The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is provided as the only test of admission to MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate medical courses in India. The test is carried out by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and serves as a qualifier for those aspiring to take admission in government and private, as well as foreign medical colleges. The most crucial step to keep in mind in case you wish to appear for NEET next year is the NEET eligibility criteria. Now, in this blog, we will see what NEET eligibility is, with details about the age limit, educational qualification, the number of attempts, and category-wise eligibility as per 2025.
Age Limit for NEET 2025
According to the new guidelines of NTA, the age cutoff to be NEET eligible in 2025 is as follows:
Minimum Age: The applicants must be 17 years old on 31st December 2025.
Maximum Age: According to the interim order of the Supreme Court (awaiting final decision), there is no upper age limit for appearing for NEET.
It is why NEET will be more comfortable for candidates of any age, primarily repeat candidates and international ones in particular.
Qualification for the NEET Exam
Academic qualification for the NEET exam has been consistent over the years and is as below:
- The candidate should have cleared the 10+2 or any equivalent examination with physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
- Their aggregate marks should be a minimum of 50 percent in PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) in the case of the General category.
- The candidates of reserved categories (SC/ST/OBC) have to score at least 40 percent in PCB.
- General category PwD candidates have to score 45 percent marks.
Those in the current Class 12 and who will appear in the 2025 Board examination are also NEET eligibility for MBBS, subject to fulfilling the required percentage in their final results.
NEET Exam Eligibility for MBBS and BDS
The NEET exam eligibility for MBBS and dental (BDS) courses is the same in the entire country, regardless of whether you are seeking admission in:
- Medical institutions of the government
- Private institutions
- AIIMS, JIPMER (These are also NEET entry since 2020.)
- Quota under NRI or foreign medical universities (for people who want to practice medicine in India after coming back)
- It is significant to mention that eligibility for NEET is a prerequisite to even international MBBS, provided the student desires to work in India at some point.
- The general category of PwD candidates must have 45 percent marks.
The students who are in Class 12 and are appearing in the board exams of 2025 are eventually eligible too, pending fulfilling the required percentage in their final marks.
Number of Attempts for NEET
The limit on the number of tries that one can take in NEET is not limited. NTA eliminated the restriction of attempts and thus students could take many chances to boost their scores.
The following has particularly favourably impacted the students who would want to increase their NEET requirement for government colleges, or rather, students doing repeat classes after a year.
Category-Wise NEET Eligibility Criteria
One of the provisions of the NEET eligibility is category-based relaxation:
- General/EWS: 50 percent in PCB and no less than 17 years of age.
- SC/ST/OBC-NCL: 40 percent in PCB, age of 17 years and above.
- PwD applicants: 45 percent in PCB (General-PwD) with appropriate disability evidence.
- Foreign Nationals/NRIs/PIOs: There is eligibility for equivalency certificates and such PCB standards.
The benefit of this type of relaxation lies in the process of closing the medical education access gap and favouring considered inclusivity during admission.
NEET Requirement for Government Colleges
To gain entry into government medical colleges, the NEET eligibility criterion in government colleges is:
- Passing eligibility for NEET with the lowest cutoff percentile (50th percentile for General and 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC).
- Attending state/all-India quota counselling.
- Satisfying the state quota in terms of domicile in state colleges, with an 85 percent state quota.
Good performance in NEET will give you a likelihood of getting subsidised seats in well-reputed government institutions.
Conclusion
Any medical aspirant should have an idea of NEET eligibility to clear the year 2025. Whether it is the minimum age and the education you have received or the category you need to get relaxed, all these are important steps that you should incorporate in your preparation strategy. Because there are no restrictions on the number of tries and having more or less strict conditions, students, regardless of background, origin, or any other nature, can bravely show up and compete to receive a seat not only in India but all over the world.Do you have NEET eligibility for 2025? Seek professional counselling now to have an idea of your eligibility, prepare a plan on how to prepare, and keep yourself informed about all events and developments related to NEET.
