeal options.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Who does this notice apply to?
All candidates who registered as PwBD candidates in NEET UG 2026 and want to claim an MBBS/BDS seat under the PwBD category, whether through Maharashtra's State (85%) quota or any other counselling authority.
What is an 'Eligibility Certificate' and how is it different from the old Disability Certificate?
Under the new NMC Guidelines, 2026, the document previously called a Disability Certificate is now called the Eligibility Certificate. It certifies not just your disability but whether you can functionally pursue and complete the MBBS course, with or without reasonable accommodation.
What documents do I need to carry to the Medical Assessment Board?
Your NEET UG 2026 score card, your Permanent UDID Card, the general Self-Certification Affidavit (Appendix-A), and the affidavit specific to your disability category (Appendix-B for Hearing, C or D for Locomotor, E for Mental Illness/SLD/ASD, or F for Visual Disability). Other disability categories only need Appendix-A.
Can I visit any of the 61 Medical Assessment Boards, or only ones in Maharashtra?
You can visit any designated Medical Assessment Board on the list of 61 centres, but check first whether that centre certifies your specific disability category, since some centres only handle certain disabilities (for example, AIIPMR Mumbai only certifies Locomotor Disability).
What happens if I don't get the certificate before counselling starts?
Only candidates who have obtained a valid Eligibility Certificate from a designated Medical Assessment Board will be shown PwD seat choices during counselling. Without it, you will not be able to select PwBD category seats.
Is the certificate valid for multiple years?
No. The Eligibility Certificate is valid only for this academic session (2026-27).
What if my UDID card or affidavit is found fake?
Your seat will be cancelled, and legal action will be taken against you.
What if the Medical Assessment Board declares me ineligible?
You can appeal before the Appellate Authority constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), within the time and manner notified by MCC. The Appellate Authority can call for records, order a fresh assessment, and its decision will be final for counselling purposes, subject to any court order.
Where do I upload the certificate for Maharashtra counselling?
You need to upload the Eligibility Certificate at the time of registration for Maharashtra's State Counselling, as instructed by the State CET Cell.
If you are a PwBD candidate in NEET UG 2026, do not wait for counselling registration to start this process — locate your nearest designated Medical Assessment Board from the 61-centre list, confirm it covers your disability category, and get your notarised affidavits ready along with your Permanent UDID card and NEET score card. Book your assessment early, since the certificate must be in hand before you can even see PwD seat options during counselling.
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