What is the NEET exam?
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET (UG), formerly the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), is an all India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS) and AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, etc.)
Before NEET (UG) was implemented nationwide, states conducted their own entrance tests and some prestigious medical colleges like AIIMS, JIPMER, IMS-BHU, KMC Manipal & Mangalore and CMC Vellore conducted their own entrance exams.
NEET was initially proposed to take place from 2012 onwards.[8] However, for several reasons, the CBSE and Medical Council of India deferred NEET by a year.[9] The test was announced by the Government of India and was held for the first time on 5 May 2013 across India for students seeking admission for both undergraduate and postgraduate medicine.[10] On 18 July 2013, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of 115 petitions and cancelled the NEET exam and announced that the MCI could not interfere with the admission process done by colleges.
Exam pattern and structure
There are a total of 180 questions asked in the exam, 45 questions each from Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology. Each correct response fetches 4 marks and each incorrect response gets -1 negative marking. The exam duration is 3 hours 20 minutes (200 min). The exam is of 720 marks (maximum marks).
Since 2021, there has been a significant alteration in the format of the question paper. The latest structure includes two sections, i.e. A and B, in all four subjects, namely Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Section A comprises 35 mandatory questions, while Section B contains 15 questions, out of which 10 questions are to be answered, leading to a total of 200 questions, with 180 questions that can be answered.
Syllabus
NEET (UG) syllabus consists of the core concepts of Physics, Chemistry and Biology taught in classes 11 and 12 as prescribed by the NCERT.
Number of applicants by year
| Year | Date of Examination | No. of candidates Registered | No. of candidates Appeared | Reference Report |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2013 | 5 May 2013 | 717,127 | 658,040 | [24] |
| 2015 | Exam not held (AIPMT held instead) | [32] | ||
| 2015 | Exam not held (AIPMT held instead) | [32] | ||
| 2016 | 1 May 2016 (Phase I) | 802,594 | 731,233 | [25] |
| 2016 | 24 July 2021 (Phase II) | 802,594 | 731,233 | [25] |
| 2017 | 7 May 2017 | 1,138,890 | 1,090,085 | [26] |
| 2018 | 6 May 2018 | 1,326,725 | 1,269,922 | [27] |
| 2019 | 5 May 2019 | 1,519,375 | 1,410,755 | [28] |
| 2020 | 13 September 2020 | 1,597,435 | 1,366,945 | [29] |
| 2021 | 12 September 2021 | 1,614,777 | 1,544,275 | [30] |
| 2022 | 17 July 2022 | 1,872,343 | 1,764,571 | [31] |
| 2023 | 7 May 2023 | 20,87,462 | 20,36,316 | [32] |
| 2024 | 1 May 2024 | [33] |
Exam cutoff 2019
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentile |
|---|---|
| Unreserved (UR) | 50th Percentile |
| Unreserved PH (UR-PH) | 45th Percentile |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 40th Percentile |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 40th Percentile |
| Other Backward Classes (OBC) | 40th Percentile |
| SC-PH | 40th Percentile |
| ST-PH | 40th Percentile |
| OBC-PH | 40th Percentile |
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