What is NEET?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts NEET for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, Veterinary and other medical/paramedical courses in India. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is the sole entrance test for admission to MBBS and BDS courses in India. Conducted annually, NEET 2021 will be held across tentatively 155 test centres. With approximately 16 lakh test-takers, NEET is the most important medical entrance examination in India. Both AIIMS and JIPMER MBBS examinations have also been merged with NTA NEET.
Currently, the NEET counselling 2020 process is ongoing and MCC has released the final result for the mop-up round along with the allotment letter. Candidates can check their name by visiting the result released in the PDF format and search their name using ‘CTRL+F’.
Interestingly, the NTA has asked the Health Ministry about possibilities of conducting NEET exam in online mode instead of offline mode. If this happens, the chances are high that NEET will be conducted twice in a year. Earlier, NEET aspirants have also requested Nishank Pokhriyal, Minister of Education during his live session where he answered candidates’ queries regarding the national level entrance exam for 2021-2022 session. Though no official dates have been announced by the NTA but the NEET 2021 registration is expected to be released anytime soon on the official website of NTA.
NEET 2020/2021 Latest Updates
January 11, 2021: NEET Counselling 2020 stray round vacancy result announced.
January 11, 2021: NEET 2020 Counselling Stray Vacancy Round: Last day for physical reporting is January 15
January 8, 2021: #NEET2021: Does India need only engineers? not doctors?; Students question Education Minister
January 7, 2021: NEET 2020 Counselling: MCC releases advisory for MBBS, BDS candidates;
January 7, 2021: NTA likely to announce NEET 2021 Dates by January end
January 6, 2021:NEET 2020 Counselling stray vacancy round registration window closes TODAY!
January 5, 2021: NEET Counselling 2020: Registration for stray vacancy round begins;
January 4, 2021: NEET 2021 Exam Date, registration to be out soon;
January 4, 2021: Topics covered in previous NEET entrance examinations
December 31, 2020: Can NEET 2021 be conducted twice a year in online mode? NTA asks Health Ministry
December 30, 2020: NEET 2020 Counselling Stray Vacancy Round Revised Schedule released.
December 29, 2020: NEET 2021: Aspirants request Education Minister for multiple attempts in exam.
December 23, 2020: Plea claims discrepancies in NEET 2020 OMR sheets, HC seeks NTA reply
December 17, 2020: NEET 2020 counselling Mop-up round final result released.
December 10, 2020: NEET 2021 Exam will not be cancelled says Education Minister.
NEET 2021 expected to be conducted by the National Testing Agency in the third week of June 2021 (tentatively). The official notification for admissions through NEET 2021 is expected to be released anytime soon. This will be followed by the release of online application forms for the examination. The last date to submit the application form will be notified by NTA, but is expected to be in the second week of January. NEET 2021 admit card will be released in the last week of April and will be available for download online. After the examination is held, candidates will be able to download the provisional answer key of NEET 2021 in the last week of June. The result of NEET 2021 is expected to be released in the first week of July, along with the final answer key. Post this, the counselling for NEET 2021 will be held on both national and state levels. To know more about the application form, eligibility criteria, dress code, participating institutes, etc. read the complete article.
NEET 2021 Highlights
| Exam Name | National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test |
| Exam Frequency | Once a year |
| Exam Mode | Offline |
| Exam Duration | 3 hours |
| Accepting Colleges | 1558 colleges |
| Official Website | https://ntaneet.nic.in/Ntaneet/Welcome.aspx |
NEET 2021 Some Facts and Figures
- 15,97,433 candidates registered for NEET 2020
- 13,66,945 candidates appeared for the examination in 2020
- 15,19,375 candidates registered for NTA NEET in 2019
- 14,10,755 candidates appeared for the examination in 2019
NEET 2021 Important dates and events
| Events | Dates* | Salient Features |
|---|---|---|
| NEET 2021 Information brochure and application forms | Second week of January 2020 | Information brochure and application forms will be released at ntaneet.nic.inThe application form has to be filled online (offline applications may be available for residents of Kashmir valley, Leh and Kargil) |
| Deadline to submit the application form | Second week of February 2021 | NEET 2020 applications have to be submitted online onlyApplications sent by post will not be accepted |
| Correction window for the application form | Last week of January 2021 | It is a onetime facility onlyCandidates are advised to save the correction slip of NEET 2020 application for future use |
| Admit card available for download | Last week of April 2021 | Can be downloaded by logging into the registered accountsWill not be sent by post to any candidate |
| Exam date | Third week of June | NEET 2020 will be conducted in an offline modeDuration of the examination will be three hours and the test will consist of 180 objective type questions |
| Provisional answer key | Last week of June 2021 | Will be released onlineCandidates can challenge this answer key provided if they have sufficient evidence to support the claim |
| Result will be announced | First week of July 2021 | Has to be downloaded from ntaneet.nic.inNEET 2020 scorecards can also be downloaded online by logging into the registered accounts |
*Tentative dates, subject to change.
