Aspiring to be a doctor, dentist or AYUSH practitioner? Check out NEET 2025 eligibility criteria

New Delhi: The prestigious MBBS entrance exam NEET for this academic year's medical, dental and UG AYUSH admissions will be conducted on May 4, 2025. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has started the registrations for interested candidates and the process will conclude on March 7.

For MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS and BUMS candidates aspiring to be doctors, dentists and AYUSH practitioners, NTA has released an information bulletin detailing the Eligibility Criteria along with other details.

Eligibility and Qualifications for MBBS and BDS Course

Eligibility for appearing in NEET (UG) 2025 , as per related Regulations of NMC and DCI are as follows:-

He/she has completed 17 years of age at the time of admission or will complete that age on or before 31 December of the year of his/her admission to the first year of the Undergraduate Medical Course. Accordingly, the lower age limit shall be as under:

Upper age limit: As per Letter No. U-11022/2/2022-UGMEB,dated 09 March 2022 received from National Medical Commission (NMC), Under Graduate Medical Education Boardm(UGMEB) regarding the upper age limit, there is no upper age limit.

Indian Citizens/ Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) intending to pursue Undergraduate Medical Courses in a foreign Medical/ Dental Institute also need to qualify for NEET (UG).

Criteria for NRI / OCI / Foreign Nationals

Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical /Dental Colleges subject to rules and regulations framed by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India, as the case may be. The NRI and OCI Applicants/Candidates have to upload a Certificate from the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence in support of their claim as an NRI/OCI Candidate, along with their online Application Form for NEET (UG) - 2025 and retain the original of such document for producing it at the time of Counselling / Admission to the Courses covered under NEET (UG). Similarly, a foreign applicant for NEET (UG) 2025 shall also upload Documentary Proof (e.g. relevant pages of a valid passport or a Certificate from the Competent Authority in the country of his/her nationality regarding his/her citizenship status) in support of his/her Nationality, along with online Application Form.

Eligibility of OCI cardholders for NEET (UG):

(i) Indian Nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), Persons with Indian Origin and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical/Dental/Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani/ Homeopathy Colleges subject to the rules and regulations framed by respective State Governments, Institutions and The Government of India, as the case may be.

(ii) In compliance of the Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 03.02.2023 in WP No. 891 of 2021, OCI will be entitled to the rights and privileges which had been conferred on them earlier to the notification dated 04.03.2021.

Participation of UT of J&K and Ladakh in All India Quota Students from UT of J&K and Ladakh are eligible for 15% All India Quota seats and the candidates from respective UTs can participate like other states.

Qualifications and Qualifying Examination Codes

To be eligible for NEET (UG) – 2025, candidates need to refer to the following table for qualifying examination criteria.

CODE: 01 A candidate who is appearing in the qualifying examination, i.e., class 12 in 2025, whose result is awaited, may apply and appear in the test but he/she shall not be eligible for admission to the Undergraduate Medical Courses if he/she does not pass the qualifying examination with the required pass percentage at the time of first round of Counselling. Candidates who have appeared or are appearing at the qualifying Examination with English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as the main subject and expect to pass the Examination with the required percentage of marks are also eligible to apply and appear in the Competitive Entrance Examination. However, their candidature will be considered only if they provide documentary evidence of having passed the qualifying Examination with the required subjects and percentage of marks.

OR

CODE: 02 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 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 at a level not less than the core course for English as prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training after the introduction of the 10+2+3 educational structure as recommended by the National Committee on Education.

Candidates who have passed Class 12 from Open School or as private candidates shall not be eligible to appear for the ‘National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test’. Furthermore, a study of Biology/Biotechnology as an Additional Subject at Class 12 level also shall not be permissible.

*The candidates who have passed Class 12 level with Biology as an additional subject will also be eligible for MBBS Entrance Examination (as per Hon’ble High Court Order No. 2341/- W/DHC/WRIT/D-1/2019 dated 24/09/2019 in the Writ Petition (C) No. 6773/2019.

