NEET 2020 has been rescheduled to September 13, 2020. Candidates can expect the release of admit cards in the 4th week of August 2020. During the time of admission in Medical colleges, the reservation criteria are followed by all the medical institutes. But these days various pleas have been filed in the Supreme Court regarding the reservation rights of OBC candidates. 

  • A report has been compiled by All India Federation of Other Backward Classes and as per that report since 2017, OBC candidates lost over 11,000 seats, in All India Quota. 

  • This is due to the non-implementation of OBC reservations in State and Union Territory Medical education institutions. 

However, the supreme court and the central government denied the pleas and also said that petitioners are free to approach the High Court with their pleas. Sonia Gandhi has also addressed the issue to PM by writing a letter and stating that denial in OBC reservations in state medical colleges is a barrier for deserving candidates in NEET 2020.

Reservations of Setas in NEET UG and PG courses

In NEET UG 15% of seats and in NEET PG 50% of seats in state medical and dental colleges belong to the All India Quota and are filled through counselling conducted centrally and as per the central reservation policy.

  • NEET UG is conducted for admission to 82,926 MBBS, 26,949 BDS, 52,720 AYUSH and 525 BVSc & AH seats. 

  • NEET PG is conducted for admission to 10,821 Master of Surgery (MS) seats, 19,953 Doctor of Medicine (MD) seats and 1,979 PG Diploma seats are offered by 6,102 government, private, Deemed and Central Universities.

NEET 2020 Admit Card NEET 2020 Important Dates

Plea in Delhi High Court

As per Hindustan Times, during the time of counselling process of NEET PG it was noticed that 27% of reservation for OBC in medical and dental college seats capitulated by the state government to the All India Quota of the Union government was not implemented. Hence a plea has been filed in the Delhi High Court seeking 27% OBC quota in medical colleges. 

  • The plea has been filed by the National Union of Backward Classes secretary S Geetha.

  • It is mentioned in the plea that from academic years 2017 to 19, as much as 5,530 seats were allotted to candidates belonging to a general category when it was supposed to be granted to OBC candidates.

Central Government Informs Madras High Court

The Central Government said that they have been extending the stipulated percentage of quota in all medical institutions for SC/ST students, but are unlikely to admit Other Backward Community (OBC) students under All India Quota (AIQ) medical seats in all government institutions. 

  • Since 1986, OBC medical aspirants were being accommodated in All India Quota seats in central institutions only, and not in all state government colleges. 

  • Central Government denied to accept the new changes in the reservation policy.

Reservation Not a Fundamental Right says Supreme Court

The Supreme Court has refused to entertain the pleas filed by various political parties against the Centre's decision not to grant 50% reservation to OBCs as per Tamil Nadu law in medical seats surrendered by the state in the All India Quota for NEET undergraduate, postgraduate and dental courses in 2020-21.

Demand for Social Justice

Congress president Sonia Gandhi on July 3, 2020 raised the issue of OBC candidates being denied reservations in medical colleges of States and Union Territories (UT) as they fill their All India Quota through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET).

She has also written a letter to the Prime Minister stating that the reservation for Other Backward Classes candidates is restricted only to central government institutions. She has urged that the Centre should ensure that State and UT medical institutions extend the reservation benefits.

  • Under the All India Quota, 15%, 7.5%, and 10% seats are reserved for SC, ST, and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates respectively. 

  • This reservation is in both Central and State/UT Medical education institutions. 

  • However, reservation for OBC candidates under All India Quota is restricted only to Central Institutions.

So to bring this issue to the notice of honorable PM she has written the letter. However, no final decision has been made on the same till date. With the new dates, candidates get 2 more months to prepare for the exam. During this time period use Mobile Apps and Online Resources for NEET Preparation at home.