Govt. simplifies NEET-UG counselling procedure

Govt. simplifies NEET-UG counselling procedure

J.P. Nadda

The Hindu Bureau

NEW DELHI. 30.07.2026

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda on Tuesday reviewed the preparedness for the forthcoming NEET-UG counselling 2026.

The government has introduced several technology-enabled and student-centric reforms aimed at enhancing transparency in counselling, improving accessibility and simplifying the admission process.

One of the key reforms is the introduction of a one-time physical reporting framework aimed at reducing the need for repeated visits. Following seat allotment, candidates will be able to exercise their willingness online by selecting either the ‘Freeze or Float’ option.

Those opting for the freeze option will physically report to their allotted institute within the prescribed schedule to complete admission formalities, including verification of documents and payment of the admission fee.

Those opting for the float option for participating in subsequent rounds for upgradation will be able to complete admission formalities through the online mode within the stipulated timeline.

During this period, they will not be required to physically report to the allotted institute, submit original documents or pay the admission fee. Their provisional admission will remain valid while participating in subsequent counselling rounds.

The upgradation facility will remain available up to the third round of counselling. After completion of the third round, candidates holding allotted seats will report physically to their institutions for verification of original documents, payment of admission fees and completion of institutional formalities.

Online resignation

Candidates wishing to forego their allotted seat will now be able to submit their resignation through the MCC Counselling Portal without the need to visit the allotted institute.

Special emphasis has been placed on improving accessibility for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD). The Ministry has fully digitised the admission process under the NRI category. The review also highlighted several steps to strengthen operational efficiency, including online document verification, validation of the seat matrix by the National Medical Commission and verification by participating institutes.

Govt. should explain surrender of 151 super speciality seats: Stalin

Govt. should explain surrender of 151 super speciality seats: Stalin

M.K. Stalin

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 30.07.2026

DMK president M.K. Stalin on Wednesday demanded that the TVK-led government explain why it had failed to retain 151 super speciality medical seats in the State, resulting in their transfer to the all-India quota.

“It is a vital issue for Tamil Nadu. We have lost 151 super speciality seats, which would have otherwise produced doctors to serve the State,” he said in a social media post.

Mr. Stalin also questioned why the government had not adopted a resolution in the Assembly, opposing the transfer of the super speciality seats to the all-India quota. “Why did the government fail to file an appeal against the Supreme Court’s order dated May 29, 2026,” he asked.

He further questioned why the advocates appointed by the State government had failed to appear in the case, and why there had been a delay in engaging a senior advocate. “Why has there been such a lackadaisical approach to this issue from the very beginning,” he asked.

Mr. Stalin also wondered why the State government had “surrendered” despite the case being in Tamil Nadu’s favour.

Minister responds

Responding to Mr. Stalin’s criticism, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said that unlike in previous years, when unfilled super speciality seats were lost after being surrendered to the all-India quota, the TVK government had ensured that if the qualifying cut-off is reduced, 50% of the remaining vacant super speciality seats will be reverted to Tamil Nadu.

In a statement on X, the Minister said that previously, after the completion of the super speciality counselling, all unfilled seats reserved for service candidates were surrendered to the all-India quota. The Union government later reduced the minimum qualifying cut-off marks and filled those seats through the all-India merit list. As a result, government doctors from Tamil Nadu were severely affected, he said.

This year, though 151 seats remained vacant, the State government refused to surrender them immediately. It took a firm stand that these seats would be surrendered only if there is an assurance that the qualifying cut-off would not be reduced. Accordingly, the State pursued a legal battle and secured a “historic” judgment from the Supreme Court, he added.

M.G.R. medical varsity challenges UGC regulations on according ‘deemed university’ status to private colleges

M.G.R. medical varsity challenges UGC regulations on according ‘deemed university’ status to private colleges

The university said the UGC regulations should be interpreted only as a directory and not a mandatory provision.

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 30.07.2026

The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University has moved the Madras High Court, challenging the validity of the University Grants Commission (UGC) regulations that permit the grant of deemed-to-be-university status to private medical colleges without the express consent of the State university.