*(NOTE: The proviso in italics has been a subject matter of challenge before the Hon’ble High Court of Delhi, Hon’ble High Court of Allahabad, Lucknow Bench, and Hon’ble High Court of Madhya Pradesh at Jabalpur. The provisions of the regulations disqualifying recognized Open School Board candidates and the candidates who have studied Biology/Biotechnology as an Additional Subject has been struck down. The Medical Council of India has preferred Special Leave Petitions before the Hon’ble Supreme Court and Appeals in the Hon’ble High Courts. Therefore, the candidature of candidates in the NEET (UG) - 2025 who have passed the qualifying examinations i.e. Class 12 from National Institute of Open Schooling or State Open Schools or as private candidates from recognized State Boards; or with Biology/Biotechnology as an additional subject shall be allowed but subject to the outcome of Special Leave Petitions/Appeals filed by the Medical Council of India)

If the institute has to consider an examination of an Indian University or of a foreign/university to be equivalent to the Class 12 under intermediate science examination, the candidates shall have to produce a certificate from the concerned Indian University/Association of Indian Universities to the effect that the examination passed by him/her is considered to be equivalent to the class 12 under intermediate science examination.

OR

CODE: 03 The Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in Science of an Indian University/Board or other recognized examining body with Physics, Chemistry, Biology /Biotechnology (which shall include practical test in these subjects) and also English as a compulsory subject.

CODE: 04 The 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 Preprofessional/Pre-medical examination shall include practical tests in these subjects and also English as a compulsory subject.

OR

CODE: 05 The first year of the three years’ degree course of a recognized University with 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.

OR

CODE: 06 B.Sc. Examination of an Indian University provided that he/she has passed the B.Sc. Examination 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 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English.

OR

CODE: 07 Any other examination which in scope and standard (Last 02 years of 10+2 Study comprising of Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology; which shall include 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.

Note: Due to the COVID outbreak, no examinations were conducted for 2021 batch of Class 10 (Tamil Nadu State Board). Accordingly no marks were given in the marksheet and ‘pass’ is printed in all subjects with a disclaimer – “As per G.O. (Ms) No. 48, School Education (G.E.) department dated: 25.02.2021, all candidates who studied SSLC in the academic year 2020-21 are declared passed.”

While filling up of the online Application Form of NEET (UG) - 2025, when the candidate selects ‘Passing year’ as 2021 with ‘School Board’ as Tamil Nadu State Board of School Examination (Sec.), the Result Mode field will be disabled and the associated fields for Marks/CGPA will be invisible for Tamil Nadu State Board candidates who have passed their Class 10 in year 2021.

• Provided also that to be eligible for NEET (UG) - 2025, the candidate must have passed in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English individually and must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks taken together in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/ Bio-technology at the qualifying examination as mentioned in the Regulations of NMC and DCI. In addition, they must have got a rank in the merit list of NEET (UG) – 2025 for admission to Undergraduate Medical Courses.

• In respect of the candidates belonging to Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, or Other Backward Classes (NCL), the minimum marks obtained in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology are taken together in the qualifying examination shall be 40% marks instead of 50% marks for Unreserved and General-EWS Candidates. In respect of PwBD/PwD candidates as per NMC and DCI Regulations, the minimum marks in the qualifying examination in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (or Botany & Zoology)/Biotechnology taken together shall be 40% instead of 50%.

• Provided further that the students who have received education abroad and wish to seek admission into medical colleges in India must have passed in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English with 50% marks in Class 12, and their equivalency determined by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as per regulations of the National Medical Commission and the concerned University

• The criteria for minimum qualifying marks to be eligible for admission to MBBS courses shall also be applicable to concerned INIs like AIIMS and JIPMER.

Note: In all other cases, the States/Institutes that have cut-offs for eligibility other than those mentioned above, may follow their own criteria

Eligibility Criteria/Quota of Seats/Reservation/Result Criteria/ Counselling for Admission to BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS Courses

Admission to all seats of BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS Courses through NEET (UG) – 2025*

Admissions to all seats of Undergraduate Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy Courses will be done through NEET (UG) – 2025 as per the provisions of the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Ayurveda Education), Regulations 2022, National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Siddha Education), Regulations 2022 and National Commission for Indian System of Medicine (Minimum Standards of Undergraduate Unani Education), Regulations 2022 and National Commission for Homeopathy (Homoeopathy Graduate Degree Course BHMS) Regulations 2022 (NCISM & NCH are Regulatory Bodies of the above-mentioned Courses under the Ministry of Ayush).

