NEET PG 2026-27 PwBD Quota: Medical Board Assessment on 28 Oct

Dr NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, has issued a critical notification calling 11 candidates who registered under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) quota for NEET PG 2026-27 postgraduate medical admissions. These candidates must appear before the University Medical Board on 28 October 2026 at 10:00 AM for functional assessment and verification of their disability eligibility. This is a mandatory examination; candidates who do not attend will be automatically disqualified from the PwBD quota. The assessment follows the National Medical Commission's interim guidelines issued on 16 September 2026 and will determine whether each candidate is eligible, eligible with reasonable accommodation, or ineligible for admission.

What Is This Assessment and Why It Matters

This is a mandatory functional assessment for candidates seeking admission to postgraduate medical courses (MD, MS, DNB) under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) quota for the 2026-27 academic year. The assessment is not a pass-or-fail exam; instead, it is a detailed evaluation by a Medical Assessment Board to determine whether your disability and functional abilities allow you to safely and successfully complete a postgraduate medical course.

The assessment follows the National Medical Commission's new interim guidelines dated 16 September 2026, which establish a uniform, evidence-based framework for assessing PwBD candidates across India. The focus is on functional competency—whether you can acquire and demonstrate the essential clinical and academic skills required for your chosen specialty—rather than on your disability diagnosis or percentage alone.

Your eligibility will be determined in one of three ways: (1) Eligible (no accommodations needed), (2) Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation (specific supports specified), or (3) Ineligible (with written reasons). This determination will be recorded in an Eligibility Certificate issued by the Medical Assessment Board, which you will need for counselling and admission.

Who Must Attend: The 11 Candidates

The University has published a list of 11 candidates who registered under the PwBD quota and must appear for assessment. The list includes their NEET roll numbers, NEET ranks, names, gender, and disability category (OC, BC-A, BC-D, BC-E, SC, ST). If your name appears on this list, you are required to attend. Attendance is mandatory; if you do not appear on the scheduled date and time, you will not be considered for admission under the PwBD quota, regardless of your NEET score or rank.

• Check the candidate list carefully to confirm your name, NEET roll number, and rank.
• If your name is on the list, attendance is non-negotiable.
• If you do not attend, you forfeit your PwBD quota seat and cannot be reconsidered.

Date, Time and Venue

The Medical Board assessment will be held on 28 October 2026 (Wednesday) starting at 10:00 AM. The venue is the Silver Jubilee Block, 2nd Floor, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada. Arrive on time; late arrivals may not be accommodated. The assessment will continue throughout the day as candidates are called in order.

• Date: 28 October 2026
• Time: 10:00 AM onwards
• Venue: Silver Jubilee Block, 2nd Floor, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada
• Arrive early to allow time for check-in and document verification

Documents You Must Bring: The Complete Checklist

You must bring all original documents and materials listed below. Incomplete documentation may result in your assessment being postponed or rejected. The Medical Assessment Board will verify each document before proceeding with your functional assessment.

The most critical document is your valid UDID (Unique Disability Identity) Card issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan), Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment, Government of India. This card serves as the primary evidence of your disability, its nature, extent, and percentage. Without a valid UDID card, you cannot be assessed under these guidelines. If your UDID card has expired or contains errors, you must attempt to correct it before the assessment date.

You must also bring self-certified affidavits in the format provided by the University (Schedule-I). These affidavits declare your functional abilities in relation to the essential competencies required for postgraduate medical training. Different affidavit formats apply depending on your disability type (hearing, locomotor upper limb, locomotor lower limb, visual, mental illness, speech, etc.). Ensure you complete the correct affidavit for your disability category and have it notarized.

