On 27 July 2026, the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued a fresh set of guidelines that changes how candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) are checked for eligibility before they can be admitted to the MBBS course. This is not an exam schedule or a seat-allotment result — it is a rulebook that governs the medical assessment every PwBD candidate must go through as part of NEET UG counselling. The biggest change: your eligibility will no longer be decided purely by the disability percentage written on your UDID card. Instead, a Medical Assessment Board will test your actual functional ability to study medicine, and can allow reasonable accommodation (assistive devices, adaptive equipment, extra support) so that disability alone does not shut you out. The certificate you're used to calling a 'Disability Certificate' now has a new name and a new purpose.
From now on, PwBD candidates' admission eligibility depends on a functional competency assessment by a Medical Assessment Board — not just the disability percentage on the UDID card — and every candidate must submit a self-certified affidavit describing their functional abilities.
What exactly changed, and why it matters to you
Earlier, a candidate's disability certificate mainly recorded the type and percentage of disability. Under these new Guidelines, the same document is renamed the 'Eligibility Certificate' — because its real job is to certify whether you are eligible for admission to MBBS, based on what you can functionally do, not merely on a diagnosis or a percentage.
The Guidelines state clearly that the determination of eligibility 'shall not rest solely upon the numerical percentage or category of disability reflected in the UDID Card or other disability certification.' The benchmark disability percentage (at least 40%) still decides whether you qualify for reservation under the PwBD category, but a separate, evidence-based functional assessment decides whether you are cleared for admission.
This matters because it can work in your favour: even if your disability percentage is high, you cannot be declared ineligible just because of that number, a diagnosis label, or a stereotype about your condition. The Board must look at what you can actually do — with assistive technology and reasonable accommodation — before deciding.
Who these Guidelines apply to
The Guidelines bind every party involved in PwBD admissions, so it is worth knowing who is responsible for what.
- Every candidate seeking MBBS admission under the PwBD category
- Every Medical College recognised under the NMC Act, 2019
- The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
- All State Counselling Authorities
- All Medical Assessment Boards that assess PwBD candidates
- Any other authority involved in assessment, counselling, admission or certification of PwBD candidates
Basic eligibility: what you need to have
To be considered under the PwBD category at all, you must meet two baseline requirements before your functional assessment even begins.
- A benchmark disability of at least 40%, as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016
- A valid Permanent Unique Disability Identity (UDID) Card issued through the UDID Portal by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities (Divyangjan) — this is your primary documentary proof of the disability's existence, nature and extent
- A minor procedural defect or discrepancy in your UDID Card will not automatically disqualify you, as long as it can be corrected and your disability is otherwise established in law
How the Medical Assessment Board decides your case
Your actual clearance for MBBS admission happens at a Medical Assessment Board — a designated centre notified by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). These centres have been expanded from 16 to 61 across the country, and the MCC may notify further expansion from time to time.
The Board will verify your UDID Card, examine the nature and stability of your condition, check whether any assistive device you use is effective, and assess your functional competency against the 'essential competencies' every MBBS student must acquire under the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) curriculum. It may also ask you to undergo further clinical examination if needed.
Based on this, the Board records a written, reasoned ('speaking') order and gives you one of three outcomes.
| Outcome | What it means |
|---|---|
| Eligible | You can be admitted to MBBS without any special condition. |
| Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation | You can be admitted, but the certificate will specify the accommodation(s) recommended — e.g., assistive devices, adaptive equipment, exam accommodations, accessible learning environment. |
| Ineligible | You are found unable to acquire the essential CBME competencies even with reasonable accommodation, or your disability poses an unacceptable, unmitigable risk to patient safety. Reasons must be recorded in writing. |
The self-certified affidavit you must submit — pick the right form
Every PwBD candidate must submit a self-certified affidavit declaring their functional abilities, using the exact format prescribed in Schedule-I of the Guidelines. This is verified by the Medical Assessment Board during your assessment — so filling the wrong form, or leaving it unsigned/unnotarised, can hold up your assessment.
There is a general form (Appendix-A) that every applicant fills, plus disability-specific forms depending on your condition. Persons with disabilities other than Locomotor, Visual, Hearing, SLD, ASD or Mental Illness (for example, blood disorders like Haemophilia or Thalassemia, or chronic neurological conditions) only need to submit Appendix-A.