*Eligibility Criteria for admission to BAMS/BSMS/BUMS /BHMS Courses

a. The candidate must have passed intermediate Class 12 or its equivalent examination recognized by the concerned State Government and Education Board with the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English individually and must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks taken together in Physics, Chemistry and Biology at the aforesaid qualifying examination in the case of general category and 40% Marks in the case of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

b. In respect of persons with disability candidates specified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016), the minimum qualifying marks in the said qualifying examination in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology shall be 40%.

c. No candidate shall be admitted to BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Degree Courses unless he has attained the age of seventeen years on or before the 31st December of the year of his admission in the first year of the course.

*The Quota of Seats for Admission to BAMS/ BSMS/BUMS /BHMS Courses:

a. All India quota Government.

b. All India quota Government aided.

c. All India quota Private.

d. State Govt. quota/ Institutional quota.

e. Central Universities/National Institutes.

f. Deemed to be Universities.

g. Management/NRI Quota.

*Reservation of Seats for SC, ST, OBC-NCL, EWS, PwBD, etc. for admission to BAMS/BSMS/BUMS /BHMS Courses

Reservation Policy of the Central Government in All India Quota seats (Govt./Govt. aided/National Institutes/Central Universities) counseling is as follows:

➢ SC- 15%

➢ ST- 7.5%

➢ PwBD- 5% Horizontal Reservation

➢ OBC (Non- Creamy Layer)- 27 % Only in National Institutes/Central Universities

➢ EWS- 10% Only in National Institutes/Central Universities (who satisfy the conditions given in the OM No. 20013/01/2018-BC-II dated 17 January 2019, issued by the Ministry of Social Justice and Empowerment)

Note: Guidelines regarding admission of students with “Specified Disabilities” under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 with respect to admission in BAMS/BSMS/BUMS course shall be as per the criteria prescribed in the regulations as per the CCIM Gazette notification dated 18/06/2019 and in BHMS as per the CCH Gazette notification dated 19/06/2019.

In case of State quota seats counseling under other than minimum 15% All India Quota seats, the reservation policy of the concerned State Govt. shall apply.

*Percentage criteria for declaration of Result / Ranking for BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Courses.

To be eligible for admission to under-graduate BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Courses, it shall be necessary for a candidate to obtain a minimum of marks at 50th percentile in the ‘National Eligibility Entrance Test for undergraduate course’ held for the said academic year: Provided that in respect of

a. For candidates belonging to the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes, the minimum marks shall be at the 40th percentile; candidates with benchmark disabilities specified under the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016 (49 of 2016), the minimum marks shall be at 45th percentile in the case of general category and 40th percentile in the case of the Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, and Other Backward Classes.

*Counselling Provisions for admission to BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and All India Quota Seats (AIQ).

a. An All India Merit List of the qualified candidates shall be prepared on the basis of All India Rank in the Merit List of the NEET (UG) - 2025 and candidates shall be admitted to Undergraduate Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homeopathy Course (ASU & H Courses) from the said list only, with existing reservation policy.

b. Counselling for all India quota seats of Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani & Homoeopathy Government, Government aided Institutes, Central Universities, National Institutes, Deemed to be Universities will be conducted by Ayush Admissions Central Counseling Committee (AACCC), and counseling for AIQ seats of Private ASU & H Institutes will be conducted by an authority designated by Central Government and Counselling for State quota seats will be conducted by respective State Government counselling authority as per the provisions of Regulations notified under NCISM Act, 2020 and NCH Act, 2020.

c. *The details filled by the candidate like candidate category, phone number, and email, etc. in NEET (UG)-2025 Online Application will be used for the purpose of All India quota seats counselling. No request for change in candidate category at the time of all India quota seats counselling will be entertained by the counselling authority for all India quota seats designated by the Central Government.

d. The NTA will have no responsibility with regard to the matters relating to counselling/admission to BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Courses.

Important Information for the Application Process

a. Regarding the application process and other details, the aspiring Candidates of BAMS/BSMS/BUMS/BHMS Courses may peruse the relevant information /documents mentioned in other chapters/ paras, corresponding appendices, apart from the provisions mentioned above in this Chapter.

b. The relevant Regulations / Guidelines / Instructions / Notifications / Circulars of the Ministry of AYUSH /AYUSH Admissions Central Counseling Committee/ National Commission for Indian System of Medicine/ Central Council of Indian Medicine / National Commission of Homoeopathy /Central Council of Homeopathy, as the case may be, may be referred to for those matters, which are not mentioned above in this Chapter or in any other Chapter / Appendices of this Information Bulletin.