The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has issued an urgent notice for all candidates who want to claim a seat under the PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) category in NEET UG Counselling 2026. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released new 'Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) for Admission to the MBBS Course, 2026', dated 27 July 2026, and MCC has forwarded these to candidates on 30 July 2026. The biggest change: the certificate you get from a government Medical Assessment Board is no longer just a 'Disability Certificate' — it is now called an 'Eligibility Certificate', and it is based on what you can functionally do, not just your disability percentage. This notice tells PwBD candidates exactly which documents to carry, which centres to visit, and what happens if papers are found fake. This is an announcement of a new rule plus a procedural requirement candidates must complete before choice-filling.
If you want a PwD-category MBBS seat in NEET UG Counselling 2026, you must personally visit a designated Medical Assessment Board with your UDID card, NEET score card and specific affidavits, and obtain a fresh 'Eligibility Certificate' — without it, you will not be shown any PwD seat choices during counselling.
What exactly changed — from 'Disability Certificate' to 'Eligibility Certificate'
Earlier, candidates claiming PwBD reservation got a 'Disability Certificate' from a government medical board, mainly certifying the type and percentage of disability. Under the new NMC Guidelines 2026, this certificate is renamed the 'Eligibility Certificate'. The name change reflects a real change in what is being tested: the Board no longer decides eligibility only by looking at your disability percentage on the UDID card. Instead, it independently assesses your functional competency — whether you can, with or without reasonable accommodation (assistive devices, adaptive equipment, extra exam time, accessible material, etc.), acquire the skills a doctor needs.
This means two candidates with the same disability percentage could get different outcomes depending on their functional ability and the accommodations available to them. The minimum benchmark disability required to even be considered for PwBD reservation remains 40%, as fixed under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016.
Documents you must carry to the Medical Assessment Board
You cannot get an Eligibility Certificate by post or online — you must physically visit one of the designated Medical Assessment Boards and submit the following documents at the same time.
- NEET UG 2026 score card that shows you are eligible 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 UDID card is not what is asked for — the notice specifies 'Permanent' UDID card.
- A Self-Certified Affidavit declaring your functional abilities, in the format given in Schedule-I of the NMC Guidelines. The Board will verify this affidavit during your assessment.
- The Self-Certification Affidavit (Appendix-A) PLUS the affidavit specific to your disability category, from Appendix-B to F depending on your disability type (see table below).
| Disability type | Affidavit format to use |
|---|---|
| General self-certification (all candidates) | Appendix-A |
| Hearing impairment | Appendix-B |
| Locomotor disability — upper limb | Appendix-C |
| Locomotor disability — lower limb (stability) | Appendix-D (revised by NMC Corrigendum dated 31.07.2026 — use the latest version) |
| Mental illness / Specific Learning Disorder (SLD) / Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) | Appendix-E |
| Visual disability | Appendix-F |
| Any other benchmark disability (e.g. Haemophilia, Thalassemia, Sickle Cell Disease, chronic neurological conditions) | Appendix-A only |
Where to go — the designated Medical Assessment Boards
The DGHS has expanded the number of designated assessment centres from 16 to 61 (with the annexure to this notice listing 62 centres) across the country, covering nearly every state. Not every centre can certify every disability — some are restricted to particular categories, so check the list carefully before you travel.
Below is a sample of centres and their coverage. The full Annexure-1 list runs across states including Delhi, Maharashtra, West Bengal, Tamil Nadu, Kerala, Rajasthan, Punjab-neighbouring Chandigarh, Uttar Pradesh, Gujarat, Assam, Bihar, Karnataka, Jharkhand, Chhattisgarh, Andhra Pradesh, Manipur, Mizoram, Himachal Pradesh, Uttarakhand and Haryana.
| Centre | City/State | Coverage |
|---|---|---|
| Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital | New Delhi | All disabilities except Visual disability, Intellectual Disability & Behavioural disabilities |
| All India Institute of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (AIIPMR) | Mumbai | Locomotor disability only |
| IPGMER | Kolkata | All disabilities |
| Madras Medical College | Chennai | All disabilities |
| Govt. Medical College & Hospital, Sector 32 | Chandigarh | All disabilities |
| Ali Yavar Jung National Institute of Speech and Hearing Disabilities | Mumbai | Hearing disabilities only |
| All India Institute of Speech and Hearing (AIISH) | Mysuru, Karnataka | Speech & Hearing disabilities only |
| Pt. BD Sharma PGIMS | Rohtak, Haryana | All disabilities |
| Full list | 62 centres nationwide | See Annexure-1 of the notice for the complete list and disability-wise coverage before choosing a centre |
How the Board decides — three possible outcomes
After your assessment, the Medical Assessment Board must record one of three outcomes in a written, reasoned order — it cannot simply reject you without explanation.
Importantly, the Guidelines state clearly that no candidate can be declared ineligible solely because of the diagnosis, the category of disability, the percentage of disability, or generalised stereotypes about a disability. A candidate can only be declared ineligible if the Board specifically finds, with reasons, that the candidate cannot acquire the essential MBBS competencies even with reasonable accommodation, or that the disability poses an unmitigable risk to patient safety.
- Eligible — no accommodation needed.
