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The Supreme Court has allowed all eligible OCI (Overseas Citizens of India) candidates to take part in NEET counselling. The OCI students can participate in the General category to apply for Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical programmes.

However, the bench comprising Justice S A Nazeer and Justice Krishna Murari clarified that the aforementioned interim relief will be limited to the 2021-2022 academic year only.

The top court said that the applicants including all other eligible candidates are permitted to appear under the General counselling on par with Indian Citizens to pursue MBBS/ BDS courses and other UG/ PG courses in recognised/ approved Medical/ Dental & other Colleges/Institutes.

The top court took the decision against the plea filed by OCI candidates who challenged the Ministry of Home Affairs' issued notification to treat them equivalent with NRIs (Non-Resident Indians) for admission under NEET.

The court also informed the Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati that the NTA (National Testing Agency) and the Counselling authorities are obligated to implement the decision.

Tushar Mehta, the Solicitor General, also requested the bench to restrict the relief to only the petitioners, but the court, however, has granted the relief only for the 2021-22 academic year.