NEET UG 2026 PwBD Candidates: NMC Clarifies UDID Card Rule, MCC Lists Appellate Disability Boards

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued a notice for all candidates who want to apply under the PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category in NEET UG Counselling 2026. It carries two important updates. First, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an addendum clarifying that a candidate cannot be turned away from the PwBD category just because their UDID (Unique Disability Identity) card is temporary rather than permanent. Second, following Supreme Court directions, an Appellate Body has now been formally constituted to hear appeals from candidates who are declared ineligible by their state or regional disability assessment board, and MCC has published the full list of Primary Assessment Boards (which issue the eligibility certificate) and Appellate Boards (which hear appeals), along with the appeal procedure. This is a clarification and process notice, not a new application window — but it directly affects whether a PwBD candidate's certificate will be accepted during counselling.

What exactly changed: the UDID card clarification

Under the NMC's 'Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for Admission to the MBBS Course, 2026' (notified 27.07.2026), Clause 9.2 required every PwBD candidate to hold a valid PERMANENT UDID Card. This caused confusion for candidates who only had a temporary UDID card or disability certificate.

The NMC's addendum, dated 05.08.2026, clarifies that Clause 9.2 must be read together with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, its 2024 Amendment Rules, and an Office Memorandum dated 17.12.2025 from the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (DEPwD). That memorandum says a person cannot be denied statutory benefits merely because their disability certificate is temporary, as long as the disability itself is 'progressive, non-progressive, or not likely to improve'.

In simple terms: if your UDID card is temporary but your disability is medically recorded as one that will not improve (or will only get worse), you cannot be disqualified from the PwBD category just because the card says 'temporary'.

The trap: 'likely to improve' cases still need re-assessment

This is the part candidates must not miss. If your temporary UDID card records your condition as 'likely to improve', the Medical Assessment Board will NOT simply accept the card. It must re-assess your benchmark disability using the assessment method prescribed in DEPwD's Notification dated 12 March 2024.

On top of that, every Medical Assessment Board — regardless of what your UDID card says — must independently assess your 'functional competency' (whether your disability affects your ability to study and practise medicine) as per the 27.07.2026 Guidelines, before it can issue you an Eligibility Certificate. Holding any UDID card, temporary or permanent, does not bypass this functional assessment.

Practical takeaway: carry your UDID card AND all underlying medical records to your assessment. If your card shows 'likely to improve', be prepared for an additional, more detailed medical review at the same appointment.

Appellate Body constituted on Supreme Court's direction

Separately, in compliance with the Supreme Court's directions in M.A. No. 378/2025 in CA No. 14333/2024, DGHS has formally constituted an Appellate Body for disability assessment. This gives candidates a formal, structured route to challenge a rejection by their Primary Medical Assessment Board.

For Delhi, the Appellate Board sits at Safdarjung Hospital. Nationally, there are five designated Appellate Disability Assessment Boards a candidate can choose from.

How to file an appeal — step by step

If your Primary Medical Assessment Board declares you ineligible for the PwBD category, you have a defined process to appeal. Follow it carefully — missing the deadline can mean you go into counselling without PwBD benefits.

• Step 1 — Submit your appeal by email to BOTH disabilityappeal-chair@gov.in and disabilityappeal-convener@gov.in, stating your chosen Appellate Board. This must be done BEFORE your respective round of NEET counselling begins.
• Step 2 — The nodal officer of your chosen Appellate Board will contact you with the date, time, venue and instructions for your assessment.
• Step 3 — Report to the Appellate Board on the scheduled date with all your medical and disability-related documents for verification.
• Step 4 — The Appellate Board conducts its assessment following the DEPwD 'Guidelines for assessing the extent of specified disabilities, 2024', and may co-opt additional specialists if needed.
• Step 5 — The Board records its final decision — with a speaking order (a written decision explaining its reasoning), the disability percentage, and whether you are eligible under the PwBD category. This decision is final.
• Step 6 — The decision is sent to MCC, with a copy to the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).
• Step 7 — Once the decision reaches MCC, you proceed with NEET counselling according to that final decision.

Where to get your PwBD Eligibility Certificate: Primary Medical Assessment Boards

Before you can even claim the 5% PwBD reservation, you need an Eligibility Certificate from a Primary Medical Assessment Board recognised under NMC norms. MCC has listed 65 such boards across India. Choose the one nearest to you — but check first whether it can certify YOUR specific type of disability, because several boards only handle certain categories.

Eleven boards have specific specialty limits you must know before booking your assessment:

• AIIPMR, Mumbai — Locomotor disability ONLY.
• Goa Medical College, Goa — All disabilities EXCEPT speech disability.
• Govt. Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram — All disabilities; ophthalmology tests are done at the Regional Institute of Ophthalmology under this college.
• SMS Medical College, Jaipur — All disabilities EXCEPT neurology genetic testing, ENT speech & language testing, and certain orthopaedic/PMR equipment-based disability tests.
• GMC & Hospital, Sector 32, Chandigarh — All disabilities.
• Govt. Medical College, Agartala (State Disability Board) — All disabilities.
• Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities, Mumbai — Hearing disabilities ONLY.
• AIIMS, Nagpur — All disabilities.
• ABVIMS & RML Hospital, New Delhi — All disabilities EXCEPT ENT; visual-disability candidates may bring their own low vision aids (LVAs) for checking.
• Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi — All disabilities.
• AIISH, Mysuru — Speech & Hearing disabilities ONLY.

A PwBD doctor now sits on every Primary Board

As an added safeguard, all Primary Medical Assessment Boards have been instructed to include one PwBD doctor or health professional (a regular employee with a benchmark disability) as a member of the assessment board. This is meant to bring lived experience of disability into the assessment process.

Frequently asked questions

If you are applying under the PwBD category for NEET UG 2026, get your Eligibility Certificate from a Primary Medical Assessment Board that can certify your specific disability, and keep all your medical records ready — a temporary UDID card alone will not be enough if your condition is marked 'likely to improve'. If you are declared ineligible, file your appeal by email with your chosen Appellate Board well before your counselling round begins; do not wait until the last moment.