NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 - Age Limit, Qualifying Marks, Number of Attempts, Qualification

Updated By Puja Dey on 13 Aug, 2024 18:47

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NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025

Eligibility Criteria for NEET 2024 exam is released by NTA at neet.ntaonline.in. Candidates must be at least 17 years old by the time of admission or before December 31st of the joining year. There is no upper age limit for NEET-UG applicants. Additionally, individuals must have completed the required subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. A minimum aggregate of 50% in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology is also mandatory.

The recent decision by the NMC regarding NEET eligibility criteria 2024 extends eligibility to non-biology students, particularly those with Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics, and Biology as an additional subject, expanding opportunities for PCM students. The NEET UG 2025 Exam is expected to be held on May 4, 2025.

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NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria Overview

NMC has updated NEET eligibility criteria 2025 for Mathematics students. Class 12 PCM students can now apply for NEET UG 2025 Exam if they have Biology as an additional subject. Take a look at NEET 2025 eligibility criteria to confirm eligibility.

Parameters

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025

Mode of Examination

Offline mode (Pen and Paper Based)

Exam Duration

3 Hours 20 minutes

Minimum Qualification

Class 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects. 
Minimum Qualification For Mathematics StudentsClass 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, and Physics as core subjects and Biology as an additional subject.

Nationality

Indian Nationals, OCIs, NRIs, PIOs & Foreign Nationals aspirants are deemed eligible to apply

NEET age limit 2025

Candidates should have completed 17 years as of December 31, 2025

NEET Maximum Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for students and anyone can apply for the medical entrance exam

Qualifying Exam for NEET 2025

  • Students need to pass 10+2 or equivalent with Chemistry, Physics, Biology/ Biotechnology, and English as main subjects from a recognized board.
  • Class 12 or equivalent appearing students are also eligible to apply for the NEET exam.

Maximum Number of Attempts for NTA NEET

No restrictions

NEET eligibility marks 2025

NEET class 12 eligibility marks are considered aggregate marks only for PCB subjects -

  • OBC/SC/ST - 40%,
  • UR - 50%,
  • PWD - 45%

Also Read: 

How to Get a Disability Certificate for NEET Registration 2025

How to Get a Category Certificate for NEET Registration 2025

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 - Age Limit (Upper and Lower)

The maximum and minimum age criteria for NEET 2025 is as follows:

  • Minimum Age Limit: The lower age limit for candidates aspiring for NEET 2025 should be 17 years as of December 31 of the admission year, i.e., 2025. For example, candidates appearing for NEET 2025 and are 16 years of age are eligible as he/she will complete 17 years by December 31, 2025. The admitted year is 2025. 

  • Maximum Age Limit: The upper age limit for candidates has been removed.  

According to the  NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025, the upper and lower age limit has been revised as follows -

Name of the Category

NEET Age Limit 2025

General (UnReserved) and General (EWS)

The candidate should be born on or before December 31, 2004

SC/ ST/ OBC-NCL/ PWD

The candidate should be born on or before December 31, 2004

 Detailed information regarding the revised NEET eligibility criteria has been provided in the NEET 2025 Information Bulletin

NEET UG 2025 Eligibility: Biology as Additional Subject Allowed After Class 12

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently announced a significant relaxation in the eligibility criteria for NEET UG (Undergraduate) 2025. The decision, conveyed through a public notice on November 23, 2023, allows students who have pursued physics, chemistry, biology, or biotechnology, along with English as an additional subject after passing Class 12 from recognized boards, to be eligible to appear in the NEET-UG test.

This move is in alignment with the National Education Policy (NEP), which advocates flexibility in the study of subjects in Class 12. Importantly, this decision applies retroactively, even to students whose applications were previously rejected due to the stringent criteria set by the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI). Check out NEET 2025 Preparation Tips here.

NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria Relaxation

Starting from 2025, students completing Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, or Biotechnology, along with English as an additional subject, are now eligible for the NEET UG 2025 exam. This change, made by the National Medical Commission, aligns with the National Education Policy's flexibility. Importantly, it applies retroactively, even to previously rejected applications due to regulations requiring uninterrupted study in specific subjects for two years after Class 12. This rectifies past rejections and addresses legal issues regarding NEET Eligibility criteria 2025 promptly.

