The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a national-level medical entrance examination conducted in India for students seeking admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS), dental courses (BDS), and postgraduate medical courses (MD/MS) in government and private medical colleges across the country. The exam is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the Ministry of Education, Government of India.
History
The concept of a common entrance test for medical colleges in India was first proposed in 2009 by the Medical Council of India (MCI). However, it was only in 2013 that the NEET was introduced for the first time. The exam faced several legal challenges and was eventually suspended in 2014. In 2016, the Supreme Court of India passed a judgment making NEET mandatory for all medical and dental college admissions in the country.
Eligibility Criteria
To be eligible to appear for NEET, a candidate must:
- Be an Indian citizen or a Person of Indian Origin (PIO)
- Have completed 17 years of age as on 31st December of the year of admission
- Have passed the 10+2 examination or its equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects
- Have obtained a minimum of 50% marks (40% for SC/ST/OBC
Exam Pattern and Syllabus
NEET is a pen-and-paper based test conducted in a single session. The exam consists of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology). Each correct answer is awarded 4 marks, while 1 mark is deducted for each incorrect answer. The syllabus for NEET is based on the 10+2 curriculum of the CBSE, NCERT, and other state boards.