Telangana NEET 4-Year Rule: Revised Merit List Shows Drop, Affects Candidates

SC sets aside Telangana HC order

With the implementation of 4-year domicile rule, the SC accepted the state government’s 2024 amendment and overturned the order of Telangana High Court which allowed permanent residents living or studying outside the state to apply for medical admissions even if they have not studied in the state for four consecutive years up to Class 12.

Despite several writ petitions by students associations, the SC bench comprising Chief Justice B R Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran endorsed the state government appeal and upheld the Telangana Medical and Dental Colleges Admission Rules (Admission into MBBS & BDS Courses) Rules, 2017, amended in 2024. The rule restricted the state quota medical admissions to candidates who have pursued classes 9 to 12 in the state.

What the Telangana domicile rule says?

According to the amended Telangana domicile rules, candidates must have studied for the last four consecutive academic years up to Class 12 in the state to be eligible for MBBS and BDS admissions under State Quota. In its order, the Supreme Court upheld the new domicile rule and allowed the state government to grant access to professional courses to locals. However, the amended rule restricts Telangana residents who have studied outside during this period of time. Hence, they will not be eligible for the state quota medical admissions unless they fulfil the NEET domicile criteria.

Challenges for NEET UG candidates

The SC ruling has disqualified many students who previously qualified for Telangana NEET UG counselling 2025. The domicile rule has affected the NEET candidates who studied outside for better coaching or due to their parents’ transfers. Despite being a permanent resident of Telangana, but have not fulfilled the 4-year study requirement will not be eligible for MBBS and BDS admissions under the state quota.

Less number of candidates means lower cut off

The SC decision can have several impacts on state medical admissions.

• Following the disqualification of over 1000 students in Telangana, it has reduced the number of eligible candidates for state medical admissions. With fewer candidates, there will be less competition among aspirants for securing admission in medical colleges.

• With less number of applicants, it generally leads to a lower NEET admission cut off scores in medical colleges.

• With a seat count of over 8000 for state medical colleges in Telangana, no such intense competition among aspirants might be witnessed this year.