Candidates must meet NEET 2025 eligibility criteria, including educational qualifications, age limits, and reservation criteria, ensuring a fair application process. Requirements include passing the 12th class with Chemistry, Biology, Physics, and English. General category candidates need 50% marks, while SC/ST/OBC candidates need 40%. Eligibility criteria for NRIs, OCIs, and PIOs have been recently revised. Go through the NEET 2025 Reservation Policylearn more details about the NEET eligibility.

NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria - Number of Attempts

In the significant amendment made in 2018, a notable change was introduced to the NEET eligibility criteria 2024. The restriction on the number of attempts for the NEET examination has been lifted. As per the revised criteria, candidates now have the flexibility to attempt the NEET 2024 examination as many times as they wish until they are deemed ineligible by the official authorities. 

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 for Foreign or NRI Applicants

Prospective candidates residing outside India must meet the NEET eligibility criteria 2025 tailored for Non-Resident Indian (NRI) students set by NEET authorities.

  • Academic Requirements: International aspirants must have completed Class XII with Chemistry, English, Physics, and Biotechnology/Biology, securing at least 50%. Equivalence of qualifications will be determined by the Association of Indian Universities.
  • OCI Eligibility: Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) are eligible for undergraduate Medical/Ayurveda/Dental/Unani/Homeopathy courses in India, following regulations set by relevant bodies and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare.
  • GCSE/IB/AP Curriculum: Candidates completing GCSE, IB, or Advanced Placement courses are eligible under NEET 2025 criteria.
  • Eligibility for Various Courses: Indian Nationals, OCI, NRIs, PIOs, and Foreign Nationals can seek admission to Dental/Medical/Siddha/Ayurveda/Unani/Homeopathy Colleges, subject to regulations by State Institutions and Governments. Foreign national aspirants can participate based on caste category/reservation.

To know about the complete process regarding application fee payment for NRI applicants, check out NEET 2025 Application Fee and Payment Methods!

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 - Qualifying Codes

During the NEET application form-filling process, candidates are required to choose the NEET 2025 qualifying code in accordance with the NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025. In these instances, aspirants must stay informed about all the NEET qualification codes for the year 2025. Interested individuals can consult the table below for further details.

Qualifying Code

Details of Qualifying Examination Codes for NEET exam 2025

Code 01

Aspirants who are appearing for their Class 12 board exam and are waiting for the board’s result need to choose code 1. However, before the time of admission, such students must qualify their class 12 exams in order to be deemed eligible for admission.

Code 02

Candidates studying from the senior/ higher secondary examination or Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE), equivalent to the Class 12 examination, and comes after a period of 12 years of study need to mandatorily choose code 2. Based on the National Council of Education Research and Training (NCERT), students should have studied science subjects namely Chemistry, Physics, Biology/Biotechnology, and Mathematics or any other relevant elective subjects with English as a core subject in their last 2 years. Candidates who have qualified the Class 12 exams in the year 2020 or before and have not pursued any other course after the completion of Class 12 should choose this code.

Code 03

Students who have completed their pre-degree/ Intermediate exams in Science of an Indian University/ Board or other recognized body with Biology/ Biotechnology, Chemistry, Physics, and also English as a compulsory subject have to choose this code. Candidates whose class 12 or its equivalent qualifying examination studies have been completed from a state board can also choose this code.

Code 04

Candidates who have completed a pre-medical/ pre-professional examination after clearing either the Higher Secondary Examination or the Pre-University or an equivalent test with Physics, Biology/Biotechnology, Chemistry, & English should choose code 4 while applying. The Pre-professional/ Pre-medical examination will include practical tests in these subjects and also English as a mandatory subject.

Code 05

With Chemistry, Physics, and Biology/ Biotechnology as compulsory subjects, students wanting to pursue the three years degree course from a recognized institute and have qualified their first year including practical tests in each of the stated subjects have to choose code 5. Students should note that the qualifying exam must compulsorily be a University Examination and aspirants must have passed the earlier qualifying examination namely 10+2 with Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and Physics, with English as a core course.

Code 06

Candidates must have opted for at least two of the Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Bio-technology, Physics, or Chemistry subjects while qualifying the BSc Examination from an Indian recognized University. Such students need to choose code 6 during their application form-filling process. Moreover, one must have cleared the earlier qualifying examination (10+2) with Chemistry, Physics, English, and Biology as the key subjects.

Code 07

Aspirants who have qualified any other exam with a broad scope (Last two years of 10+2 Study including Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology) are found to be equivalent to the Intermediate Science Examination of an Indian Board/ University, have to choose this code. Aspirants who have cleared the qualifying examination from a foreign country are also needed to fill in code 7.

NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria - BSc Nursing Admission

Based on the previous year's trends, candidates gearing up to secure admission in Nursing courses will be eligible to apply for the same through NEET UG qualification. Therefore, securing the required NEET UG Score is a valid eligibility criteria for admission into BSc Nursing courses. This means that all candidates aspiring to take admission into Nursing courses must go through the NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 for BSc Nursing Admission 

  • Age Limit: Applicant must be equal to or more than 17 years old as of December 31, 2025.
  • Educational Qualification: Students applying for the NEET exam must have Physics, Chemistry and Biology as his/her core subjects in Class 12.
  • Minimum Marks: Minimum qualifying marks as per NEET eligibility 2025 vary based on the category of the applicant. Here are the minimum qualifying marks for NEET 2025 exam-
  1. General Category: Students must score a minimum of 45% aggregate marks.
  2. SC/ST/OBC Category: Candidates must score a minimum of 40% aggregate marks.
  • Reservation Policy: PwD Candidates will be entitled for a 3% reservation in NEET 2025 exam.

Also ReadBSc Nursing Admission through NEET 2025

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 - AIQ and State Quota

NEET 2025 Eligibility Criteria for State Quota

About 85% of the medical and dental seats are reserved for students falling under the NEET state quota. State quota candidates have to be residents of India and should have completed their Class 12 from their respective states.

Eligibility for All India Quota in NEET 2025

About 15% of seats are reserved for All India Quota candidates in various medical and dental colleges of India. The candidate falling under this category should be Indian Citizen, Person with Indian Origin, Non-Resident Indian, or Foreign National. Candidates from Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, and Jammu and Kashmir do not fall under 15% All India Quota Seats, however, such candidates can take admission in the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune.

Specifications

Features 

NEET Qualifying Exam

  1. Candidates should have a 10+2 or equivalent diploma granted from a recognized university/ board, with Physics, Chemistry, English, and Biology/Biotechnology as core subjects.

  2. As per NMC's latest update, candidates who have biology as an additional subject in Class 12 can also apply for NEET 2025 Exam

  3. Students with a Class 12 result or equivalent are eligible to apply for the NEET 2025 exam.

NEET Minimum Age Requirement

Students should be at least 17 years old as of December 31, 2025.

Maximum Age Restrictions

No upper age limit restriction.

Maximum no. of attempts one can make for the NEET exam

No restrictions around the same.

Nationality

Candidates who are of Indian nationals origin, PIOs, NRIs, OCIs, or Foreign 

Category Wise Minimum Qualifying Percentage Required in Class 12

Candidates can discover the essential details about Class 12 qualification for NEET 2025 through the table provided below. This data has been provided as per the NEET Eligiblity Criteria for 2025-25.

Category

Required Percentage in 12th standard

For General candidates

50%

For Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Classes

40%

For General Physically Handicapped candidates

45%

For Scheduled Caste/Scheduled Tribe/Other Backward Classes- Physically Handicapped candidates

40%

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025 - Reservation of Seats

Check out the table provided below for information regarding the seat reservation for different category, as per the NEET 2025 eligibility criteria.

Category

Seat Reservation

Scheduled Caste

15%

General-EWS

10%

Scheduled Tribe

7.5%

Other Backward Classes - non-creamy layer

27%

Physically Handicapped

3%

Also read: NEET Dress Code 2024

Want to know more about NEET

FAQs about NEET Eligibility

What is the minimum total percentage needed for MBBS in India?

Based on the reservation system, the class 12 percentage needed for NEET 2023 exam is listed below. It is crucial that aspirants secure the mentioned percentage as it is a part of the NEET UG eligibility criteria. Those who are unable to secure this score will not be allowed to appear for the test. Here is the minimum percentile one should score in class 12 standard.
1) UR - 50%,
2) OBC/SC/ST - 40%
3) PWD - 45% 

Based on the set eligibility criteria, how many times can a student appear for NEET 2025?

As per the recent NEET eligibility criteria 2025, there is no restriction in place on the number of attempts. Candidates can give the test for as many times as they wish only if the minimum age limit criteria of 17 years are met. The upper age limit was removed from the NEET eligibility criteria in 2025.

Are practical marks counted in the NEET 2025 eligibility criteria?

Yes, it is. NEET eligibility criteria takes into account the total marks a student has obtained based on both practical and theory in Chemistry, Physics, and Biology subjects. Thus, it is crucial that students focus on 10+2 studies as diligently as they invest their time in NEET exam preparations.

Describe unit code in NEET eligibility criteria?