- Appendix-A — Self-Certification Form (General): filled by all PwBD applicants
- Appendix-B — Affidavit for Hearing Impairment
- Appendix-C — Affidavit for Locomotor Disability (Upper Extremity/coordinated activity)
- Appendix-D — Affidavit for Locomotor Disability (Lower Extremity/stability components)
- Appendix-E — Affidavit for Mental Illness / Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) / Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD)
- Appendix-F — Affidavit for Visual Disability
Protections built into the process — the key things in your favour
The Guidelines specifically try to stop candidates being unfairly rejected. They lay down several rules the Medical Assessment Board must follow.
'Reasonable accommodation' — support that lets you use your abilities fully — must be actively considered before anyone is declared ineligible. Examples given in the Guidelines include assistive devices, adaptive equipment, digital accessibility, accessible teaching and learning material, communication support, ergonomic modifications, examination accommodations and accessible clinical learning environments.
- No candidate can be declared ineligible solely because of the diagnosis or category of disability
- No candidate can be declared ineligible solely because of the percentage of benchmark disability recorded in the UDID Card or Disability Certificate
- No candidate can be declared ineligible based on generalised assumptions or stereotypes about a disability
- Ineligibility must be backed by a written, reasoned order showing exactly why reasonable accommodation would not work
- Patient-safety concerns must be based on objective clinical/functional evidence — not on generalised fears about a disability
If you disagree with the Board's decision — the appeal route
If you are unhappy with the findings or decision of your Medical Assessment Board, you can appeal to the Appellate Authority constituted by the DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Guidelines do not specify the exact deadline in this document — you must follow the time limit and manner that the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) notifies.
The Appellate Authority can call for your Board's records, order a fresh medical assessment by another expert, seek an additional medical opinion, or conduct further examination. It must issue a reasoned, written order confirming, changing, or overturning the original decision. This appellate decision is final for counselling and admission purposes, unless a competent court orders otherwise.
What the Eligibility Certificate will actually contain
Once your assessment is complete, the Board issues an Eligibility Certificate in the format given in Schedule-II. It is a detailed document, not a one-line certificate — it records your particulars, the nature and extent of your disability, the functional competency findings, any reasonable accommodation considered or recommended, a patient-safety assessment, and the final determination (Eligible / Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation / Ineligible) with reasons, all signed by the Board's Chairperson and Members and sealed officially.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
Does a high disability percentage on my UDID card automatically make me ineligible for MBBS?
No. The Guidelines explicitly say eligibility cannot be decided solely on the percentage or category of disability recorded in your UDID Card. The Medical Assessment Board must independently test your functional competency before deciding.
Is the 'Disability Certificate' still called that?
For the purposes of MBBS admission, no — it is now formally called the 'Eligibility Certificate,' because it certifies whether you are eligible for admission based on functional assessment, not merely the existence or extent of disability.
What is the minimum disability percentage needed to apply under the PwBD category?
You need a benchmark disability of at least 40%, as defined under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, along with a valid Permanent UDID Card.
What documents must I carry for the assessment?
Carry your valid UDID Card and the self-certified affidavit prescribed in Schedule-I — Appendix-A (general form for everyone) plus the specific appendix (B, C, D, E or F) matching your type of disability.
How many assessment centres are there now?
The DGHS has expanded the number of designated Medical Assessment Boards from 16 to 61 across the country, and the MCC may notify further expansion.
Can the Board reject me just because of how my disability is labelled?
No. The Guidelines prohibit declaring a candidate ineligible solely on the basis of diagnosis, disability category, disability percentage, or generalised stereotypes about disability.
What if the Board declares me 'Ineligible' — can I do anything?
Yes. You can appeal to the Appellate Authority constituted by the DGHS within the time and manner notified by the MCC. The Appellate Authority can order a fresh assessment and its decision is final for admission purposes, subject to any court order.
What does 'Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation' mean for my MBBS seat?
It means you are cleared for admission, but your Eligibility Certificate will list the specific accommodation(s) — such as assistive devices, adaptive equipment, or accessible learning support — that your medical college is expected to arrange for you.
If you are applying under the PwBD category for NEET UG 2026, start preparing your self-certified affidavit now — pick the correct Appendix for your disability type, get it notarised, and keep your UDID Card ready. Watch for MCC notifications on assessment dates and the appeal procedure at your nearest designated Medical Assessment Board.
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