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2021
The National Testing Agency has prescribed the NEET 2021 eligibility criteria. All those who wish to apply for the entrance test are advised to check if they fit into the criteria specified by NTA. Candidates who fulfil the following parameters are eligible for NEET 2021:
Nationality:
- Indian Nationals,
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
- Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
- Persons with Indian Origin (PIO)
- Foreign Nationals
Age Limit:
- The minimum age of a candidate as on December 31, 2021, should be 17 years
- The rule specifying the maximum age limit of the candidate was challenged last year in the court of law. Thus, there is no upper age limit as of now and candidates older than 25 years of age applying for NEET 2021 will be provisionally admitted subject to the ruling of the High Court of Delhi.
Minimum qualification:
- Candidate must have cleared Class 12 or equivalent from a recognised institute
- Candidates who are appearing for Class 12 or equivalent in summer 2021 can also apply for NEET 2021
- Candidates who have completed Class 12 or equivalent from an open school are also eligible
Mandatory subjects:
- Candidate must have cleared Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry and Biology
- Candidates who have passed Class 12 or equivalent with Biology as an additional subject are also eligible
Minimum marks required in the qualifying examination:
- General category: 50 percent
- PWD category: 45 percent
- SC/ST/OBC: 40 percent
NEET 2021 Admission Process
The admission process for NEET 2021 begins with the filling of the online application form and ends with reporting to the allocated institute for confirmation of the admission. All the steps in between are a part of the NEET 2021 admission process. In the illustration given above, we have listed everything that needs to be checked for admissions through NEET 2021. The upcoming events of the NTA NEET 2021 admission process has been described in detail below.
NEET 2021 Application Process
NEET 2021 Application Form will be released in the second week of December. The application process will be online and candidates have to register themselves on the official website in order to fill the application.
For successful completion of the NEET 2020 application process, a candidate has to go through the four steps. To help understand the process better, the steps have been elaborated below.
- Visit the official website, ntaneet.nic.in and register for NEET 2021
- Fill all the mandatory fields in the online form, including the personal and academic details
- Upload the required documents such as scanned copies of photographs, signature, left-hand thumb impression and Class 10 Certificate
- To complete the process, pay the stipulated fee as mentioned below
- Take a printout of the confirmation page and preserve it for future reference
NEET 2021 application fee
The application fee had to be paid online. It could be paid using a credit card/ debit card/ net banking/ e-challan/ UPI.
| Category | Application Fee (in Rs) |
|---|---|
| General | 1,500 |
| Gen EWS/ OBC | 1,400 |
| SC/ ST/ PWD/ | 800 |
Common Service Centres (CSC) for NEET 2021
For candidates who do not have access to the internet or need help in downloading the NEET 2021 admit card, NTA has set up various facilitation centres across the country. These centres aim to help those who do not have access to high-speed internet, especially candidates residing in rural areas.
The CSCs charge a nominal fee for the services provided by them. Refer to the table below for the fee chart.
Fees charged by the CSCs
| Service | Fee (In Rs) |
|---|---|
| Writing emails and filling the application form | 25 |
| Online payment of the application fee | 0.5% of the application fee |
| Downloading the admit card/ answer key/ OMR sheet | 10 |
| Filing a response w.r.t the answer key | 25 |
| Printing charges (per page) | 5 |
If candidates want to avail the facilities of a CSC, they will have to locate the nearest CSC. Visit the CSC on a working day between 9.30 am to 6 pm. They must carry all the requisite documents to the CSC. To locate the nearest CSC, visit the official website, csc.gov.in or call 011-24301349/ 18001213468
NEET 2021 Correction Window
The correction window for NEET application form 2021 will be activated in the last week of January. Candidates can use this opportunity to make the desired changes to their NEET 2021 application forms. This facility will be provided by NTA for candidates who wish to make changes to the details filled in the application form of NEET 2021. Using the NTA NEET 2021 correction window, candidates can change any detail that they had filled during the application process.
