NEET UG 2025: The National Testing Agency (NTA) started the application process for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) on February 7. Along with the NEET UG application form, the NTA has also released this year’s NEET UG information bulletin, syllabus and exam pattern at neet.nta.nic.in.

Several changes are also made to the NEET UG 2025 exam. The NEET UG application form number and age which used to be one of the tie-breaking criteria, no longer exists. The NEET UG official website has uploaded the information brochure, syllabus, answers to frequently asked questions and other details on eligibility, application process and exam pattern. 

Applicants desiring to get into a medical college for admission to undergraduate medical courses will have to go through the changes introduced this year before filling the application form.

NTA has discontinued the optional questions in Section B of NEET UG 2025. Candidates taking the NEET UG in 2025 will not get any optional questions and extra time introduced during Covid and exam will now revert to the pre-COVID format. The optional section was introduced as a temporary measure to accommodate the challenges posed during Covid pandemic and has been in practice till 2024. NEET UG 2025 paper will now have 180 compulsory questions — 45 questions each in physics and chemistry and 90 in biology. The NEET UG 2025 exam will be held in a single shift in pen and paper mode.

As a first, NTA will resolve ties through a random process with the guidance of an independent expert committee if all the provisions are exhausted. The tie-breaking criteria will not include the NEET UG application number and age this time. According to the NTA NEET UG 2025 information brochure, in case of two or more candidates obtain equal marks or percentile scores in the NEET UG 2025, the inter-se-merit will be determined as follows:

a. Candidate obtaining higher marks or percentile score in biology (botany and zoology) in the test, followed by, b. Candidate obtaining higher marks or percentile score in chemistry in the test, followed by, c. Candidate obtaining higher marks or percentile score in physics in the test, followed by, d. Candidate with less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the test, e. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in biology (botany and zoology) in the test, followed by f. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in chemistry in the test, followed by g. Candidate with less proportion of a number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in physics in the test, followed by h. In case, a-g criteria are exhausted and tie still persists, it will be resolved through a random process with the guidance of an independent expert committee.

While filling up the NEET UG 2025 online application form, candidates will have to select three cities as their choice of cities for the exam centre in order of their priority. Choice of centre cities will be limited to the state of permanent address or state of present address only. For convenience, the candidates may select their own city or neighbouring cities in their state of residence only and not for far away cities in other states.

The NEET UG 2025 exam centre will be opened three hours before the start of the test. No candidate shall be allowed to enter the exam centre after 1.30 pm. Exams will be conducted from 2 pm to 5 pm.

During the NEET UG 2025 application, candidates will have to upload scanned images of their recent passport size photograph taken after January 1, 2025. In addition to the scanned images of the passport sized photo, the signature, left and right hand fingers and thumb impression, citizenship certificate (if applicable), social category certificate/ applied for application, Class 10 marksheet and Class 10 passing certificate or equivalency certificate(s) for conversion of CGPA or grades, in percentage as also duly indicating date of birth and PwBD and PwD certificate will also have to be uploaded.

The NEET UG 2025 scores and merit list will also apply for admissions to BDS and BVSC and AH courses in addition to admission to UG courses in each of the disciplines – BAMS, BUMS and BSMS courses of the Indian System of Medicine in all medical institutions. Admission to the BHMS course under the National Commission for Homeopathy will also be done on the basis of NEET UG scores.

MNS (Military Nursing Service) aspirants seeking admission to BSc Nursing courses being conducted at Armed Forces Medical Service Hospitals for the year 2025 are required to qualify for NEET UG. The NEET UG score will be used for shortlisting for selection to the four-year BSc Nursing course.