Temporary Disability Cert No Bar for MBBS PwBD Quota Admission, NMC Clarifies
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that candidates cannot be denied admission to MBBS courses under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) quota solely because they hold a temporary disability certificate or a Unique Disability Identity (UDID) card. The clarification comes in the form of an addendum to the “Guidelines on Assessment of Persons with Benchmark Disabilities for Admission to the MBBS Course, 2026”.
The PwBD quota is a reservation system mandated under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities (RPwD) Act, 2016. The Act defines benchmark disability as at least 40% impairment and requires educational institutions to reserve seats for eligible candidates. Medical colleges across India are required to follow these provisions during admissions.
In July, the NMC issued guidelines detailing how disability status would be assessed and certified for MBBS admissions. The guidelines introduced a distinction between temporary and permanent disabilities, which activists said was not consistent with the RPwD Act. The temporary nature of a UDID card often depends on the prognosis of the condition rather than the severity of the disability itself.
According to the addendum issued on Wednesday, candidates whose disabilities are categorised as progressive, non-progressive, or not likely to improve will not be rejected merely because their UDID card is temporary. The NMC stated that the change is intended to align the guidelines with the RPwD Act, 2016, the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Rules, 2024, and an office memorandum issued by the Department of Empowerment of Persons with Disabilities in 2025.
Despite the relaxation, the verification process remains unchanged. Candidates will still need to undergo assessment by designated Medical Assessment Boards (MABs). The MABs will evaluate each candidate’s functional competency and issue an eligibility certificate. For candidates holding temporary UDID cards where the disability is recorded as “likely to improve”, a reassessment will be conducted before a final decision is made on their eligibility.
The clarification has been welcomed by disability rights advocates. Prof. Satendra Singh, a well-known disability rights activist, said the revised guidelines had created an unnecessary hurdle by distinguishing between temporary and permanent disabilities. He mentioned that he received multiple representations from students who faced harassment at assessment centres in Agartala, Mumbai, and Delhi. The issue was also raised during an ongoing Supreme Court hearing, which prompted a formal representation to the NMC.
The NMC has emphasised that the addendum should be read as an integral part of the July 27 notification. It is intended to ensure uniform implementation of admission guidelines across all medical colleges in the country.
The NMC’s addendum comes after multiple stakeholders highlighted the difficulties faced by students with temporary disability certificates. Under the earlier interpretation, candidates whose UDID cards were marked as temporary could be disqualified from the PwBD quota even if their disability was permanent in nature but progressive, such as certain muscular or neurological conditions. The new clarification removes this barrier while keeping safeguards against misuse.
Medical education experts point out that the verification by MABs is crucial to ensure that only genuinely eligible candidates benefit from the reservation. The MABs are mandated to assess not only the disability certificate but also the functional competency of the candidate, which determines their ability to pursue the course.
This decision is expected to benefit many candidates with temporary disability certificates, ensuring they are not excluded from the PwBD quota during the admission process. It also reinforces the legal protections available to persons with disabilities under Indian law.