• Valid UDID Card (Unique Disability Identity Card) issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities—this is mandatory and primary evidence of your disability
• Self-Certified Affidavits in the format specified in Schedule-I, completed and notarized (format depends on your disability type: Appendix-A for general, Appendix-B for hearing, Appendix-C for upper limb locomotor, Appendix-D for lower limb locomotor, Appendix-E for mental illness/SLD/ASD, Appendix-F for visual impairment, Appendix-G for false declaration affidavit)
• All original medical records and diagnostic documents pertaining to your disability (medical reports, test results, imaging, specialist opinions, DSM-5/ICD-11 diagnosis documentation)
• Recent passport-size photograph (colour, 4×6 cm or similar)
• Any assistive devices you intend to use during the course (hearing aids, cochlear implant, orthotic/prosthetic devices, low vision aids, mobility aids, communication devices, etc.)
• NEET admit card and NEET score card
• Any other relevant medical or functional assessment records

Critical Trap: Assistive Devices Are Your Responsibility

⚠️ **Important:** The University Medical Board will NOT provide any assistive devices. You must bring all assistive devices you intend to use during your postgraduate course. The Board will assess your functional capability using the devices you declare and bring. If you claim to use a hearing aid, cochlear implant, orthotic support, low vision aid, or any other device, you must demonstrate that you can use it effectively during the assessment.

This is a critical point: if you declare in your affidavit that you use a particular assistive device to overcome your functional limitation, but you do not bring it to the assessment or cannot demonstrate competent use of it, the Board may find you ineligible. Conversely, if you bring your device and successfully demonstrate functional competency with it, the Board may declare you eligible with that accommodation specified.

Plan ahead: if you use assistive technology or devices, ensure they are in working order, bring them with you, and be prepared to demonstrate their use during the assessment.

• The University will NOT provide assistive devices
• You must bring all devices you intend to use
• You must demonstrate functional capability using your own devices
• Failure to bring or demonstrate use of declared devices may result in ineligibility

What the Medical Assessment Board Will Evaluate

The Medical Assessment Board will conduct an individualized, objective, evidence-based functional assessment. The Board will verify and evaluate the following:

1. **Your UDID Card and Disability Details**: The Board will check that your UDID card is valid, that the disability category, percentage, and nature recorded on it are accurate, and that your disability meets the benchmark of at least 40% as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.

2. **Your Self-Certified Affidavits**: You will be asked to verify the functional abilities you declared in your affidavits. The Board will cross-check your declarations against objective medical findings and your demonstrated functional performance during the assessment.

3. **Your Medical Condition and Stability**: The Board will review your medical diagnosis (DSM-5/ICD-11 classification), the stability of your condition, and whether you have acute deterioration or frequent exacerbations that would interfere with postgraduate training.

4. **Your Functional Competencies**: The Board will assess whether you can demonstrate the essential competencies required for your chosen postgraduate specialty. These competencies vary by specialty (e.g., surgical specialties require fine motor skills, depth perception, and rapid decision-making; non-surgical specialties may have different requirements). The Board will evaluate your ability to acquire these competencies either independently or with reasonable accommodation.

5. **Your Assistive Devices and Adaptive Aids**: The Board will assess the suitability and effectiveness of any assistive devices, adaptive equipment, or technology you use. You will be asked to demonstrate how you use these devices and whether they enable you to perform essential clinical and academic tasks.

6. **Reasonable Accommodation Feasibility**: The Board will consider what reasonable accommodations (modified schedules, accessible learning materials, communication support, ergonomic modifications, examination accommodations, accessible clinical environments, etc.) could enable you to successfully complete the course without compromising academic or clinical standards.

7. **Patient Safety**: The Board will evaluate whether your disability poses any demonstrable and unmitigable risk to patient safety. This assessment is based on objective clinical and functional evidence, not on stereotypes or generalized assumptions about disability.

• Validity and accuracy of your UDID card
• Nature, extent, and stability of your disability
• Accuracy of your self-declared functional abilities
• Your medical diagnosis and clinical stability
• Your ability to acquire essential postgraduate competencies (with or without accommodation)
• Effectiveness of your assistive devices and adaptive aids
• Feasibility of providing reasonable accommodation
• Objective assessment of patient safety risk (if any)

How Eligibility Is Determined: Three Possible Outcomes

After the assessment, the Medical Assessment Board will issue an **Eligibility Certificate** (not a 'Disability Certificate') in one of three categories:

**1. Eligible**: You are eligible for admission to your chosen postgraduate medical course without any special accommodations. This means the Board has determined that you can acquire and demonstrate all essential competencies required for the course, and your disability does not pose a demonstrable risk to patient safety.