A unit code is assigned basis the subject it covers and what level the unit may be studied at. For reference, LAW101 is a unit where the subject is know as Law, and where the unit is defined at a 100-level. Similar logic applies to the NEET UG 2023 paper too.

What are the NEET eligibility criteria 2025?

The eligibility criteria of NEET 2025 are the minimum requirement a candidate must fulfill to appear for the medical entrance test. It comprises details on the qualifying exam, nationality, pass percentage required for the NEET exam, number of attempts, age limit, and more.

Do class 12 marks matter for NEET 2025?

Yes, class 12 marks do matter for NEET 2025 exam. As per the NEET eligibility criteria 2024, students must have secured a minimum of 50% or more marks in Class 12 to be eligible for NEET. 

Who curates the NEET eligibility criteria 2025?

The National Testing Agency is the official authority that releases the NEET 2025 eligibility criteria for all medical aspirants.

Who can give NEET 2025 exam?

All students who fulfill the eligibility criteria can give the NEET exam 2025.

I have a gap year between Classes 11 and 12. Am I be eligible for NEET 2025 exam?

Yes, students with a gap year are eligible for NEET 2025 exam. 

Are supplementary candidates eligible for NEET?

Yes, students participating in supplementary exams are eligible to take part in the NEET test. However, at the time of examination, such aspirants must produce the required documents for which the following criteria needs be fulfilled - 

  • Must have completed class 12 with a minimum of 50% for Unreserved candidates and 40% for Reserved candidates

  • Must be 17 years as on December 31 and not lesser. 

  • Nationality: OCIs, PIOs, Indian Nationals, NRIs, & Foreign Nationals.

Is CBSE private student eligible for NEET 2025 exam?

Yes, aspirants who have opted for Biology as an additional subject are eligible for NEET 2025. Private candidates and distance learning students are also deemed qualified.

I am 16 years old and am appearing in class 12th in 2025. As per NEET 2025 eligibility criteria, I will be completing my 17 years before Dec 31, 2024. Can I appear for the exam?

Yes. If a student is completing his/ her minimum age requirement on or before Dec 31, 2024, then they can apply for the test. 

I am 26 years old and I belong to the unreserved category. Will I be deemed eligible for appearing in NEET 2025 exam?

Yes, you can feel free to appear for NEET 2025 exam. The upper age limit criteria for the medical entrance test have been scrapped.

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Related Questions

My name on the NEET Scorecard is mentioned as 'Pinaki Prasad Ray' but on all other official documents, it is mentioned as 'Pinakiprasad Ray'. Should I be concerned?

-pinakiprasad rayUpdated on October 03, 2024 01:02 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student,

The name on the official documents released and approved by the Government of India is considered the right name and spelling. Hence, the name mentioned on the NEET Scorecard will be considered invalid or wrong for future reference. But no need to worry. You can contact the official exam authority of NEET which is the National Testing Agency at its official email address or phone number. There you need to mention this discrepancy. We have mentioned the official contact details of NTA for your reference.

Official Address - First Floor, NSIC-MDBP Building, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi, Delhi …

READ MORE...

I have 680 NEET marks in the EWS category, my rank is 6985. In 2nd round which college should I select?

-shakti swaroup singhUpdated on September 24, 2024 01:46 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student, 

According to the NEET UG 2024 Cutoff released by the official authority, a NEET Score of 680 for the EWS category is considered a very good score in the entrance exam. You can secure admission in top government medical colleges in India if you've secured a NEET Score of 680 and a NEET Rank of 6985 in the NEET UG 2024 Exam. With NEET Scores of 680 marks and 6985 Rank the following colleges can be selected- AIIMS Institutes, KGMC Lucknow, IMS BHU, Christian Medical College, Government Medical Colleges across the country, Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), …

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Is it possible to participate in the Round 2 counselling of the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jaluki with AIQ 142633 in General category?

-Ritdhi Maya ChettriUpdated on September 20, 2024 03:20 PM
  • 1 Answer
Samiksha Rautela, Content Team

Dear Student,

Candidates with AIQ 142633 from the general category will be eligible to participate in the Round 2 counselling of the College of Veterinary Science and Animal Husbandry, Jaluki. The closing rank for the general category students in Round I is 90342. There might be slim chances to get admission in the Round 2 counselling with an AIQ 142633 rank. NEET 2024 Cutoff for Veterinary is out. Candidates who are not allocated seats in Round 2, will be able to participate in the further rounds if organized. 

Thank You

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