National Commission Mandates NEET for Physiotherapy Admissions Without Minimum Marks
The National Commission for Allied and Healthcare Professions has issued a directive to all states, clarifying that the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses (NEET-UG) is now mandatory for admissions to physiotherapy programs. However, in a significant departure from typical entrance exam protocols, the commission has explicitly stated that there will be no minimum qualifying marks or cut-off percentile requirement for candidates applying through this process.
Official Communication to State Authorities
In formal communications dispatched to state selection committees, directorates of medical education, and universities across India, the commission outlined the new admission framework. "The candidate must appear in the national eligibility entrance test (NEET) conducted by the national testing agency (NTA) for the academic year. However, there shall be no minimum qualifying marks or cut-off percentile requirement for application for admission," the directive stated clearly.
Academic Prerequisites for Candidates
Beyond the NEET requirement, the commission has maintained standard academic eligibility criteria. All applicants must have successfully passed their Class XII or equivalent examination with physics, chemistry, and biology (or botany and zoology) as core subjects, achieving a minimum aggregate of 50% in these science disciplines. For candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, Other Backward Classes, and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities or Persons with Disabilities categories, the minimum aggregate requirement is reduced to 40% in physics, chemistry, and biology combined. Additionally, all candidates across categories must secure a passing mark in English as a mandatory subject.
Political Opposition from Tamil Nadu Leadership
This policy change has not been without controversy. In January of this year, Tamil Nadu Chief Minister M.K. Stalin penned a detailed letter to Prime Minister Narendra Modi, urging the central government to immediately withdraw the decision that mandates NEET appearance for admission to Bachelor of Physiotherapy (BPT) and Bachelor of Occupational Therapy (BOT) courses. Chief Minister Stalin highlighted that Tamil Nadu alone has more than 50,000 seats available in various allied and healthcare courses, with a substantial majority of aspiring students coming from economically disadvantaged backgrounds and poorer socio-economic strata.
Concerns About Economic Burden on Students
The Tamil Nadu Chief Minister articulated strong concerns in his correspondence, arguing that compelling such students from vulnerable economic backgrounds to bear the additional financial burden of NEET coaching institutes represents what he termed "gross injustice." This requirement, he contended, creates an uneven playing field where students with greater financial resources can afford extensive coaching, while those from economically weaker sections face significant disadvantages despite possessing the necessary academic qualifications for healthcare education.
The commission's directive represents a significant shift in admission protocols for allied healthcare professions, balancing standardized national testing with flexible qualification thresholds, even as it sparks debate about accessibility and equity in professional education pathways.