NEET 2021 Admit Card
NTA will release the NEET admit card 2021 in the second week of April. According to the information brochure released by NTA, NEET admit card is released at least 15 days prior to the examination. The admit card of NEET 2021 will be available on the official website of NTA NEET. Candidates can download their NEET admit card 2021 by logging into their registered accounts. Details of the exam centre allotted to the candidate are given on the admit card of NEET 2021.
After downloading the admit card, take a coloured printout of the same. Paste a recent passport-sized photograph (preferably the same as the one uploaded with the application form) in the space provided. Also, the candidate must get it signed by a parent/guardian before the exam day.
NEET 2021 Result
NEET result 2021 will be announced in the first week of June. The result for NEET 2020 will be uploaded on the official website of NTA. Candidates will be able to check their result by logging into their registered accounts on the official website, ntaneet.nic.in. NTA will also release the NEET cut off marks for this year along with the result. Candidates must note that only those who score above the qualifying cut off will be eligible for admissions through NEET 2021. Refer to the table below to know the category-wise qualifying cut off pre-defined by the Medical Council of India.
| Category | Qualifying Cut Off |
|---|---|
| Unreserved category | 50th |
| Unreserved category PwD | 45th |
| Reserved category (including reserved category PwD) | 40th |
NEET 2021 Counselling
Counselling for NEET 2021 will begin from the last week of June. Candidates must note that the admission process through NEET 2021 will be carried out in the following phases:
- National-level counselling for admission to MBBS and BDS courses, which will be conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
- State-level counselling for admission to MBBS and BDS courses, which will be conducted by various representatives of the state governments
- AYUSH counselling which will be conducted for admission to BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, etc.
Candidates who wish to participate in the NEET 2021 counselling process are advised to keep themselves abreast the events of the respective counselling.
NEET 2021 Exam Centres
| State/UT | City |
|---|---|
| Andaman & Nicobar | Port Blair |
| Andhra Pradesh | Vijayawada, Visakhapatnam |
| Arunachal Pradesh | Itanagar |
| Assam | Dibrugarh, Guwahati |
| Bihar | Gaya, Patna |
| Chandigarh | Chandigarh |
| Chhattisgarh | Raipur |
| Dadra & Nagar Haveli | Dadra & Nagar Haveli |
| Daman & Diu | Daman |
| Delhi | Delhi (Central/ East/ North/ South/ West) |
| Goa | Panaji |
| Gujarat | Ahmedabad, Rajkot, Surat, Vadodara |
| Haryana | Faridabad, Gurgaon |
| Himachal Pradesh | Hamirpur, Shimla |
| Jammu & Kashmir | Jammu, Srinagar |
| Jharkhand | Bokaro, Ranchi |
| Karnataka | Bangalore, Belgaum, Gulbarga, Mangalore |
| Kerala | Ernakulam, Kozhikode, Trivandrum |
| Lakshadweep | Kavaratti |
| Madhya Pradesh | Bhopal, Gwalior, Indore, Jabalpur, Ujjain |
| Maharashtra | Aurangabad, Mumbai, Nagpur, Nasik, Pune, Thane |
| Manipur | Imphal |
| Meghalaya | Shillong |
| Mizoram | Aizawl |
| Nagaland | Dimapur, Kohima |
| Odisha | Behrampur, Bhubaneshwar, Rourkela |
| Puducherry | Puducherry |
| Punjab | Bhatinda, Jalandhar |
| Rajasthan | Ajmer, Jaipur, Kota, Udaipur |
| Sikkim | Gangtok |
| Tamil Nadu | Chennai, Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem, Tiruchirapalli |
| Telangana | Hyderabad, Warangal |
| Tripura | Agartala |
| Uttarakhand | Dehradun, Haldwani |
| Uttar Pradesh | Bareilly, Ghaziabad, Jhansi, Lucknow, Noida, Varanasi |
| West Bengal | Durgapur, Kolkata, Siliguri |
NEET 2021 Syllabus
The syllabus of NEET 2021 was set by the NTA. It mainly comprises three subjects, namely Physics, Chemistry and Biology. NEET 2021 syllabus overlaps with the CBSE Class 11 and Class 12. However, a few topics that have been included in NEET syllabus, which are not taught in these classes. Candidates are advised to go through the syllabus of NEET 2021 before they start preparing for the entrance test. Aspirants of NEET 2021 must also note that the syllabus for the current session has not changed. The authorities are considering a reduction in the syllabus of NEET, but there is no official confirmation from the authorities regarding this.
