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NEET UG — How to Apply Online, Admit Card, Results & Counselling Process

Complete guide to NEET UG exam — online application at neet.nta.nic.in, eligibility, admit card download, results, and MCC counselling for MBBS/BDS/AYUSH seats.

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NEET UG — How to Apply Online, Admit Card, Results & Counselling Process

NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test — Undergraduate) is the single national-level entrance exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS), and other undergraduate medical courses across India. Conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency), NEET UG is mandatory for admission to all government and private medical colleges, including AIIMS and JIPMER.

This guide covers everything — from registration and eligibility to admit card download, results, and the counselling process.


What is NEET UG?

NEET UG replaced all separate medical entrance exams in India and is now the only gateway to undergraduate medical education. Key facts:

  • Conducting body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
  • Exam mode: Pen-and-paper (offline, OMR-based)
  • Frequency: Once a year
  • Medium: 13 languages including English, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu, Kannada, Bengali, Gujarati, Marathi, Assamese, Odia, Urdu, Punjabi, and Malayalam
  • Seats covered: Government medical colleges, private medical colleges, deemed universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, ESIC, AFMC, and central university seats

NEET UG scores are used for admission to approximately 1,00,000+ MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH seats across India.


Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, make sure you meet these requirements:

Age

  • Minimum age: 17 years as on 31st December of the year of admission
  • Maximum age: No upper age limit (as per Supreme Court directive)

Educational Qualification

  • Passed or appearing in Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology
  • Minimum aggregate marks in PCB:
    • General / EWS: 50%
    • OBC / SC / ST: 40%
    • PwD: 45%

Nationality

  • Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals are eligible
  • Candidates with qualifying degrees from outside India must meet MCI/NMC equivalence norms

Number of Attempts

  • No limit on the number of attempts (as per current NTA rules)

How to Apply Online for NEET UG

NEET UG application is entirely online through the NTA website. Follow these steps:

Step 1 — Visit the Official Portal

Go to neet.nta.nic.in and click on the registration link for NEET UG.

Step 2 — New Registration

  • Click "New Registration"
  • Enter your name, date of birth, mobile number, and email ID
  • You will receive an OTP on your mobile and email — verify both
  • A provisional application number and password will be generated — save these

Step 3 — Fill the Application Form

Log in with your application number and password, then fill in:

  • Personal details — name, parents' name, category, PwD status, nationality
  • Academic details — qualifying exam, board, year of passing, marks
  • Exam centre preferences — choose up to 4 cities

Step 4 — Upload Documents

Upload scanned images as per NTA specifications:

Document Format Size
Photograph JPG/JPEG 10 KB – 200 KB
Signature JPG/JPEG 4 KB – 30 KB
Left thumb impression JPG/JPEG 10 KB – 50 KB
Class 10 certificate JPG/JPEG 100 KB – 400 KB
Category certificate (if applicable) JPG/JPEG 100 KB – 300 KB

Step 5 — Pay the Application Fee

Category Fee (INR)
General / EWS ₹1,700
OBC-NCL ₹1,600
SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender ₹1,000
Outside India ₹9,500

Payment modes: UPI, net banking, credit card, or debit card.

Step 6 — Submit and Print Confirmation

After payment, review your application carefully and submit. Download and print the confirmation page. Keep it safe until the admission process is complete.

Tip: You can also track your JEE Main application through a similar NTA process.


NEET UG Exam Pattern

Parameter Details
Mode Offline (pen-and-paper, OMR sheet)
Duration 3 hours 20 minutes
Total questions 200 (need to attempt 180)
Subjects Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology
Questions per subject 50 (35 mandatory + 15 optional, attempt any 10)
Marking scheme +4 for correct, −1 for incorrect
Maximum marks 720
Language 13 languages

Each subject has two sections:

  • Section A: 35 mandatory questions
  • Section B: 15 questions, attempt any 10

Important Dates

NEET UG dates are announced by NTA each year. Typically:

Event Usual Timeline
Registration opens February – March
Last date to apply March – April
Correction window After application deadline
Admit card release 2–3 weeks before exam
Exam date May (usually first Sunday)
Answer key release Within 1–2 weeks of exam
Result declaration June
Counselling begins July – August

Always check neet.nta.nic.in for the latest official schedule.


How to Download NEET UG Admit Card

The admit card is released on the NTA website about 2–3 weeks before the exam.

Steps to Download

  1. Visit neet.nta.nic.in
  2. Click "Download Admit Card"
  3. Log in with your application number, date of birth, and security pin
  4. Download and take 2–3 printouts on A4 paper

Details on the Admit Card

  • Candidate's name and photo
  • Roll number and application number
  • Exam centre name, address, and code
  • Exam date and reporting time
  • Instructions for the exam day

Important: Check all details carefully. If there is any error, contact NTA immediately through exams.nta.ac.in.


