NEET 2020: What to fill in state of eligibility in application form? NTA provides official explanation

NEET 2020 application form submission is ongoing, and will end in twelve days. Since the process of registration for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test started at ntaneet.nic.in, candidates have asked different questions related to form filling. While answers to most of the questions can be found in the official information brochure, there is one that was insofar not present anywhere – what to fill in state of eligibility in NEET form?

Now, the National Testing Agency has published a notification to explain the same. This notification has been published at nta.ac.in.

NTA says, “Queries are being received regarding filling up of choice under ‘state of eligibility (for 15% all india quota)’ column in the application form of NEET (UG) – 2020. It is clarified that all the candidates are eligible for this quota independent of their choice under state of eligibility. Therefore, the candidates can fill in any state/ut (e.g. state / ut of their class xii school, home state/ut etc.) against this choice.” 

But, candidates from erstwhile Jammu and Kashmir state, which is now the union territories of JnK and Ladakh are not eligible for the all India quota seats. Clarifying this point, the notification further states “However, the candidates from erstwhile state of J & K (now known as uts of J & K and ladakh) are not eligible for 15% all india quota seats as the erstwhile state of j & k had opted out of all india scheme since its inception. If they claim eligibility, they must submit online self- declaration which will be generated and printed automatically along with confirmation page for record and to present the same during counselling/admission. The format/content of self-declaration is given in appendix – iii of the information bulletin of NEET (UG) -2020. The above is applicable to 15% all India quota seats only.”

Concluding the explanation, NTA says “For state/ut quota and other seats falling under the ambit of states/uts, the domicile will be governed by the respective state rules and will be required at the time of counselling by the state/ut authorities. It is also reiterated that under various categories, state list category candidates who are not in central list must choose general.”

The ninth field in the the new registration page of NEET 2020 application form asks to fill “State of Eligibility (for 15% All India Quota)”. The form being self-explanatory, there is a question mark button against the field, clicking which shows detailed instructions on the same. The explanation for state of eligibility here simply says that all Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs and FNs are eligible for 15% all India quota seats. And then regarding JnK candidates, the explanation says the same things that have been explained in the recent notice. 

Earlier, students of AP and Telangana were also not part of the all India quota seats. However through changes proposed by the states in 2017, now students from these states can also take part in the 15% all India counselling.

All India level medical counselling is conducted by MCC, the Medical Counselling Committee. After NEET 2020 results will be announced, details of the all India level counselling will get updated at mcc.nic.in. 

The last date to fill and submit the online application form of NEET 2020 is December 31, 2019. Fee can be paid until January 1, 2020. The exam will be held on May 3, 2020.