Lack of Biology in Grade 11 is not a ground for disqualification for MBBS admission: Rajasthan High Court

NIOS Offers an Alternative for Students without Class 11 Biology but Who Passed Biology in Class 12

Based on the NMC’s 2023 guidelines, the High Court clarified that eligibility will be determined solely by Grade 12 subjects; candidates will be eligible for NEET-UG even if they do not have Biology in Grade 11.

In a significant and far-reaching decision regarding the MBBS admission process, the Rajasthan High Court has clarified that the mere absence of Biology in Grade 11 is not a ground for disqualification. This decision is considered to clear up confusion surrounding the medical education process, as many institutions were still applying outdated rules to determine student eligibility.

The High Court’s observation is based on the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines issued on November 22, 2023, which clearly state that if a student has studied biology or biotechnology as an additional subject in grade 12 and passed, they will be fully eligible for the NEET-UG exam and the subsequent counseling process. Therefore, not having biology in grade 11 does not constitute a disqualification at any level.

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The Court Stated that the Old System is no Longer Valid

A single bench of Justice Dr. Nupur Bhati, while accepting the petition of petitioner Gopal Singh, stated that the NMC’s new education policy and the Medical Education Regulations of 2023 have abolished the old rule that required biology to be studied in both grades 11 and 12.

Eligibility is now determined solely on the basis of the core subjects of 12th grade, of which the following are compulsory:

Physics
Chemistry
Biology or Biotechnology
English

The court held that if a candidate has taken biology as an additional subject in 12th grade and passed it, there is no legal basis for denying them the admission process.

Petitioner’s Case: Wrongly Disqualified for Not Having Biology in 11th Grade

Gopal Singh scored 550 marks in the NEET-UG 2025 exam, equivalent to a 99.4359 percentile. His All India Rank in the Economically Weaker Section (EWS) category was 12,449. In the first two rounds of counseling, he was allotted a seat at Barmer Medical College and later at the Government Medical College in Sri Ganganagar.

However, during document verification, officials disqualified him solely on the grounds that he had not studied Biology in 11th grade, even though he had passed Biology as an additional subject in 12th grade.

The court found that this disqualification was completely arbitrary and contrary to the NMC’s 2023 rules. The court, while quashing the disqualification email issued in October, clearly directed:

The petitioner’s documents should be re-verified within a week.
He should be immediately admitted to the medical college allotted to him in the third round of counseling.
There should be no delay in his joining classes.
There should be no adverse impact on his career.
The High Court’s key finding: Eligibility based solely on 12th grade.

The Jodhpur bench, in its reportable order, clarified that eligibility for MBBS admission depends solely on 12th grade subjects. The court also noted that nowhere in the NMC’s 2023 notice does it require studying Biology in 11th grade.

While this provision existed in the previous 1997 Medical Education Regulations, the 2023 revised regulations automatically removed this requirement. Therefore, denying eligibility based on 11th grade is completely unfair.

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Impact of this decision

This order is extremely important for all students who, for whatever reason, did not take biology in 11th grade but wish to pursue a medical career by studying biology as an additional subject in 12th grade. This decision ensures that qualified students are not deprived of their future simply due to technical misunderstandings.

The High Court has clearly ruled that Class 11 Biology is not mandatory for MBBS admission. Eligibility must be assessed only on the basis of Class 12 subjects, even when Biology has been taken as an additional subject.

This also settles the long-standing confusion regarding the requirement of submitting a Class 11 marksheet with Biology, which—per this ruling—holds no legal relevance under current NMC guidelines.

NIOS: An alternative for NEET aspirants without Class 11 Biology

The NIOS open schooling system offers an effective alternative for NEET UG candidates who took and passed Biology in grade 12 but did not choose it in grade 11. According to the NMC’s revised eligibility guidelines of 2023, medical admissions now require studying and passing only Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English in grade 12.

Therefore, through NIOS, students can strengthen their eligibility by taking Biology as an additional or remedial subject at the 12th level. The flexible open schooling system allows students freedom in time, subject selection, and exam preparation, allowing them to prepare for NEET without the constraints of regular schooling.

The NIOS certificate is nationally recognized and accepted by higher education institutions, including medical admissions. Thus, NIOS proves to be a viable path for students who wish to secure opportunities in the medical field despite not taking Biology in grade 11.

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Aabshar Hassan Quazi

Aabshar H. Quazi is a seasoned education writer associated with ALLEN Career Institute, where he crafts insightful blogs on competitive exam trends, student journeys, and academic guidance. With a background in journalism, Aabshar has worked as Principal Correspondent for Hindustan Times, honing his skills in storytelling, analysis, and impactful reporting. His writing blends credibility with clarity, making complex topics accessible for students and parents alike.