**2. Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation**: You are eligible for admission, but the Board recommends specific reasonable accommodations to enable you to successfully complete the course. The Eligibility Certificate will specify exactly which accommodations are recommended (e.g., 'hearing aids and amplified stethoscope', 'flexible scheduling', 'accessible clinical learning environment', 'extended examination time', etc.). These accommodations must be provided by the medical college without diluting academic or clinical standards.

**3. Ineligible**: You are not eligible for admission under the PwBD quota. The Board will issue a reasoned and speaking order (written decision) that clearly specifies: (a) the specific functional limitation identified, (b) the essential competency affected, (c) objective medical/functional evidence supporting the conclusion, (d) the reasonable accommodations considered, (e) why those accommodations are insufficient, and (f) the specific basis for concluding that you cannot safely acquire or demonstrate the essential competencies. A finding of ineligibility cannot be based solely on your diagnosis, disability category, or disability percentage; it must be based on demonstrated functional inability despite reasonable accommodation.

• Eligible: No accommodations needed; you can complete the course independently
• Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation: Specific accommodations specified in the certificate; college must provide them
• Ineligible: Written reasons provided; decision based on functional assessment, not diagnosis alone

Key Principles: What the Board Cannot Do

The Medical Assessment Board must follow strict principles when assessing you. Understanding these principles protects your rights:

**No Discrimination Based on Diagnosis or Disability Percentage Alone**: The Board cannot declare you ineligible simply because you have a particular diagnosis (e.g., cerebral palsy, hearing loss, visual impairment) or because your disability percentage is below a certain threshold. Eligibility must be based on your demonstrated functional competency, not on labels or percentages.

**Disability Is Not Automatic Disqualification**: Your disability will never, by itself, be treated as a reason to exclude you. Disability is only a disqualifying factor if it demonstrably prevents you from acquiring essential competencies despite reasonable accommodation.

**Reasonable Accommodation Must Be Considered First**: Before declaring you ineligible, the Board must thoroughly examine whether reasonable accommodation, assistive technology, adaptive devices, or other support measures could enable you to successfully complete the course. Only if such accommodations are genuinely insufficient can ineligibility be considered.

**Assessment Must Be Individualized and Evidence-Based**: Your assessment must be tailored to your specific disability, functional abilities, and the requirements of your chosen specialty. The Board cannot rely on outdated medical opinions, stereotypes, or generalized assumptions about what people with your disability can or cannot do.

**You Have the Right to Appeal**: If you are declared ineligible, you have the right to appeal the Board's decision to an Appellate Authority constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Appellate Authority will independently review your case and may seek additional medical opinions or conduct further examination.

• Diagnosis alone cannot determine ineligibility
• Disability percentage alone cannot determine ineligibility
• Reasonable accommodation must be considered before any ineligibility decision
• Assessment must be individualized and based on objective functional evidence
• You have the right to appeal an ineligibility decision

Specialty-Specific Assessment Criteria

The Medical Assessment Board uses different assessment criteria depending on the postgraduate specialty you are seeking admission to. The NMC guidelines provide detailed competency frameworks for three categories of specialties:

**Surgical Specialties (Anesthesiology, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Traumatology, Emergency Medicine, Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, Sports Medicine)**: These specialties require fine motor skills, bimanual dexterity, depth perception, hand-eye coordination, rapid decision-making, and endurance. Candidates with upper limb disabilities, visual impairment, or hearing impairment may face higher functional barriers. However, the Board will assess whether assistive devices (e.g., adaptive surgical instruments, magnification aids, hearing aids) or reasonable accommodations (e.g., modified surgical techniques, accessible operating theatre design) could enable competency.

**Non-Surgical Specialties (Dermatology, Family Medicine, General Medicine, Geriatrics, Immunohematology, Laboratory Medicine, Marine Medicine, Nuclear Medicine, Pediatrics, Palliative Medicine, Psychiatry, Radiation Oncology, Radiology, Respiratory Medicine, Tropical Medicine, Community Medicine)**: These specialties generally have lower physical demands but require strong communication, clinical observation, and decision-making skills. Candidates with hearing, speech, or cognitive disabilities may need specific accommodations (e.g., hearing aids, assistive communication devices, flexible scheduling).

