National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) (NEET UG)

What this exam is

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), universally known as NEET UG, is the single national entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS, and all other medical and allied health science undergraduate degree programmes in India. It is the most consequential entrance exam in the science stream after Class 12, and one of the most competitive examinations in the world by the number of candidates and seats — approximately 23–26 lakh students register each year for roughly 1.08 lakh MBBS seats across government and private medical colleges.

NEET UG has been conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) since 2019. Prior to NTA taking over, the exam was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). Its history, however, goes back further: NEET was introduced to replace a fragmented system in which each state and institution — including AIIMS Delhi and JIPMER Puducherry — held separate entrance exams with varying standards. The Supreme Court of India upheld the unified NEET framework in 2016, and by 2020, all AIIMS institutes and JIPMER had been brought under NEET, eliminating their separate tests.

The result is that a single exam now determines eligibility for every government MBBS seat under the All India Quota (15% of seats), all state quota seats, and all private medical college seats across India. Over 1 lakh MBBS seats, about 28,000 BDS seats, 52,000+ AYUSH seats (BAMS, BHMS, BSMS, BUMS), and 1,200+ AIIMS and 200 JIPMER MBBS seats are all filled through NEET UG scores.

NEET UG is a pen-and-paper (offline) exam — a deliberate policy choice made to reduce technology-related barriers and ensure uniform testing conditions across exam centres in cities and rural areas alike. The exam is held once a year, typically on the first Sunday of May, across hundreds of exam cities in India and a small number of international centres.

The exam’s structure has evolved. During the COVID-19 pandemic (2021–2022), NTA introduced optional questions in each subject — candidates could choose 35 out of 45 or 50 questions. Starting from NEET UG 2025, the pattern reverted to the pre-COVID format: 180 compulsory questions, no optionality, and a duration of exactly 180 minutes.

Who should take this exam

NEET UG is mandatory for anyone aspiring to:

MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery). Every government and private medical college in India — including all 15 AIIMS institutes and both JIPMER campuses — admits students solely on the basis of NEET UG scores. There is no alternative entry path.

BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery). All dental colleges in India use NEET UG for admission, making it equally essential for aspiring dentists.

BAMS, BHMS, BSMS, BUMS (Ayurveda, Homeopathy, Siddha, Unani medicine). AYUSH undergraduate programmes mandatorily require NEET UG qualification. Students seeking admission to BAMS at any recognised institution must qualify NEET.

BVSc and AH (Veterinary Science). Admissions to Bachelor of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry programmes also use NEET scores at many institutions.

BSc Nursing (at select institutions). Several government medical colleges and universities — particularly those with nursing schools attached to medical institutions — use NEET scores as an eligibility or merit criterion for BSc Nursing admission.

Beyond the compulsory applications, NEET UG also serves as a useful benchmark for students in the BSc Biology stream who are building foundational science knowledge. The depth and breadth of the NEET syllabus overlaps significantly with what strong Biology undergraduate programmes expect from incoming students.

Students who are in Class 11 or 12 with Biology as a core subject and who have any aspiration toward medicine, dentistry, or allied health sciences should treat NEET as a given in their preparation plan. Unlike engineering aspirants who may choose between JEE Main and state-level tests, medical aspirants in India have no alternative national pathway.

Exam pattern and structure

NEET UG is a pen-and-paper (offline) test conducted in a single shift, on a single day, at designated examination centres. It consists of 180 MCQs drawn from three subjects — Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (which covers both Botany and Zoology). Each question offers four options with exactly one correct answer.

From NEET UG 2025 (reverting to pre-COVID format):

Subject	Total Questions	To Be Attempted	Marks Per Question	Maximum Marks
Physics	45	45 (all compulsory)	+4 correct / −1 wrong	180
Chemistry	45	45 (all compulsory)	+4 correct / −1 wrong	180
Biology (Botany)	45	45 (all compulsory)	+4 correct / −1 wrong	180
Biology (Zoology)	45	45 (all compulsory)	+4 correct / −1 wrong	180
Total	180	180	—	720

Marking scheme: +4 marks for each correct answer; −1 mark for each incorrect answer; 0 marks for unattempted questions. There are no optional questions from 2025 onwards.

Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours) from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (Indian Standard Time).

Mode: Pen-and-paper (OMR-based). Candidates darken bubbles on OMR sheets, which are scanned for evaluation.

Language/Medium: The question paper is available in 13 languages — English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. A candidate selects the medium at the time of application.

Tie-breaking. When two candidates score identically, NTA uses a specific sequence to break the tie: (1) higher Biology marks; (2) higher Chemistry marks; (3) fewer incorrect answers in Biology; (4) fewer incorrect answers in Chemistry and Physics. This sequence reflects the relative weightage of Biology in the exam (50% of total marks).

