New Delhi: In 2024, 24,06,079 candidates registered for the NEET UG exam. Experts had projected NEET 2025 registrations to exceed 24 lakh. However, recent media reports confirm a decline of over 1 lakh registrations compared to last year. As of March 5, 2025, more than 20 lakh candidates have registered, bringing the total NEET 2025 registrations to approximately 23 lakh.
The NEET 2025 exam is scheduled for May 4, 2025, with the registration window closing on March 7, 2025. The examination will facilitate admissions to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses. Initially, experts anticipated around 26 lakh registrations for NEET 2025, but the latest reports indicate a slight decrease compared to previous years.
NEET 2025 Registration Numbers
According to the latest data, around 23 lakh candidates have registered for NEET 2025. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will soon release the final registration statistics on its official website, neet.nta.nic.in.
NEET UG Registration Trends Over the Last Five Years
While NEET UG 2025 registrations have dropped by one lakh compared to last year, the overall trend over the past five years reflects steady growth.
| Year | Total Registered Students (in Lakh) |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 23 Lakh (Expected) |
| 2024 | 24,06,079 |
| 2023 | 20,87,462 |
| 2022 | 18,72,343 |
| 2021 | 16,14,777 |
| 2020 | 15,97,435 |
Factors Contributing to the Decline in NEET 2025 Registrations
Despite 24 lakh registrations in 2024, the total registrations for NEET 2025 have dropped by 1 lakh. Several factors may have influenced this trend:
- Impact of NEET 2024 Results
- Paper leaks, cheating incidents, and result revisions in NEET 2024 may have discouraged candidates.
- Higher cutoffs may have deterred students from reappearing.
- Technical Issues in Registration
- Website glitches and payment failures disrupted the registration process.
- Many students faced difficulties completing their registrations.
- No Extension of Registration Deadline
- Unlike previous years, NTA has not extended the NEET 2025 registration deadline.
- Students facing registration issues could not apply, contributing to the decline.
- Alternative Career Preferences
- A growing interest in non-medical and allied healthcare fields may have reduced the number of NEET applicants.
- Increased awareness of diverse career options could have influenced students’ decisions.
- Financial Constraints
- The rising cost of medical education may have discouraged some aspirants.
- Financial limitations could have forced students to explore alternative career paths.
NTA will provide a detailed report on NEET 2025 registrations soon. Stay updated with official announcements for further insights into this trend.