The university has also challenged the grant of such status to the Pudukottai-based Karpaga Vinayaga Educational Trust on May 20, 2026.

Court orders notice

The First Division Bench of Chief Justice Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G. Arul Murugan on Wednesday ordered notices to the Union Ministry of Education, the UGC, the Tamil Nadu government, and the private trust, seeking their response to the two writ petitions filed by the State medical university.

The petitioner university contended that the UGC regulations, which require a State university to respond within 60 days to an application filed by a medical college for being accorded the deemed university status, failing which it would be considered that there was no objection for the conferment of such status, should be interpreted only as a directory and not a mandatory provision.

The university said the UGC regulations should be interpreted only as a directory and not a mandatory provision.

NEWS TODAY 29.07.2026

SC verdict on super speciality seats ‘historic’, says Minister

SC verdict on super speciality seats ‘historic’, says Minister

He attributes the verdict to the timely filing of writ petition by T.N. government; a section of govt. doctors is sceptical, saying important seats will be filled in the All India second-round counselling

Health Minister K.G. Arunraj presenting the award for Professional Excellence in the field of Medicine to Thara Rangaswamy during the Tamil Nadu Medical Council Awards 2026 held in the city on Tuesday.

B. Jothi Ramalingam

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 29.07.2026

Tamil Nadu will surrender the unfilled super speciality medical seats for the second round of the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling. If the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) decides to reduce the percentile after the counselling, 50% of the vacant seats should be reverted to the State, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said, quoting the Supreme Court (SC) verdict.

T.N. reserves 50% of its DM/MCh super speciality seats for in-service candidates. This year, 151 super speciality seats remained unfilled in the State. In its order, the apex court directed the State to revert the unfilled 151 superspeciality seats to the DGHS by Wednesday (July 29). The DGHS should complete the process of the second round of counselling expeditiously.

The court also directed that the counselling should be conducted on the same percentile, and if, after the second round of counselling, a decision is to be taken to reduce the percentile, then 50% of such seats should be reverted to T.N., and the remaining 50% seats should be filled through subsequent counselling by the DGHS as per the renewed percentile, the order said.

Dr. Arunraj called the verdict “historic”, attributing it to the timely writ petition filed by the State government and appropriate arguments in the apex court. Seats reserved for in-service candidates that fall vacant had to be surrendered to the AIQ.

In the past, no proper measures were taken, and no proper cases were filed in the court, creating a situation in which doctors of Tamil Nadu could not secure the seats, he said.

With Tuesday’s verdict, if seats remain vacant after the second round of counselling, DGHS cannot reduce the percentile and fill the vacant seats on its own. If they decide to reduce the cut-off, 50% of the unfilled seats should be reverted to the State pool, he told reporters during the sidelines of an event organised by the Tamil Nadu Medical Council (TNMC).

Doctors’ concern

However, a section of government doctors is sceptical, as all important seats such as Cardiology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Vascular Surgery and Nephrology will be filled in the All India second round counselling. If seats remain vacant and the percentile is reduced, service candidates may get seats such as in Cardiothoracic Surgery and Paediatric Surgery. In fact, some seats in these specialities have remained vacant for the past few years. “The number of service doctors appearing for NEET super speciality examination has dropped, and those opting for difficult super speciality branches have also reduced due to lack of promotional opportunities, reduced super speciality posts and absence of financial increments,” a senior doctor noted.

TNMC awards

At the TNMC awards function, the Minister presented awards to 20 doctors.

Addressing the gathering, he listed the various initiatives taken by the present government. This included reforms at the Tamil Nadu Medical Services Corporation.

Noting that some persons held posts for 10 to 15 years, he said that no extensions were given, and deputations/special postings were withdrawn.

Noting that Tamil Nadu aims to grow into a $1.5 trillion economy, Health Secretary Darez Ahamed said that the health sector has to contribute significantly. He requested doctors to create new products, take up more research and create intellectual property in the State. TNMC’s Ad-hoc committee members A. Muruganathan, convenor, S. Sivaram Kannan, R. Prabhakaran and G. Srinivas, and registrar A. Senthil Vadivu were present.