Previous COVID-era pattern (2021–2024 for some cycles): Each subject was split into Section A (35 questions, compulsory) and Section B (15 questions, choose any 10). Total questions were 200 with 180 to be answered, and exam duration was 200 minutes. NEET 2025 reverted fully to the simpler pre-COVID format.

Syllabus overview

The NEET UG syllabus is prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) — not by NTA — and is based on Class 11 and Class 12 NCERT content across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The syllabus draws from the common national curriculum recommended by COBSE (Conference of Boards of Secondary and Senior Secondary Education), and is designed to be fair to students who studied under any recognised board.

Physics (45 questions, 180 marks)

Physics in NEET is split roughly equally between Class 11 and Class 12 content. Key areas:

Class 11 topics: Physical World and Measurement, Kinematics (1D and 2D motion), Laws of Motion (Newton’s laws, friction), Work Energy and Power, System of Particles and Rotational Motion, Gravitation, Properties of Matter (elasticity, fluid dynamics, surface tension), Thermodynamics, Kinetic Theory of Gases, and Oscillations and Waves (SHM, sound waves).

Class 12 topics: Electrostatics (Coulomb’s law, Gauss’s law, capacitors), Current Electricity (Kirchhoff’s laws, Wheatstone bridge), Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism, Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents, Electromagnetic Waves, Optics (ray optics and wave optics), Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter (photoelectric effect, de Broglie wavelength), Atoms and Nuclei (Bohr model, radioactivity), and Semiconductor Electronics.

Physics is typically the most challenging section for NEET candidates and has the lowest average scores among the three subjects. Questions often require multi-step numerical calculations and careful conceptual application.

Chemistry (45 questions, 180 marks)

Chemistry covers Physical, Inorganic, and Organic chemistry across both classes:

Physical Chemistry: Mole Concept, Atomic Structure, Chemical Bonding, Chemical Thermodynamics, Solutions (Raoult’s law, colligative properties), Chemical Equilibrium, Ionic Equilibrium, Redox and Electrochemistry, Chemical Kinetics, and Surface Chemistry.

Inorganic Chemistry: Periodic Classification, s-, p-, d-, and f-Block Elements, Coordination Compounds, and Hydrogen and its compounds.

Organic Chemistry: General Principles, Hydrocarbons, Haloalkanes and Haloarenes, Alcohols and Phenols and Ethers, Aldehydes and Ketones and Carboxylic Acids, Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen, Biomolecules (carbohydrates, proteins, nucleic acids), Polymers, and Environmental Chemistry.

Chemistry is generally considered the most scoring subject in NEET — factual and formula-based questions reward consistent preparation and accurate recall.

Biology (90 questions, 360 marks)

Biology carries 50% of the total NEET marks and is the primary differentiator among competitive candidates. It is divided evenly between Botany and Zoology:

Class 11 Biology: Diversity in Living World (five kingdoms, taxonomy), Structural Organisation in Plants (morphology, anatomy) and Animals (tissues, organ systems), Cell Structure and Function (cell theory, organelles, biomolecules, cell division), Plant Physiology (mineral nutrition, photosynthesis, respiration, growth and development), Human Physiology (digestion, respiration, body fluids and circulation, excretion, locomotion, neural and chemical coordination).

Class 12 Biology: Reproduction in flowering plants (pollination, fertilisation, embryology) and Human Reproduction (gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, fertilisation), Reproductive Health, Genetics and Evolution (Mendelian inheritance, molecular basis of inheritance, genome, human evolution, mechanisms of evolution), Biology and Human Welfare (health and disease, microbes, food processing, biocontrol), Biotechnology (genetic engineering, applications in health and agriculture), and Ecology and Environment (organisms and populations, ecosystem, biodiversity, environmental issues).

The NMC released the official NEET UG 2026 syllabus at nmc.org.in, confirming no change from the 2025 syllabus. The syllabus has remained broadly stable since 2019, with minor revisions following NCERT textbook updates.

Eligibility and registration

Eligibility criteria

The eligibility criteria for NEET UG are set by the National Medical Commission and enforced by NTA:

Educational qualification:

• Must have passed Class 10+2 or equivalent from a recognised Board
• Compulsory subjects: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology, plus English
• Minimum aggregate marks: 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology combined for General/EWS category; 40% for SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidates; 45% for General-PwD candidates

Age requirement:

• Minimum age: 17 years as on December 31 of the year of admission
• No upper age limit (the Supreme Court removed the upper age cap in a 2022 ruling)

Nationality: Indian nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals are all eligible. NRI candidates pay a higher registration fee.

Number of attempts: No restriction on the number of attempts.

