Union Health Ministry has finally approved the recommendation made by Central Board of Secondary Education regarding 'no upper age limit' for the candidates who wish to take National Eligibility cum Entrance Test or NEET 2017 for the admission to BDS/ MBBS courses. The ministry also confirmed that there would be no limit on the number of attempts made by the candidates to take the test under 85% state quota or 15% all India quota.
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The Union Health Ministry has written a letter to the Joint Secretary of CBSE conveying that there would be no upper age limit and restriction on the number of attempts for the candidates who are aspiring for NEET- UG 2017. However, the minimum age required to take NEET-UG 2017 is 17 years as on December 31, 2017. The recommendation approved by the ministry will apply to both state and all India quota seats. However, the ministry mentioned that DCI/ MCI might prescribe the number of attempts and final age limit.
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Earlier, the central government fixed 25 years as the age limit for the candidates appearing for NEET-UG 2017 under all India quota. Later, the government revised the upper age limit up to five years for the candidates who belong to ST/ ST/ OBC categories. The centre did not take any decision on the upper age limit for state quota seats and mentioned that states have the authority to decide on the upper age limit for 85% of state quota seats.
The letter by Health Ministry to CBSE also conveys that foreign nationals can take part in 15% all India quota counselling for seeking admission. Earlier, these 15% quota of seats were only reserved for Indians.