- Eligible with Reasonable Accommodation — the certificate will specify what accommodation is recommended (assistive devices, accessible material, examination accommodations, etc.).
- Ineligible — only with a written, reasoned explanation.
Traps that can cost you your seat
Read this section carefully — these points can directly disqualify a candidate.
- ⚠️ Without the Eligibility Certificate from a designated MCC centre, you will simply not be shown PwD seat choices during counselling choice-filling — there is no workaround.
- ⚠️ If your UDID card or affidavit is found to be FAKE, your seat will be CANCELLED and legal action will be taken against you. This is stated explicitly in the notice.
- ⚠️ The Eligibility Certificate is valid only for this academic session (2026-27) — you cannot reuse an old certificate or carry this year's certificate forward to a future attempt.
- ⚠️ Make sure you use the correct, current affidavit format — Appendix-D (lower limb locomotor disability) was revised by an NMC corrigendum dated 31 July 2026, so check you are using the latest version, not an outdated draft.
- ⚠️ Choose the right assessment centre. Some centres handle only specific disabilities (e.g., AIIPMR Mumbai does Locomotor only; AIISH Mysuru does Speech & Hearing only) — visiting the wrong centre wastes time and could delay your certificate.
If you want a PwBD seat under the 85% State Quota (relevant for Punjab/BFUHS candidates)
Candidates who want to claim a PwBD seat under the 85% State Quota (the seats a state fills through its own counselling, as opposed to the 15% All-India Quota filled by MCC) can visit their state's medical assessment boards to get certified, instead of travelling to an MCC-designated centre. However, the notice makes clear that the state board's evaluation must still follow the same NMC Guidelines (2026) described above — the functional-competency framework, the three possible outcomes, and the requirement for a reasoned written decision all apply equally at state boards. Punjab NEET UG aspirants applying through BFUHS state counselling should check with BFUHS which board in Punjab (or nearby) is designated for this assessment.
If you disagree with the Board's decision — the appeal process
If you are declared ineligible, or you disagree with the Board's findings, the NMC Guidelines provide for an appeal to an Appellate Authority constituted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS). The appeal must be filed within the time and manner notified by MCC from time to time. The Appellate Authority can call for records, order a fresh medical assessment by another expert, seek additional medical opinion, or conduct further examination, and must pass a written, reasoned order. The Appellate Authority's decision is final for counselling and admission purposes, subject to any order of a court.
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See My CollegesFrequently asked questions
What is an 'Eligibility Certificate' and how is it different from the old 'Disability Certificate'?
It is the same physical process (assessment by a government Medical Assessment Board) but with a new name and a new basis for decision-making. Instead of certifying only your disability type and percentage, the Board now certifies whether you can functionally complete the MBBS course, with or without reasonable accommodation.
Which documents must I carry to the assessment?
Your NEET UG 2026 score card, your Permanent UDID card, a Self-Certified Affidavit of functional abilities in the Schedule-I format, the general Self-Certification Affidavit (Appendix-A), and the affidavit specific to your disability type (Appendix-B for hearing, C for upper-limb locomotor, D for lower-limb locomotor, E for mental illness/SLD/ASD, or F for visual disability).
Can I get this certificate from any hospital?
No. You must go to one of the designated Medical Assessment Boards listed in Annexure-1 of the notice (62 centres across India), and check that the specific centre handles your disability category before you travel there.
What happens if I don't get this certificate before counselling?
You will not be shown any PwD-category seat choices during choice-filling in NEET UG Counselling 2026. Only candidates with a valid Eligibility Certificate from a designated centre can see PwD seats.
What if my UDID card or affidavit turns out to be fake?
The notice is explicit: your seat will be cancelled and legal action will be taken against you. Do not submit incorrect or exaggerated disability claims.
Will a minimum disability percentage disqualify or automatically qualify me?
You need at least 40% benchmark disability to even be considered for PwBD reservation, but beyond that, the percentage alone cannot decide eligibility. The Board must also assess your functional competency — it cannot declare you ineligible solely because of your diagnosis or disability percentage.
Is the certificate valid for future NEET attempts too?
No. The notice states the Eligibility Certificate is valid only for this academic session — you will need a fresh certificate if you reappear in a future year.
I want a Punjab state-quota PwBD seat through BFUHS. Do I still need this certificate?
Yes. Candidates seeking a PwBD seat under the 85% State Quota can get assessed at state medical assessment boards, but those boards must apply the same NMC Guidelines 2026 — the same functional assessment framework — before issuing a certificate.
Can I appeal if I'm declared ineligible?
Yes. You can appeal to the Appellate Authority constituted by DGHS, within the time and manner MCC notifies. The Appellate Authority can order a fresh assessment and its decision is final for counselling purposes, subject to any court order.
If you are a PwBD candidate planning to apply in NEET UG Counselling 2026, do not wait until choice-filling begins — identify the nearest designated Medical Assessment Board from Annexure-1, prepare the correct affidavit for your disability category, and complete your assessment early so your Eligibility Certificate is ready before counselling rounds start. Keep checking the MCC and your state counselling authority's website (BFUHS for Punjab candidates) for the appeal deadlines and any further centre additions.
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