Consumers express shock over exorbitant bi-monthly electricity bills this year

Consumers express shock over exorbitant bi-monthly electricity bills this year

They say the bi-monthly bill for June and July was particularly high; TNPDCL officials say the extended summer this year contributed to a rise in electricity consumption compared to last year

Major issue: Electricity officials say some assessors engage in table-recording malpractice, wherein they do not physically pay a visit to residential buildings to check the meters. FILE PHOTo

R. Srikanth

Chennai. 29.07.2026

Hundreds of consumers have raised complaints about getting exorbitant bi-monthly electricity bills this year compared to last year. Particularly, domestic consumers in the city claimed that they were shocked seeing the electricity charges for the bi-monthly usage of June and July.

The residents have been sending complaints online to local officials of the Tamil Nadu Power Distribution Corporation Limited (TNPDCL) about the exorbitant bills.

S. Manish, a resident of Nungambakkam, pointed out in his complaint that he would normally get electricity bills ranging from ₹5,000 to ₹6,000, but in this cycle, he received a bill of ₹10,000.

Delayed assessment

Several consumers complained that the primary reason for the high electricity bills were due to delayed assessment of the meters. Normally, the assessors are permitted a cushion of five days from the regular assessment cycle to complete the job. But residents complained that the delays are longer.

Bajarullah Khan, a resident of Pattabhiram, claimed his electricity bill went up mainly because of the delayed assessment of the meters.

A senior TNPDCL official said that the city’s extended summer this year has driven up electricity consumption compared to last year.

New peak demand

The city breached the peak power demand by crossing 5,000 mega watt (MW) on June 10.

As per the data available with the State Load Despatch Centre (SLDC), the average peak demand in the city climbed to 4,500 MW, up from previous year’s average of 4,000 MW.

The official added that the peak demand, at times, almost reached 4,900 MW for sustained periods.

Local electricity officials cited shortage of assessors as the cause for delayed meter reading.

An official said that some assessors are engaged in table-recording malpractice, where-in they fail to pay a visit physically for assessing the electricity meters.

Consumer activist T. Sadagopan wants self-assessment of meters to be reintroduced until the assessors shortage problem is addressed.

NMC to focus on ability, not just disability MBBS Admission:

NMC to focus on ability, not just disability MBBS Admission: 

New Guidelines Mandate Case-By-Case Assessment

 Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 29.07.2026

New Delhi : Students with benchmark disabilities seeking admission to MBBS courses will now undergo an individual assessment of their functional abilities to determine whether they can acquire essential competencies required for the course with reasonable accommodation. 

National Medical Commission (NMC) on Monday issued new guidelines requiring medical boards to evaluate each candidate’s functional ability rather than relying solely on the type or extent of disability. 

Under the new framework, NMC-regulated medical colleges will now also have to set up an “enabling unit” for students with benchmark disabilities, providing a single point of contact for reasonable accommodation, academic and clinical support, and a barrierfree learning environment. Designated medical assessment boards will carry out an individual assessment of every candidate. 

The guidelines state that applicants cannot be declared ineligible solely on the basis of their diagnosis or the percentage of benchmark disability. Instead, boards must assess a candidate’s functional abilities, the essential competencies required under competency-based medical education curriculum, and whether reasonable accommodation can enable them to complete the course. 

“After Supreme Court’s constant follow-up and directions, NMC has amended its interim guidelines and issued revised guidelines for MBBS admissions of students with disabilities,” said Prof Satendra Singh, coordinator UCMS and GTB Hospital’s enabling unit. 

“The biggest change is the shift from assessing eligibility on the basis of the percentage of disability to evaluating functional competency. Clinical accommodations are reasonable modifications that enable medical students with benchmark disability to participate in clinical training and patient care without compromising academic standards or patient safety,” the coordinator said. The guidelines also require medical boards to consider assistive devices, adaptive technology, communication support and other reasonable accommodations before arriving at a decision. 

While emphasising inclusion, NMC has said patient safety will remain an important consideration. On enabling units, NMC directed that these should be set up in compliance with the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016, and the recent SC directions aimed at ensuring inclusive medical education. The unit will also receive and address requests for disability-specific accommodations during the course of study, including clinical training and internship, according to the circular.