**Pre-Clinical and Para-Clinical Specialties (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Toxicology)**: These specialties involve teaching, laboratory work, and research. Candidates with locomotor, visual, or hearing disabilities may be suitable if they can perform lab work, microscopy, and teaching with adaptive equipment or modified workplace design.

**Special Considerations for Mental Illness, Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), Specific Learning Disorder (SLD), and Chronic Neurological Conditions**: Candidates with these disabilities will be assessed on a case-by-case basis. The Board will evaluate whether you have functional communication, can follow instructions, can participate in structured learning, can regulate behavior in routine and stressful situations, and can function independently or with reasonable support. Stable, well-controlled conditions with no frequent exacerbations are more likely to be deemed suitable.

• Surgical specialties: Assess fine motor skills, depth perception, endurance, rapid decision-making
• Non-surgical specialties: Assess communication, clinical observation, decision-making
• Pre-clinical/para-clinical: Assess lab work, microscopy, teaching ability
• Mental illness, ASD, SLD, neurological conditions: Case-by-case assessment of functional stability and competency

What Happens After the Assessment: The Eligibility Certificate

Once the Medical Assessment Board completes your assessment, it will issue an **Eligibility Certificate** in the format specified in Schedule-II of the guidelines. This certificate will record:

• Your personal details (name, NEET roll number, UDID number, disability category)

• The Medical Assessment Board's details (name, institution, date of assessment)

• The nature and extent of your disability (category, medical diagnosis, percentage of benchmark disability)

• The Board's findings regarding your functional competency in relation to the essential competencies required for your chosen specialty

• The Board's assessment of reasonable accommodation (what was considered, what is recommended, if any)

• The Board's assessment of your ability to complete the course and acquire prescribed competencies

• The Board's assessment of patient safety risk (if any) and whether it can be mitigated

• The Board's final determination: Eligible / Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation (specifying accommodations) / Ineligible (with reasons)

This Eligibility Certificate is your proof of PwBD eligibility for counselling and admission. You will need to submit it during the counselling process. If you are declared ineligible, the certificate will include a detailed written explanation of the reasons, which you can use to file an appeal if you wish.

• Certificate records your personal and disability details
• Certificate records the Board's functional competency findings
• Certificate specifies any recommended reasonable accommodations
• Certificate states final determination: Eligible / Eligible with Accommodation / Ineligible
• If ineligible, certificate includes detailed written reasons
• You must submit this certificate during counselling and admission

If You Are Declared Ineligible: Your Right to Appeal

If the Medical Assessment Board declares you ineligible, you have the right to appeal. The appeal must be filed with the **Appellate Authority** constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, within the time and manner notified by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC).

The Appellate Authority will independently examine your appeal and may: (a) call for the records of the Medical Assessment Board, (b) direct a fresh medical assessment by an appropriate expert or specialist, (c) seek additional medical opinions, or (d) undertake such further examination as it deems fit in accordance with the guidelines.

The Appellate Authority will issue a reasoned and speaking order clearly recording the basis for affirming, modifying, or setting aside the Medical Assessment Board's findings. The Appellate Authority's decision is final for the purposes of counselling and admission, subject to any order or direction of a court of competent jurisdiction.

Keep all your medical records, assessment documents, and the Board's ineligibility order safe. You will need them to file an appeal.

• You have the right to appeal an ineligibility decision
• Appeal must be filed with the Appellate Authority (DGHS) within the notified time and manner
• Appellate Authority will independently review your case
• Appellate Authority may order fresh assessment or seek additional expert opinions
• Appellate Authority's decision is final (subject to court orders)

Frequently asked questions

If your name is on the candidate list, mark 28 October 2026 on your calendar and prepare immediately. Gather your valid UDID card, complete and notarize the correct self-certified affidavits for your disability type, collect all medical records and diagnostic documents, and bring all assistive devices you use. Arrive at the Silver Jubilee Block, 2nd Floor, Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, by 10:00 AM on 28 October. Non-attendance will disqualify you from the PwBD quota. After the assessment, you will receive an Eligibility Certificate (Eligible / Eligible with Accommodation / Ineligible) which you must submit during counselling. If declared ineligible, you have the right to appeal to the Appellate Authority. For any questions or to request reasonable accommodation support during the assessment, contact the University's Nodal Officer for PwBD candidates or the Medical Assessment Board directly.