NEET Preparation 2021
NEET 2021 is expected to be held on May 2. Candidates preparing for NEET 2021 must make the most of the remaining time. They must focus on completing their preparation before the exam date. Candidates preparing for NEET 2021 must go through the entire syllabus first. To complete the topics in the NEET 2021 syllabus, they must refer to NCERT books. Candidates must prepare a time table for NEET preparation. This is a must for completing the preparation on time. Another important aspect of NEET 2021 preparation is solving mock tests and sample papers.
NEET 2021 Dress Code
Due to a large number of test-takers, the NTA follows strict policies to maintain the discipline and fairness of NEET. Among the important policies is the dress code for NEET 2021. NTA has prescribed a dress code for the examination day along with a list of items that are barred in the examination hall. Below are a few important pointers about the dress code for NEET 2021:
- Light clothes with half sleeves, long sleeves are not permitted
- Ornaments, piercings, etc. are not permitted
- Candidates wearing a customary dress should report to the examination centre at least an hour before the last reporting time
- Slippers, sandals with low heels are permitted. Shoes are not permitted
Owing to the COVID-19 situation in India, NTA is expected to announce a new set of rules for NEET 2021. Masks and sanitisers will become an important part of NEET 2021 dress code. Updates regarding the dress code for NEET 2021 are awaited.
NEET 2021 Exam Day Guidelines
Exam day guidelines for NEET 2021 aim to help the candidates appearing for the examination have a hassle-free day and keep them stress-free and calm on the D-Day. This year, some additional exam day guidelines will be issued by NTA for NEET. These guidelines will be released in view of the exam being conducted during a pandemic. Meanwhile, candidates can refer to the general guidelines for NEET 2021 exam day that are given below.
What to carry on the exam day?
- NEET 2021 admit card
- Two passport size photographs (preferably same as the one submitted with the application form)
- A valid photo Id proof (Driving Licence, PAN Card, Passport/ Aadhaar card)
- PWD Certificate (if applicable)
What not to carry?
- Stationery items such as textual material (printed or written), bits of papers, Geometry/Pencil Box, Plastic Pouch, Calculator, Pen, Scale, Writing Pad, Pen Drives, Eraser, Calculator, Log Table, Electronic Pen/Scanner, etc.
- Communication devices such as Mobile Phone, Bluetooth, Earphones, Microphone, Pager, Health Band, etc.
- Other items such as Wallet, Goggles, Handbags, Belt, Cap Watch/Wrist Watch, Bracelet, Camera, etc.
- Any eatable item opened or packed, water bottle, tea, coffee, cold drinks, etc.
- Any other item which could be used for unfair means, by hiding communication devices, such as a microchip, camera, Bluetooth device, etc.
- Candidates suffering from diabetes are allowed to carry eatables (with prior intimation), such as sugar tablets/fruits (like banana/apple/orange) and transparent water bottle. However, they will not be allowed to carry packed foods such as chocolate, candy, sandwich and others.
NEET Question Paper Analysis
The exam analysis of NEET question paper 2020 will help the candidates get an idea of the difficulty level of the examination. With the help of this analysis, they can prepare well for the examination.
NEET 2020 was of moderate difficulty level. Most students felt that Physics was difficult, Chemistry was moderate and Biology was easiest. Candidates could complete the examination within stipulated time, although many felt that Physics was quite lengthy.
NEET question paper 2020 Physics sections
The Physics section of NEET 2020 was the most difficult section. It comprised 45 questions and was dominated by questions from Electricity, Modern Physics and Mechanics together comprised 65 per cent of the Physics section.
NEET question paper 2020 Chemistry section
This section of the NEET question paper 2020 was dominated by NCERT based questions. The 45 questions that comprised this section had more theoretical questions, also, 31 per cent of the total number of questions asked were easy and candidates could score well in this section.
NEET question paper 2020 Biology section
The biology section was the easiest section in the question paper of NEET 2020. This section comprised of 90 questions, which can be segregated into questions from Botany and Zoology.
