NEET 2024 eligibility criteria has been prescribed by NMC for candidates who wish to apply for the entrance test. Candidates must check the NEET eligibility criteria and ensure that they fulfil the criteria prior to filling the application form. Know the age limit, qualification, and marks required to appear for NEET 2024 here.
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2024 – The eligibility criteria for NEET UG are crucial for each aspirant to be able to appear for the highly competitive medical entrance exam. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has revised the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria. As per this, candidates who have studied, or studying Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English as additional subjects are also eligible to appear for NEET 2024.
Till last year, only those students, who studied these subjects as core subjects were permitted to appear for the exam. NMC has revised the NEET UG 2024 eligibility as a response to the Court orders. As per the official notice released by NMC, the eligibility criteria of NEET 2024 is stated as, “Candidates who have passed 10+2 or its equivalent with the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology & English shall be eligible for appearing in NEET-UG.”
The revised decision will also apply to candidates whose previous applications for the Eligibility Certificate were rejected based on the criteria outlined in this public notice. Moreover, candidates becoming eligible after this notice’s publication date will be allowed to appear in NEET-UG-2024. Clarifying the same, NMC has stated, “The present decision shall be applicable retrospectively also on candidates whose applications for grant of Eligibility Certificate have been rejected on the grounds contemplated in the present public notice. However, for the purpose of appearing in NEET-UG, candidates who become eligible after the date of the present public notice, shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG-2024.”
Read the complete article to know more about the eligibility for NEET UG 2024.
Basic NEET UG 2024 Eligibility Criteria
Below are the basic or primary eligibility criteria for NEET UG 2024.
- According to the NEET age criteria, candidates must have attained the age of 17 years at the time of admission or will attain the same by December 31, 2024. Accordingly, the minimum date of birth of candidates should be December 31, 2007. There is no upper age limit for NEET.
- Indian nationals/ Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) who wish to pursue MBBS/ BDS from a foreign university also have to qualify for NEET 2024.
NEET UG 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit
In an official announcement made by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on March 9, it was stated that the upper age limit for NEET candidates has been removed. Earlier, the age criteria for General and reserved category candidates was 25 years and 30 years respectively. This eligibility criteria factor was included in the NEET 2022 exam and will be maintained for NEET 2024 age limit as well.
Over 20 lakh candidates registered for the NEET 2023 exam and the removal of the NEET exam age limit was one of the factors for this high number of applicants. This was the highest in the past five years. It is expected that the number of applicants and test takers will be higher in NEET 2024.
Also Read: NEET 2022 Upper Age Limit Scrapped by NMC
NEET UG 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Qualifying Marks
Below are the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria with respect to the educational background or marks obtained in the qualifying exam.
- Candidates must have passed Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English subjects individually in the qualifying examination.
- Candidates must have studied this subject as core or additional subjects.
- Candidates belonging to the General category must have scored a minimum of 50 per cent in the qualifying examination.
- Candidates belonging to Scheduled Caste/ Scheduled Tribes/ Other Backward should have a minimum score of 40 per cent in the qualifying examination.
- Candidates who belong to the General category and are applying under the Persons with Disability (PWD) Quota, must have a minimum score of 45 per cent marks in the qualifying examination.
NEET UG 2024 Eligibility Criteria: Minimum Qualifying Marks
The following table brings the minimum aggregate required in the qualifying exam or as per the evaluation criteria:
| Category | Minimum aggregate in the qualifying examination (PCB) |
|---|---|
| General | 50 per cent |
| General – PWD | 45 per cent |
| SC/ ST/ OBC/ Reserved-PWD | 40 per cent |
How Many Attempts for NEET?
The maximum number of attempts for the NEET has not been directed by the NTA. Thus, allowing a candidate to appear for NEET as many times as they want to.
Also Read:
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2024 for Candidates Belonging to the UT of J&K/ Ladakh
Candidates belonging to the UT of J&K/ Ladakh are not eligible to apply for the 15 per cent All India Quota seats and can only apply for the seats of Deemed Universities, ESIC, and AFMC.
NEET 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Candidates Applying for State/ Deemed/ Central/ ESIC/ AFMC Seats
The following criteria are related to the seat categories:
- Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCIs and PIOs are eligible to apply for these seats
- Foreign nationals should confirm their eligibility before applying for NEET 2024
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2024 for Candidates Applying for 15 per cent All India Quota (AIQ) Seats
Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs and foreign nationals are eligible to apply for these seats.
The following table brings the new NEET reservation criteria for OBC, EWS, SC, ST and PwD categories under the 15 per cent AIQ seats are as follows:
|
Categories |
Reservation Percentage |
|---|---|
| SC | 15 |
| ST | 7.5 |
| OBC | 27 |
| EWS | 10 |
| PwD | 5 |
On July 29, 2021, the Government of India made a landmark decision that from the academic year of 2021-22 onwards, there would be a 27 per cent OBC quota in NEET(Non-Creamy Layer) and a 10 per cent NEET reservation for EWS in 15 per cent Under Graduate (UG) All India Quota seats (MBBS/BDS) (contributed by the State/UTs to the Central Pool).
Also Read: NEET UG Reservation for OBC, EWS, SC, ST and General
NEET 2024 Eligibility Criteria for Central Universities
Delhi University (MAMC, LHMC, UCMS): Like all other universities, only 15 per cent seats of the colleges affiliated with Delhi University will be filled through NEET counselling. The remaining 85 per cent of seats will be filled via DU NEET counselling. Candidates who have passed Class 11 and Class 12 from an institute located in Delhi will be able to apply for these 85 per cent seats.