NEET UG Result and Scorecard

How to Check Results

  1. Visit ntaresults.nic.in or neet.nta.nic.in
  2. Log in with your roll number, date of birth, and security pin
  3. Download your scorecard

You can also access your scorecard through DigiLocker — NTA uploads NEET results directly to DigiLocker.

Scorecard Details

  • Total marks obtained (out of 720)
  • Subject-wise marks
  • All India Rank (AIR)
  • Category rank
  • NEET qualifying cutoff status

NEET UG Qualifying Cutoff (Percentile)

Category Qualifying Percentile
General / EWS 50th percentile
OBC / SC / ST 40th percentile
PwD 45th percentile

Only candidates who meet the qualifying cutoff are eligible for counselling and admission.

Also useful: Check your CBSE Board Exam results if you appeared for Class 12 boards alongside NEET.


NEET UG Counselling Process

NEET UG counselling happens at two levels:

1. All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling — by MCC

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts counselling for 15% All India Quota seats in government colleges, plus 100% seats in deemed/central universities, ESIC, and AFMC.

Website: mcc.nic.in

MCC Counselling Rounds

  • Round 1: First allotment based on merit and preferences
  • Round 2: Vacant seats from Round 1 are offered
  • Mop-up Round: For remaining unfilled seats
  • Stray Vacancy Round: Final round for any leftover seats

MCC Counselling Steps

  1. Register on mcc.nic.in using NEET roll number
  2. Choose colleges and courses — fill your preference order carefully
  3. Lock choices before the deadline (auto-lock applies if not locked manually)
  4. Seat allotment result — check on the MCC website
  5. Report to allotted college with original documents and pay the fee

2. State Quota Counselling — by State Authorities

The remaining 85% seats in government colleges and all seats in private/state medical colleges are filled through state-level counselling. Each state has its own counselling authority and schedule.

  • State counselling registration is separate from MCC
  • Some states use common portals, others have dedicated websites
  • You must register separately for each state where you wish to seek admission

Seat Allocation — MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH

Course Counselling Authority
MBBS — AIQ (15%) MCC
MBBS — State Quota (85%) Respective state authority
BDS MCC (AIQ) + State authorities
BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS (AYUSH) AYUSH counselling committee + State
Deemed universities MCC
Central universities MCC
ESIC colleges MCC
AFMC Pune MCC (separate registration)

Financial support: If you need help funding your education, explore the National Scholarship Portal for scholarships available to medical students.


Documents Required for NEET Counselling

Keep these documents ready in original and photocopy:

  • NEET UG admit card and scorecard
  • Class 10 and Class 12 mark sheets and certificates
  • Photo ID proof (Aadhaar card)
  • Category / EWS / PwD certificate (if applicable)
  • Domicile certificate (for state quota)
  • Transfer certificate from school
  • 8 passport-size photographs
  • Allotment letter from MCC or state authority

Frequently Asked Questions

What is NEET UG and who conducts it?

NEET UG is the national entrance exam for MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH admissions in India. It is conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) once every year in offline mode.

How do I register for NEET UG?

Visit neet.nta.nic.in, click New Registration, enter your details, verify OTP, fill the application form, upload documents, pay the fee, and submit.

Is there an age limit or attempt limit for NEET UG?

The minimum age is 17 years as on 31st December of the admission year. There is currently no upper age limit and no restriction on the number of attempts.

How can I download my NEET UG admit card?

Log in to neet.nta.nic.in with your application number and date of birth. The admit card is released 2–3 weeks before the exam date.

What is the difference between AIQ and state quota counselling?

AIQ (All India Quota) counselling is conducted by MCC for 15% of government college seats and 100% of deemed/central university seats. State quota counselling is conducted by individual state authorities for the remaining 85% government seats and private college seats.

Can I participate in both AIQ and state counselling?

Yes, you can register for both MCC (AIQ) and state counselling simultaneously. However, if you accept a seat in one, you must follow the specific exit rules before joining through the other.

How is the NEET UG score calculated?

Each correct answer gets +4 marks and each incorrect answer gets −1 mark. Unanswered questions carry no marks. The maximum score is 720 out of 180 questions.


Quick Summary

Topic Key Info
Exam NEET UG by NTA
Mode Offline (OMR-based)
Total marks 720
Apply at neet.nta.nic.in
AIQ counselling mcc.nic.in
Results ntaresults.nic.in
Qualifying cutoff 50th percentile (General)
Courses MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS

NEET UG is your single gateway to medical education in India. Start your preparation early, keep your documents ready, and stay updated through the official NTA website. Good luck!