NEET 2020 question paper: Zoology section
The Zoology section of NEET 2020 was easy to moderate. Nearly 30 per cent of the questions can be considered difficult. This section was mainly dominated by questions from Animal Husbandry, Biotechnology, Human Reproduction and Biomolecules.
NEET 2020 question paper: Botany section
The Botany section of NEET 2020 was moderate to dificult. Nearly 30 per cent of the questions can be considered easy. This section was mainly dominated by questions from Genetics, cell and cell cycle, diversity of life and structural organisation of plants.
NEET 2021: Frequently asked questions
Q. Can compartment students apply for NEET 2021?
A. Yes, compartment students apply for NEET 2021 provided they score the required percentage of marks in the compartment examinations.
Q. What is the percentage required in Class 12 for NEET 2021?
A. General category candidates must score 50% or above in the PCB section in Class 12 to be eligible for NEET 2021.
Q. When will NEET 2021 be conducted?
A. NEET 2021 is expected to be held on May 2.
Q. When will NTA release the admit card for NEET 2021?
A. NEET 2021 admit card will be released in the second week of April. Candidates can download it by logging into their accounts.
Q. Is NEET 2021 exam online or offline?
A. NEET 2021 will be conducted in offline mode. The candidate have to mark the answers in an OMR sheet.
Q. Will NEET 2021 be conducted twice a year?
A. The National Testing Agency has received a lot of requests from NEET aspirants to conduct the examination twice a year. However, this change will not be implemented this year. Thus, NEET 2021 will be held only once.
Q. How many times can I appear for NEET 2021?
A. According to the notification released by NTA, a candidate can appear for NEET any number of times. There is no restriction on the number of attempts permitted.
Q. What is the minimum score required in NEET 2021 to get a seat in a government medical college?
A. For admission to a government medical college, one must secure at least 600 marks in NEET 2021.
Q. What will be the timings for NEET 2021 exam?
A. NEET 2021 will be a three-hour-long paper and the exam will be held from 2 pm to 5 pm.
Q. What are the regional language options available for NEET 2021?
A. NEET 2021 question paper will be available in eleven languages, however, the language has to be filled during the registration process. Apart from Hindi and English, candidate can choose from Tamil, Urdu, Marathi, Bengali, Gujrati, Oriya, Assamese, Kannada and Telugu.
Q. How to apply for NEET 2021 if I don’t have access to the internet?
A. Candidates who do not have access to the internet or computer can avail of the facility of Common Services Centre (CSC). These centres will help in filling the application form, paying the application fee and downloading the admit card.
Q. Who conducts NEET?
A. The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting NEET. Up to 2018, NEET was conducted by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), however, NTA was handed over this responsibility in the year 2019.
Q. Is there any change in the exam pattern of NEET 2021?
A. No, the exam pattern for NEET 2021 remains the same. NTA has received requests to change the frequency and mode of the examination, but the planning is in the initial stages. These changes can be implemented from the academic session 2021-22.
Q. What is the maximum number of attempts permitted for NEET?
A. There is no restriction on the number of attempts permitted for NEET. According to NTA, a candidate can appear for NTA as many times as he/she needs to qualify the examination.
Q. I took a break of two years after Class 12. Can I apply for NEET?
A. Yes, you can apply for NEET provided you have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. To apply for NEET, you must also have cleared these subjects individually.
Q. If I opt for Tamil as the medium of the question paper, can I choose Mumbai as the test city?
A. According to the guidelines set by NTA, Tamil language question paper will only be available in the test cities in Tamil Nadu. Hence, if you want to choose Tamil as the medium of the question paper, you will have to opt for a test city in Tamil Nadu state only.
Q. What is the price of a NEET form?
A. The application fee for NEET 2021 will be Rs 1,500 for General category candidates and Rs 1,400 for all the candidates who belong to the General EWS or OBC category. For candidates who belong to the SC/ST/ PWD category, the application fee is Rs 750.
Q. What is the NEET 2021 result date?
A. The result for NEET 2021 will be announced in the first week of June.
Q. How to download the scorecard of NEET 2021?
A. Candidates have to login to their registered accounts on the official website of NTA to download their score card.
Q. Was NEET 2020 difficult?
A. According to NEET 2020 analysis by many coaching institutes, the exam was of a moderate difficulty level.
