The Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has made it mandatory for under-18 candidates to obtain a NADRA-issued Juvenile Registration Card to appear in the upcoming MDCAT, introducing biometric verification across all examination centers.
The new requirement, announced ahead of MDCAT-2026, applies to a large segment of the nearly 200,000 candidates who sit the entry test each year for admission to medical and dental colleges.
Authorities say the move is part of broader efforts to strengthen identification procedures and advance digitisation in the examination process.
However, the decision has sparked concern among families, who point to added financial strain and logistical hurdles.
Many parents report difficulties in obtaining the cards due to long queues at NADRA centres, additional fees, and the limited validity period of the document, particularly for candidates nearing the age of 18.
Critics argue that the requirement places an unnecessary burden on households already managing educational expenses, while also questioning the practicality of a document that may expire soon after issuance.
The council maintains that biometric verification is essential for ensuring transparency and integrity in the examination system and indicates the policy will remain in place for the upcoming test cycle.