Faculty of Dentistry, Jamia Millia Islamia: The institute offers 50 BDS seats, out of which 47 seats will be filled through the MCC NEET counselling. The remaining three seats fall under the institutional quota and will be allotted to only those candidates who have passed Class 11 and Class 12 from JMI.
Aligarh Muslim University (AMU): The institute reserves 50 per cent of its seats for candidates who have studied at AMU for the past three years. Only such candidates will be able to apply for the institutional quota seats of AMU. The remaining 50 per cent will be filled through the MCC counselling of NEET.
Banaras Hindu University (BHU): All candidates who fulfil the basic eligibility criteria for NEET MCC counselling can apply for the seats at BHU. There is no special requirement for applying to this institute.
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2024: Qualifying Examination Codes
The following table brings the code-wise description of the candidate category.
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| Code 01 |
|
| Code 02 |
|
| Code 03 | The candidate has completed the Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.
(or) The candidate has completed the qualifying examination equivalent to Class 12 completed from a state board. |
| Code 04 |
|
| Code 05 | The candidate is enrolled in a three-year degree course in English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology and has cleared the first year including practical tests. |
| Code 06 | |
| Code 07 | The candidate has passed an examination that is equivalent to the Intermediate Science Examination with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology.
or The candidate has completed the qualifying examination from a foreign University |
NEET 2024 application forms are expected to be released in the fourth week of January. The exam will be held on May 5. Before applying for NEET UG 2024, candidates must ensure that they fulfil the NEET 2024 eligibility criteria, otherwise, their candidature will be cancelled. The National Testing Agency (NTA) will update the revised NEET UG 2024 eligibility criteria in the information brochure along with the application form.
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is an entrance test conducted for admission to various medical and allied courses, including MBBS, BDS and AYUSH. Thus, the eligibility criteria of NEET 2024 refer to a basic minimum qualification for a candidate to apply for the said courses. NTA had removed the upper age limit clause from NEET 2021 eligibility criteria thus enabling aspirants older than 25 years to apply for it. All those who wish to apply for this national entrance test are advised to check their eligibility before filling out the NEET application form 2024. Candidates who do not fulfil the NEET eligibility criteria, if found ineligible, may have to face severe consequences such as the cancellation of their admission.
Read More:
- NEET 2024 Preparation Tips, Syllabus and Best Books
- Are NCERT books enough for cracking NEET 2024?
- NEET 2024: Importance of solving the previous years’ question papers/ mock tests
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2024: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q: When will the NEET 2024 application process begin?
A: The NEET 2024 application forms are expected to be released by NTA in the fourth week of January 2024. The last date to apply will be tentatively scheduled in the first week of April, a month after the commencement of the application process.
Q. I am 27 years old, can I apply for NEET 2024?
A. NEET upper age limit has been scrapped by NMC on March 9, 2022. Hence, you can apply for the exam.
Q. Can NIOS students apply for NEET 2024?
A. Yes, NIOS students are eligible to apply for NEET 2024.
Q. Is it important to score good marks in Class 12 marks for NEET 2024?
A. As per NEET eligibility criteria, General category candidates had to score 50 per cent or above in the PCB section in Class 12.
Q. I had Biotechnology in Class 11 and Class 12. Can I appear for NEET?
A. Yes, candidates with Biotechnology in Class 11 and Class 12 as core or additional subjects are eligible for NEET UG 2024.
Q. Is there any attempt limit for NEET?
A. No, there is no attempt limit specified by NTA for NEET.
Q. I want to go abroad for an MBBS degree. Do I still need to clear NEET?
A. Yes, NEET is mandatory for candidates who wish to pursue MBBS from a country other than India. In such cases, the validity of the NEET result will be three years from the date of its announcement.
Q. I have done BSc Nursing. Am I eligible for NEET?
A. Yes, you are eligible for NEET. You will have to choose ‘Code 06’ while filling the application form for NEET 2024.
Q. I am an Indian citizen but I have completed my formal education in UAE. Can I apply for NEET UG 2024?
A. You can apply for NEET if you have passed the qualifying examination with PCB and English. You will have to choose ‘Code 07’ while filling the application form.
Q. I am 16 years old, but I have passed Class 12. Can I apply for NEET?
A. No, you are not eligible for NEET UG 2024. The minimum age of the applicants, as of December 31 of the academic year, should be 17 years.
Q. I am domiciled in Jammu and Kashmir. Can I apply for NEET?
A. Yes, you can apply for NEET. However, the candidates belonging to J&K, and Ladakh will not be eligible for the 15 per cent AIQ seats.
Q. I am an OBC category student and have scored 38 per cent in Class 12. Am I eligible for NEET?
A. No, you are not eligible for NEET. The minimum qualifying percentage for OBC category candidates is 45. In case NTA revises the qualifying percentage based on the new evaluation scheme, it would be updated here on this page.
Q. Can Arts students give NEET?
A. No, Arts students or candidates who have pursued Humanities background will not be considered eligible to appear for NEET. Since the primary subjects tested in NEET are Physics, Chemistry and Biology, candidates must have sufficient knowledge and have covered the syllabus of Science for Class 11 and Class 12. However, based on the revised eligibility criteria, if an Arts student has studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology as additional subjects, will be considered eligible for NEET.
Q. Can non-Bio students appear for NEET?
A. Students planning to appear for NEET must study Biology, either as a core subject, or as an additional subject in Class 11 and Class 12. Hence, if a student has not studied Biology at all in his/her senior secondary education, he/she will not be eligible to appear for NEET 2024. As Biology carries the highest weightage in the NEET exam, it will be futile to attempt for non-Bio students. They should instead focus on a relevant course or entrance exam for their higher education.
