The Supreme Court stayed the counselling for NEET-PG

The NEET PG was conducted on September 12 and the provisional answer key was released on October 15, 2021. Around 16 lakh students have appeared for the examination this year.

However, the counseling by the MCC is yet to start.

Because of the pending decision on the OBC/EWS (economic weaker section) quota in the all-India quota for medical admissions, the Supreme Court stayed the counseling for NEET-PG without its approval, after the Centre assured it not to commence the counseling before any court decision.

The top court had clarified that it is not embarking on the policy domain of the government, but it wants to ascertain whether the constitutional principles have adhered.

The Supreme Court recently had fixed November 16 for hearing a batch of pleas challenging the Centre and Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) July 29 notice providing 27 percent reservation for Other Backward Class (OBC) and 10 percent for EWS category in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) admissions for medical courses.

However, on November 16, the apex court has deferred the plea and will hear it on November 23. Thus the counseling will start after the final verdict.

On October 21, the top court had asked the Centre whether it would like to revisit the limit of rupees eight lakh annual income, fixed for determining the EWS category for reservation in NEET admissions for medical courses.