Registration process

Registration is online at neet.nta.nic.in. The process:

1. New registration: Create an account using a valid email ID and mobile number; receive an application number
2. Fill application form: Enter personal details, academic details, medium, and preferred exam city
3. Upload documents: Passport photo, signature, Class 10 certificate, and category certificates if applicable
4. Fee payment: Online payment by credit/debit card, net banking, or UPI

NEET UG 2025 timeline:

• Registration: February 7 – March 7, 2025
• Correction window: March 9–11, 2025
• Exam city intimation: April 26, 2025
• Admit card: By May 1, 2025
• Exam: May 4, 2025 (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
• Result: By June 14, 2025

NEET UG 2026 timeline:

• Registration: February 8 – March 11, 2026 (extended)
• Exam date: May 3, 2026 (first Sunday of May)

Registration fee

Category	NEET UG Registration Fee
General / Unreserved	₹1,700
General-EWS / OBC-NCL	₹1,600
SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender	₹1,000
Outside India / International Centres	₹9,500

Fees are non-refundable. Candidates who fail to pay the fee by the deadline will have their application treated as incomplete.

Required documents

• Class 10 certificate (for age proof)
• Class 12 or equivalent certificate / mark sheet
• Passport-size photograph and signature in prescribed format
• Valid government-issued ID proof
• Category certificate (SC/ST/OBC/EWS/PwD), as applicable

Cutoffs and score interpretation

NEET UG has two distinct types of cutoffs that are frequently confused:

1. Qualifying cutoff: The minimum NEET score required to be eligible for medical admission. Set as a percentile threshold, not an absolute mark. This varies by year because the total NEET score a particular percentile corresponds to depends on how the cohort of test-takers performed.

Category	Qualifying Percentile	NEET 2024 Score Range	NEET 2025 Score Range
General / EWS	50th percentile	720 – 164	686 – 144
OBC / SC / ST	40th percentile	163 – 129	143 – 113
General-PwD	45th percentile	163 – 146	143 – 127
OBC/SC/ST-PwD	40th percentile	145 – 129	126 – 113

Qualifying the NEET cutoff merely establishes eligibility for counselling — it does not guarantee admission anywhere. The 2024 cutoff for General category was 164, meaning every candidate who scored 164 or more out of 720 qualified. However, government MBBS seats at competitive colleges closed at much higher marks.

2. College-specific admission cutoffs: These vary enormously by institution, state quota versus All India Quota, and category.

AIIMS New Delhi is the most competitive institution — the closing rank for the General category through All India Quota is typically in the top 50 NEET ranks nationally, corresponding to scores of approximately 705–715+ out of 720 in recent years.

Top government medical colleges under the All India Quota typically see General category closing ranks around AIR 300–1,500, corresponding to NEET scores of approximately 660–700.

JIPMER (Puducherry) — part of the AIIMS-equivalent institutions — has seen General category AIR closing ranks in the range of 250–600 for MBBS.

State quota seats are filled through separate state counselling processes, and their cutoffs reflect state-specific competition. A NEET score of 500+ is generally needed for government college seats in most states; 400–450+ may suffice in some states with fewer applicants.

Private medical colleges have wide-ranging cutoffs depending on fees, location, and infrastructure. Many private colleges — especially those with higher annual fees — fill seats at NEET scores as low as 200–350 through management and NRI quotas.

Year-on-year variation: The 2024 cutoff at 164 (General) was higher than 2023’s 137 because the 2023 paper was harder. NEET 2025’s cutoff of 144 was lower than 2024 because the exam was more difficult. These variations underscore that scoring well above the minimum qualifying mark is essential for any realistic admission chance.

Colleges and programmes that accept this exam

NEET UG is the single entry gate to all undergraduate medical education in India. The categories of programmes are:

MBBS (5.5 years including internship): India has approximately 706 medical colleges with over 1 lakh MBBS seats. All admit students solely on NEET scores. The 15 AIIMS institutes (including AIIMS New Delhi, AIIMS Mumbai, AIIMS Bhopal, AIIMS Jodhpur, and 11 others) together offer approximately 1,205 seats. All are filled through NEET.

BDS (5 years including internship): About 315 dental colleges with approximately 28,000 seats, all NEET-based.

BAMS / BHMS / BSMS / BUMS: Approximately 52,700 AYUSH seats across India, all through NEET.

BVSc and AH: Approximately 603 seats in government veterinary colleges; NEET qualification required.

BSc Nursing (select institutions): Government-run nursing programmes attached to medical institutions often use NEET as an eligibility criterion. Students exploring BSc Biology may find that NEET preparation directly supports nursing entrance requirements too.

Counselling pathways:

• All India Quota (AIQ) — 15% of government seats: Counselled by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) at mcc.nic.in. Includes all AIIMS and JIPMER seats.
• State quota — 85% of government seats: Each state conducts its own counselling. J&K and Ladakh participate in AIQ for 100% of seats.
• Deemed and private universities: Conduct their own counselling for NEET-qualified candidates.

