29. An applicant for admission to an examination under section 28,ÔÇö(a) shall not be below seventeen years of age on the date fixed for the examination;(b) must have passed the matriculation examination or an equivalent examination with general science as one of the subjects; and(c) must have been registered as an apprentice in pharmacy for a period of not less than two years before the date fixed for the examination:Provided that clause (c) shall not apply during any period during which registration of apprentices in pharmacy, remains discontinued under the proviso to sub-section (1) of section 23 and the period of two years thereafter.