NEET 2025 in 13 Languages! Regional Preferences Surge as English Sees Decline
New Delhi : The National Testing Agency (NTA) will conduct the National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2025 in 13 languages, ensuring broader accessibility for medical aspirants. The exam will be held offline on May 4 at centers across India and select locations abroad.
Candidates can opt for English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, or Urdu. However, language options are subject to regional availability—Assamese, for instance, will only be offered at exam centers in Assam. Once chosen during the application process, the language preference cannot be changed.
The exam pattern remains unchanged, featuring 180 multiple-choice questions in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology. The three-hour test will be held from 2 PM to 5 PM (IST), with a maximum score of 720 marks. To ensure fairness, in case of translation discrepancies, the English version will be considered final.
With over 24 lakh registrations last year, NEET UG continues to be India’s most competitive medical entrance exam. Aspirants are advised to carefully select their language preference and familiarize themselves with the exam pattern ahead of the test date.
Rising Preference for Indian Languages in NEET, English Usage Declines Slightly
A recent Moneycontrol analysis (March 11) highlights a growing trend of students opting for regional languages in the National Eligibility-Entrance Test (NEET). While English remains the dominant choice, its share dropped from 79.3% in 2019 to 78.6% in 2024, marking the lowest in three years.
NTA data reveals a surge in regional language adoption:
- Hindi usage doubled from 1,79,857 in 2019 to 3,57,908 in 2024.
- Tamil test-takers increased from 17,101 in 2020 to 36,333 in 2024.
- Bengali and other regional languages have also gained traction.
Despite English still being preferred by nearly 80% of candidates, regional preferences vary. Gujarati saw a minor decline from 59,395 (2019) to 58,836 (2024), while Odia registrations plummeted from 31,490 to 1,312, and Urdu from 1,858 to 1,545.