Admission to AIIMS New Delhi and other AIIMS institutes is entirely through NEET. Historically, AIIMS held a separate entrance exam (AIIMS MBBS), which was discontinued in 2020, making NEET the sole entry point.

Similarly, JIPMER Puducherry — which had its own separate entrance test until 2019 — now admits students entirely through NEET.

How to prepare

NEET preparation is typically spread over two years: Class 11 and Class 12. The standard model is to build foundational concepts in Class 11 while simultaneously beginning NEET-oriented revision, and then focus intensively on Class 12 content and integration in the final year.

NCERT first, always. NEET questions — especially in Biology and Chemistry — are heavily derived from NCERT textbook text, diagrams, and examples. Every sentence in NCERT Biology is potentially examinable. Candidates who have not thoroughly read and annotated NCERT books cannot compensate with reference books alone. For Biology, this means reading class 11 and 12 NCERT Biology cover-to-cover multiple times.

Biology is the differentiator. With 360 out of 720 marks, Biology determines outcomes for most candidates. The gap between scoring 320 and 350 in Biology is far larger in its impact on rank than the same gap in Physics or Chemistry. Biology is also more memory-intensive — every chapter has dense factual content (names, classifications, processes) that requires systematic revision. Create dedicated revision schedules for Biology at least 3–4 months before the exam.

Chemistry is the most accessible scoring subject. A structured approach to Physical Chemistry (practice numericals), Organic Chemistry (mechanisms and name reactions), and Inorganic Chemistry (periodic trends and reactions from NCERT) consistently yields high scores. Chemistry rewards consistent daily work over last-minute cramming.

Physics requires conceptual clarity and calculation practice. Many NEET Physics questions require multi-step reasoning and numerical work. Candidates who have practised JEE-level Physics often find NEET Physics relatively more accessible, but the time pressure in a 3-hour offline exam still demands regular timed practice.

Attempt full-length mock tests. The experience of sitting with a physical OMR sheet, darkening bubbles for 180 questions in 3 hours without any digital interface, is different from online mock tests. NTA releases official practice tests, and candidates should simulate actual exam conditions — including the offline format — at least 8–10 times before the actual exam.

Revise strategically. The NEET syllabus is large. A full revision cycle covering all of Class 11 and Class 12 content across three subjects takes 8–10 weeks. Plan revision cycles so that at least two complete revision passes are possible before the exam.

Current pattern awareness. From NEET UG 2025, there are no optional questions — all 180 questions are compulsory. Candidates who prepared under the optional-question pattern (2021–2024) must adjust strategy accordingly: the flexibility of skipping 10 questions per subject no longer exists. Every question must be attempted or consciously left blank, making time management within the 60-minute-per-subject allocation more critical.

Negative marking. Each wrong answer costs 1 mark, while a correct answer earns 4. The expected value of guessing with no information is −0.25 per question. However, if a candidate can eliminate even one option, the expected value turns positive. Intelligent guessing — especially in Biology, where conceptual elimination is easier than in Physics — can add 5–10 marks over the course of the paper.

Key dates and timeline

NEET UG follows a fixed annual pattern:

Event	Typical Timing
Registration window opens	First week of February
Registration deadline	First week of March
Application correction window	~5–7 days after registration closes
Exam city intimation	Late April
Admit card release	Last week of April
Examination	First Sunday of May (2:00 PM – 5:00 PM)
OMR and provisional answer key release	Within 1–2 weeks of exam
Challenge window for answer key	~5–7 days after provisional key
Result declaration	Mid-June
AIQ counselling — Round 1	Late June / July
State quota counselling	July – August
College joining / final admissions	August – September

NEET UG 2025: Exam held May 4, 2025. Result declared June 14, 2025. Approximately 23 lakh candidates registered; approximately 20 lakh appeared.

NEET UG 2026: Registration February 8 – March 11, 2026. Exam date: May 3, 2026.

Candidates should monitor the official NTA website (neet.nta.nic.in) and MCC website (mcc.nic.in) for all counselling-related updates.

Related exams

• CUET UG — For admissions to central universities; relevant to science students also considering BSc programmes at DU, BHU, or other central universities alongside NEET
• JEE Main — Engineering entrance; shares Physics and Chemistry overlap with NEET; some students prepare for both

Sources Used

• NTA NEET UG Official Website — neet.nta.nic.in
• NTA NEET (UG)-2025 Information Bulletin PDF (February 7, 2025)
• National Medical Commission (NMC) — NEET UG Syllabus — nmc.org.in
• NTA Official Website — nta.ac.in
• Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) — All India Quota Counselling — mcc.nic.in