NEET eligibility criteria 2022 will be prescribed by NTA for the candidates who wish to apply for the entrance test. Know the age limit, qualification, and marks required to appear for NEET 2022 here
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2022 – Before applying for NEET UG 2022, candidates must have ensured that they fulfil the NEET 2022 eligibility criteria, otherwise, their candidature will be cancelled. NEET eligibility criteria are prescribed by the National Testing Agency in accordance with the Indian Medical Council Act-1956 and the Dentists Act-1948 as amended in 2018. Although this year’s information bulletin, which would carry the NEET 2022 eligibility criteria is yet to be released by NTA, it is expected that the criteria would remain the same as that of last year.
In an official announcement made by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on March 9, it was stated that the upper age limit for candidates has been removed. Earlier, the age limit for General and reserved category candidates was 25 years and 30 years respectively. NEET 2022 notification and application forms were released on April 6 and the exam is scheduled to be held on July 17. Approximately 16 lakh candidates are expected to register for the exam.
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 2022 set up 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 the NEET application form 2022. Candidates who do not take the NEET eligibility criteria seriously, if found ineligible, may have to face severe consequences such as the cancellation of their admission.
Candidates must, however, note that the decision for removing the cap on the upper age limit of NEET aspirants is still pending in the Supreme Court of India. Candidates older than 25 years of age must fill the application form of NEET 2022 at their own risk, taking into consideration the fact that the verdict of the apex court will determine their eligibility.
Read the complete article to know more about the eligibility for NEET 2022.
Basic NEET Eligibility Criteria 2022
Below mentioned are the basic or primary eligibility criteria for NEET UG 2022.
- Candidates must have attained the age of 17 years at the time of admission or will attain the same by December 31, 2022. Accordingly, the minimum date of birth of candidates should be December 31, 2005.
- Indian nationals/ Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs) who wish to pursue MBBS/ BDS from a foreign university also have to qualify for NEET 2022.
Eligibility criteria of NEET 2022: Qualifying Marks
Below mentioned are the NEET 2022 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 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.
Minimum Qualifying Marks as per NEET 2022 Eligibility Criteria
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 |
Note: The minimum aggregate is likely to be revised in the wake of the new evaluation scheme to be introduced by the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) since the Board exams of the major boards like CBSE and ICSE are cancelled.
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.
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2022 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 2022 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 2022
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2022 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 had made a landmark decision that from the academic year of 2021-22 onwards, there would be 27 per cent OBC quota in NEET(Non-Creamy Layer) and 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).
NEET 2022 Eligibility Criteria for Central Universities
Delhi University (MAMC, LHMC, UCMS): Like all other universities, only 15 per cent seats of the colleges affiliated with the Delhi University will be filled through NEET 2022 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 2022. The remaining three seats fall under the institutional quota and will be allotted to only those candidates who had 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 in 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 2022.
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 2022: Qualifying Examination Codes
The following table brings the code-wise description of the candidate category.
| Code | Description |
|---|---|
| Code 01 | The candidate is appearing in the qualifying examination or awaiting the result of the qualifying examination.He/ she has to submit the result of the qualifying examination in the first round of counselling. |
| Code 02 | The candidate has qualified Class 12 or equivalent in the year 2019 or before.He/ she has not pursued any other course after the completion of Class 12. |
| Code 03 | The candidate has completed 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 | The candidate has completed a Pre-professional/Pre-medical Examination. He/ she has also completed Higher Secondary Examination/ Pre-University/ equivalent examination with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology. |
| Code 05 | The candidate is enrolled in a three year degree course with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology and has cleared the first year including practical tests. |
| Code 06 | The candidate has a BSc degree from a recognized university with two or more of the following subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Biotechnology. He/ she must have passed Class 12 with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. |
| 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 Eligibility Criteria 2022: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. I am 27 years old, can I apply for NEET 2022?
A. NEET 2022 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 2022?
A. Yes, NIOS students are eligible to apply for NEET 2022.
Q. Is it important to score good marks in Class 12 marks for NEET 2022?
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 are eligible for NEET UG 2022.
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 2022.
Q. I am an Indian citizen but I have completed my formal education in UAE. Can I apply for NEET UG 2022?
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 2022. 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 Laddakh 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.
