NEET 2023 Eligibility Criteria – Check Eligibility Conditions, Attempts, Age Limit

NEET UG Eligibility criteria is prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Candidates appearing for NEET UG exam must read all the eligibility conditions before filling the NEET 2023 application form.

NEET UG exam is conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBBS, BDS, Ayush & nursing courses. Candidates aspiring to get admission in the top tier medical colleges must apply for the NEET exam.

NEET Eligibility Criteria

It is important for all the candidate to fulfill the NEET eligibility criteria set by the NMC. The basic eligibility conditions for appearing in the NEET 2023 exam are given below:

NEET Age Limit/Age Criteria

The candidate must have completed 17 years of age at the time of taking admission or the candidate must complete that age on or before 31 December of the year of taking admission to the first year of the Undergraduate Medical Course.

There is no upper age limit to apply for NEET exam. Earlier the NEET age limit for unreserved category candidates was 25 years and 30 years for reserved category candidates.

Nationality

Candidate appearing for the exam must be the citizen of India.

Candidates who are NRIs (Non-Resident Indians), OCIs (Overseas Citizen of India), PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin) & Foreign Nationals can also apply NEET exam.

Candidates seeking for admission in UG medical courses in foreign medical institutions are also required to qualify NEET exam.

Qualification Criteria

Qualifying Exam: Candidates must have passed or appearing in the higher/senior secondary examination or its equivalent after a period of 12 years of study.

Mandatory Subjects: Candidates must have passed the above qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology along with English as the mandatory subject.

Minimum Qualifying Marks: Candidates must have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% marks (GEN & GEN-EWS), 45% marks (GEN PH) & 40% marks (SC, ST & OBC-NCL) in PCB subjects.

Appearing Candidates: Candidates who are appearing in 12th standard (10+2) are also eligible to apply. The candidates must have to show the passing certificates complying with the percentage criteria at the time of first round of counselling.

Eligibility Set by State or Institutes

In addition to the above eligibilities, the candidates have to meet the qualification marks eligibility set by states or institutes for admission to their undergraduate medical courses.

The candidates seeking for admission to medical courses in AFMC, AIIMS, JIPMER must fulfill the specific eligibility conditions set by these institutions for admission to their undergraduate programmes.

NEET Eligibility – Attempt Limit

Candidates should start their NEET Preparation as early as possible so that they can crack the exam in their first attempt but if in case candidate fail to qualify then they need not worry as their is no attempt restriction in the NEET exam.

With the changes made in the NEET eligibility criteria in the year 2018, the restrictions on the number of attempts for NEET UG exam was removed by the regulatory body.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has removed the upper age limit in the NEET Exam. Candidates can appear in the NEET exam any number of times.

NEET Eligibility – Qualifications & Qualifying Examination Codes

Candidates appearing for the NEET exam, must be aware about the NEET qualifying codes & examination criteria:

Code 01

The candidates who are appearing for class 12th or 10+2 this year, and who’s result are yet to be announced. they can apply using this code. The candidates have to make sure that they must pass the qualifying exam (10+2) with the required pass percentage at the time of first round of Counselling.

Candidates who have appeared or are appearing at the qualifying Examination must have English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the main subjects.

Code 02

This code is applicable to those candidates who have passed the Higher/Senior Secondary Examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination which is equivalent to class 12 Higher/Senior Secondary Examination after a period of 12 years of study. The candidates must note that the last two years of such study comprising of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Bio-technology (which shall include practical tests in these subjects) and Mathematics or any other elective subject with English as the compulsary subject.

In simple words candidates who have passed their qualifying exam or class 12th with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English have to choose this code.

Code 03

The candidates who have completed their qualifying examination from the state board should choose this code. According to this candidates must have completed the Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in Science of an Indian University/Board or other recognized examining body with Physics, Chemistry, Biology /Biotechnology (including practical test in these subjects) and also English as a compulsory subject.

