NEW DELHI: The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) to select students for undergraduate medical and dental courses in prestigious institutions. The NEET UG 2025 scores will be used for admission to BDS and BVSc & AH courses, just like in previous years. This clarification follows the public notice issued on January 16, 2025. The admission process will follow the rules set by the respective regulatory bodies.
This guide covers all essential details about the NEET UG 2025 exam, including important dates, eligibility criteria, and key events. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the official brochure on neet.ntaonline.in. As per the NTA exam calendar, the NEET 2025 exam will happen on May 4, with registrations starting from 7 February 2025.
Key Dates at a Glance
| Key Events | Important Dates |
| Public Notice Issued | 16 January 2025 |
| Online Submission of Application Form | 07 February 2025 to 07 March 2025 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Last date of successful transaction of fee | 07 March 2025 (up to 11:50 PM) |
| Correction Window | 09-11 March 2025 |
| Announcement of City Intimation | This will be intimated later on the website |
| Downloading of Admit Cards from the NTA website | By 01 May 2025 |
| Date of Examination | 04 May 2025 (Sunday) |
| Duration of Examination | 180 minutes |
| Timing of Examination | 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM |
| Centre of NEET (UG) 2025 Examination | As indicated on Admit Card |
| Display of Recorded Responses and Answer Keys | This will be intimated later on the website |
| Declaration of Result on NTA website | 14 June 2025 (Tentative) |
Mode and Pattern of Examination
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has revised the NEET 2025 exam pattern, returning to the pre-COVID format. The optional questions introduced during the pandemic have been removed, and the total number of questions has been reduced from 200 to 180, all of which are now mandatory.
NEET 2025: Key Changes
- Total Questions: 180 (45 in Physics, 45 in Chemistry, 90 in Biology).
- Exam Duration: Reduced to 180 minutes (3 hours) from the previous 200 minutes.
- No Optional Questions: Section B, introduced during COVID-19, has been removed.
Marking Scheme
- +4 marks for each correct answer.
- -1 mark for each incorrect answer.
- Approximately 1 minute per question, emphasizing time management.
The decision to continue NEET 2025 in a pen-and-paper format has sparked debate, with medical professionals advocating for a shift to an online mode. They highlighted several advantages, including:
- Faster result processing
- Reduced evaluation errors
- Elimination of logistical delays
Experts, including FAIMA members, argued that an online format would enhance transparency, fairness, and security. Concerns over the traditional system, such as the NEET 2024 paper leak, further fueled the push for change.
Critics labeled the return to OMR-based exams as a “retrogressive step” and suggested incorporating robust security measures for online exams, including:
- Biometric verification
- AI-powered fraud detection
- IP address monitoring
- Audio-video recording
- End-to-end encryption
NEET UG Eligibility Criteria 2025
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has provided the NEET 2025 eligibility criteria in the official information bulletin available at neet.nta.nic.in. These criteria define the necessary academic qualifications, age limits, and other requirements that candidates must meet to appear for the NEET UG 2025 exam.
| Criteria | Details |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and Foreign Nationals. |
| Age Limit | Candidates must be at least 17 years old by December 31, 2025. There is no upper age limit as per the Supreme Court’s order. |
| Educational Qualification | Must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. |
| Minimum Marks in Qualifying Exam | General category: 50%, OBC/SC/ST: 40%, PwD: 45% |
| Number of Attempts | No limit on the number of attempts. |
NEET 2025 Answer Key
After the exam, students eagerly anticipate the answer key to evaluate their performance. The National Testing Agency (NTA) publishes the official answer key on its website, along with scanned images of OMR sheets and machine-recorded responses. This allows students to compare their answers, verify their responses, and even challenge any discrepancies in the answer key.
Result Declaration and Counselling Schedule
The result for the NEET UG 2025 exam is likely to be released on 14 June. The scorecard will include:
- Total marks obtained
- Percentile score
- All India Rank (AIR)
- Qualifying status and cutoff
NEET 2025 counselling is set to begin in July 2025 and will be conducted in two categories. The All India Quota (AIQ), managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), will cover 15% of the total seats. Meanwhile, the remaining 85% of seats will be allocated under the State Quota.
There will be four counselling rounds: Rounds 1, 2, and 3, as well as a Round for stray vacancies. Successful candidates must register by filling out the form, attaching the required documents, and paying the registration fee after the NEET UG 2025 counselling notification is released.
Exam Day Guidelines For Students
NTA provides exam day instructions to ensure students stay relaxed and stress-free during the NEET UG 2025 exam. Candidates can follow these general guidelines for a smooth exam experience.
- Arrive at the exam center at least one hour before the reporting time (12:00 PM) for security checks.
- On the NEET Admit card, candidates must attach a passport-size photo of themselves.
- Sit in the assigned seat and attach a passport-size photo on the NEET admit card.
- Candidates had to consent to the conducting authority videotaping the exam.
- To allow for a clear identification of who they are, they must maintain an upright posture and face the camera.
- Due to the high number of candidates, the NTA adheres to strict rules to uphold the fairness and discipline of NEET.
About the NTA and NEET UG
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has been conducting the NEET (UG) exam since 2019. It operates with approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. The Ministry of Human Resource Development, now called the Ministry of Education, also approved it. The exam follows the directions of the Hon’ble Supreme Court of India.
The official website of the NTA for NEET (UG) – 2025 is neet.nta.nic.in.
All the test-related information, as amended from time to time (if any), will be
available on this website only. Candidates must regularly visit this website for
the latest updates.
The responsibility of NTA is limited to inviting online applications, the conduct
of the entrance test, declaration of the result, and providing All India Rank
(AIR).
Last 5 Year Exam Trends
There are increasing trends in the NEET UG registration. This trend suggests more than 26 lakh students are expected to appear in the exam. It will make competition very hard.
| Year | Registered Candidate | Appeared Exam | Absent |
| 2024 | 2,406,079 | 2,333,297 | 72,782 |
| 2023 | 2,087,462 | 2,038,596 | 48,866 |
| 2022 | 1,872,343 | 1,764,571 | 107,772 |
| 2021 | 1,614,777 | 1,544,273 | 70,504 |
| 2020 | 1,597,435 | 1,366,945 | 230,490 |
