In a rare turn of events, three senior citizens aged 68, 67, and 60 — including two practicing lawyers — have cleared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) this year and applied for MBBS admissions in Tamil Nadu, surprising officials and triggering an unexpected debate in the state’s medical admissions process.
Their applications, submitted under a special government school quota, have created a stir among members of the state selection committee, who are now grappling with legal and procedural questions surrounding age, eligibility, and the intent of reservation policies.
No age bar, but rising questions
The National Medical Commission (NMC) removed the upper age limit for NEET in 2022, opening the door for candidates of all ages to appear for the highly competitive exam. The change, aimed at making medical education more inclusive, has led to a rise in older applicants in recent years — but never quite like this.“This year, there are many graduates and professionals aspiring for a medical or dental seat. This is the highest number of middle-age and older applicants we have seen since 2017,” said a senior official involved in the admissions process.
Officials confirmed that at least 25 candidates aged above 35 have applied for undergraduate medical and dental seats in the state this year.
Seeking MBBS under government quota
The three senior candidates have applied for admission under Tamil Nadu’s 7.5% government school quota, which offers subsidised or free MBBS seats in both government and private colleges to students who studied in state-run schools.Some of the applicants have scored well enough to secure admission through the 69% reservation policy — a system unique to Tamil Nadu that factors in social and educational backwardness.
However, the applications have thrown up technical inconsistencies, particularly in the documents submitted under the special quota. Officials say that in some cases, the certificates don’t conform to the current format or fail to meet the exact eligibility wording outlined in the prospectus.
A policy dilemma for officials
While these older applicants have met the academic requirements, the core dilemma for authorities now is whether adult graduates — who may have pursued alternate careers and now returned to education — should be allowed to avail themselves of quotas originally intended to uplift disadvantaged youth.Some members of the selection committee are reportedly divided. While there is no legal barrier to senior citizens entering medical school, concerns have been raised about resource allocation, course rigour, and the effective intent of affirmative action policies.
The issue may prompt a broader review of eligibility definitions in government quotas in the coming years.
A rare spike in older applicants
This year marks the highest number of middle-aged and older candidates applying for medical and dental courses in Tamil Nadu since NEET became mandatory in 2017, officials confirmed.
At least 25 applicants above the age of 35 are in the race, including three senior citizens aged 60 and above — a first-of-its-kind development that has drawn attention across the state.
Officials believe the spike may reflect a broader shift in the demographics of NEET aspirants, with graduates, professionals, and retirees now seeing medicine as a viable second career or long-deferred goal. While the trend is still nascent, it marks a significant departure from the typical profile of medical college entrants.
(With inputs from ToI)