Code 04

This code is applicable to the candidates who have passed their pre-professional/Pre-medical Examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English after passing either the Higher Secondary Examination or the Pre-University or an equivalent examination. The Pre- professional/Pre-medical examination shall include practical tests in these subjects and also English as a compulsory subject.

Code 05

The candidates who are pursuing any UG degree course and are in the first year of the three years’ degree course of a recognized University. The 3 year degree course must include Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology including practical tests in these subjects provided the examination is a University Examination and the candidate has passed the earlier qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology with English at a level not less than a core course.

Code 06

The candidates who have passed the B.Sc. Examination of an Indian University with not less than two of the subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Biotechnology and further that he/ she has passed the earlier qualifying examination (10+2) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English.

Code 07

This code is applicable to those candidates who have completed any other examination which in scope and standard (in which the last 02 years of 10+2 Study comprising of Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology; including practical test in these subjects) is found to be equivalent to the Intermediate Science Examination of an Indian University/Board, taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology including practical tests in each of these subjects and English.

NEET Eligibility for Nursing Admission

Many top nursing institutions accept NEET scores for admission to their B.Sc nursing programmes. Aspirants can check NEET eligibility criteria for admission to nursing courses:

• The candidates appearing for the exam, must have completed 17 years of age as on 31st December of the year of admission.
• The aspirants must have passed Class 12 or equivalent with physics, chemistry, biology and English as mandatory subjects.
• Candidates must have secured a minimum aggregate of 50% marks (GEN & GEN-EWS), 45% marks (GEN PH) & 40% marks for reserved category candidates.

NEET Eligibility Criteria – 15% All India Quota Seats

The candidates who qualifies the NEET exam, will be eligible for admission in the 15% all India quota seats, 100% seats in Deemed Universities & central institutions including AIIMS, JIPMER, DU, BHU etc. The admission to these institution will be carried out through a centralised counselling conducted by MCC/DGHS.

On the basis of All Indian Rank, candidates will be eligible for admission in AIIMS / JIPMER / Central Universities [(including Medical Colleges under DU and Guru Govind Singh Indraprastha University (GGSIPU), BHU Medical College, AMU Medical College], ESIC Medical Colleges, AFMC and Deemed Universities. The counselling for admission to MBBS / BDS courses in these institutions will be conducted by DGHS.

Apart from the All India rank, candidates have to meet the specific eligibility criteria set by these institutions for admission to their MBBS, BDS programme.

From the academic year 2022-23, the students of UT of Ladakh shall be eligible for admission to 15% of All India Quota seats.

The candidates of UT of J&K are not eligible for 15% All India Quota seats. Instead they can apply for 85% state quota seats for which counselling is conducted by J&K Board of Professional Entrance Examinations (JKBPEE) for admission to MBBS/ BDS Courses in the Medical Colleges in J&K.

If NEET qualified candidates of UT of J&K wishes to apply for 15% AIQ, then they have to fill a self-declaration form. The self-declaration form denotes that the candidate wishes to participate in the 15% All India Quota seats and will discard the 85% state quota seats belonging to UT of J&K.

NEET Eligibility Criteria – 85% State Quota Seats

The counselling for admission to the 85% seats under the control of State Governments/ UT Administrations / State Universities/ Institutions shall be conducted by the designated authorities of the State Governments as per the notifications issued separately by the authorities concerned.

Candidates applying for 85% state quota seats must have to fulfill the NEET eligibility criteria as laid down by the state medical authorities for admission to UG medical programmes in medical colleges of the state’s/UT’s.

Candidates will have to complete the counselling registration for admission to the 85% state quota seats. The NEET counselling registration form will be invited by the state medical body after the declaration of NEET result. Candidates who are resident or domicile holder of that state will be eligible for admission to the 85% state quota seats for admission to the government & private colleges.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ’s)

If you have any other queries regarding NEET 2023 eligibility criteria, you can drop your comments below.