National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG) or NEET as it is referred to, is a qualifying cum entrance examination that replaces All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT). It is an entrance examination for students who wish to study undergraduate medical courses (MBBS) and dental courses (BDS) in government or private medical colleges and dental colleges in India.
Prior to 2019, the test was administered by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) in partnership with Prometric Testing Pvt Ltd headquartered in the USA. It replaced the AIPMT and all individual MBBS exams conducted by colleges or states themselves in 2013, though many institutions took a stay order to conduct private examinations for admission to their MBBS and BDS courses.
The undergraduate NEET, for MBBS and BDS courses, is currently conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), which provides the results to the Directorate General of Health Services at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. NEET-UG is a single entrance test for admissions to more than 66,000 MBBS and BDS seats across India.
Undergraduate courses at the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi and Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER) are outside the NEET's purview, as these institutes were set up by separate laws.
EXAMINATION RULES:
NEET (UG)-2019 is an offline pen and paper test, and it will be a single-stage exam. The test papers for NEET will have questions from Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology and contain 45 questions from each of the sections. Candidates can only use blue/black ballpoint pen when attempting the paper.
When a correct answer is given the candidate will get 4 marks, if it is incorrect, 1 mark will be deducted. If a candidate does not attempt a question, no marks will be deducted. The NEET test will be of three hours duration from 10.00 a.m. to 1.00 p.m.
AGE LIMIT:
A candidate has to have completed 17-years of age at the time of admission or will complete before December 31 of the year of his/her admission to the first year MBBS/BDS Course. The upper age limit for a candidate seeking admission under 15 per cent All India Quota seats in Government Medical Colleges through NEET is 25 years as on December 31 of the year of the entrance examination.
The upper age limit is relaxed by 5 years for candidates of Scheduled Castes/Scheduled Tribes/Other Backward Classes, and there is no upper age limit for candidates appearing in the NEET for State Quota seats. But admission shall be subject to the prevailing norms in each State/UT. There is no limit on the number of times a candidate can appear for the test.
APPLICATION FEES:
Three categories have been cited under which the payment can be made online or offline. In the General and OBC category, without a quota, the amount has been listed as Rs 1400 for males. Under the SC/ST category, the fee for transgender, female, male without quota has been listed as Rs 750. The same amount of Rs 750 has been listed for transgender, female, male under the General, ST, SC, OBC with PWD quota. The application form for NEET-UG can be submitted only online through website www.cbseneet.nic.in.
OTHER INFORMATION:
Question papers for NEET will be based on a common syllabus notified by the MCI which is available on its website www.mciindia.org, and for all examination related queries, a candidate can visit the official website of NEET www.cbseneet.nic.in.
