IMPORTANT
It may be noted that the erstwhile Medical Council of India had provided a list of foreign Medical Institutions/Universities for MBBS or equivalent course based upon the information received from the Indian Embassy/High Commission of India concerned. However, it is to state that the 2018 notification to the Screening Test Regulations clearly states that all Indian Citizens/Overseas Citizen of India who have obtained a primary medical qualification from any Medical Institution outside India have to qualify the prescribed Screening test for purposes of obtaining registration in India in addition to fulfilling other eligibility criteria stated in the regulations. It is to clarify that the National Medical Commission does not endorse any list of Foreign Medical Institutions/ Universities for MBBS or equivalent course. The public at large is advised that before taking admission in MBBS or its equivalent course in a university outside India, confirmation of the fee structure, details of the course (which should be commensurate with the MBBS courses in India such as content, duration and internship) etc. should be directly obtained from the University/ Institution concerned.
NEET UG 2025 is expected to take place on May 4, 2025. Due to recent issues, such as paper leaks and irregularities, the NTA may revise the exam pattern based on advice from an expert committee.
Expected Changes in NEET 2025- Latest Update by NTA
NEET UG 2025 candidates are concerned as reports suggest that the panel set up by the government may recommend reducing the offline format and holding the exam online. Changes to the NEET exam pattern are also expected. However, the NTA, the exam authority, has not yet released an official notice about these potential changes.
NEET 2025 Syllabus Update
For NEET 2025, some notable updates have been announced by the National Testing Agency (NTA), especially regarding the exam pattern. While the core structure remains similar, there is an expected removal of optional questions in Section B across Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Traditionally, Section A includes 35 questions, while Section B has 15, from which candidates could attempt 10 of their choice. In NEET 2025, candidates may be required to answer all questions in both sections, totaling 180 questions instead of having a selective choice, which could influence preparation strategies for students.
The NEET 2025 exam is anticipated to take place on May 4, 2025, with the test conducted offline across more than 500 cities, in 13 languages. Eligibility criteria remain consistent, requiring candidates to complete their Class 12 with subjects including Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English, and meet the age requirement of at least 17 years by December 31, 2025. Additionally, the application process is expected to begin later this year, with detailed instructions provided on the official NTA website.
The updated marking scheme for NEET 2025 maintains the previous standards: four marks for each correct answer and a one-mark deduction for each incorrect response, aligning with the total score of 720 marks. For those aiming to apply abroad, qualifying NEET remains mandatory.
Key Proposals From the Expert Committee on NEET UG Reforms
A seven-member expert committee, led by former ISRO chief K. Radhakrishnan, was formed to assess the NTA’s role in conducting NEET UG and suggest ways to prevent paper leaks and cheating. Other committee members include Randeep Guleria, B. J. Rao, Ramamurthy K., Pankaj Bansal, Aditya Mittal, and Govind Jaiswal. The committee has proposed the following key reforms:
- Online Testing and Hybrid Models: The committee recommends using online exams wherever possible. In situations where fully online testing isn’t practical, they suggest a “hybrid” approach where exam papers are sent digitally to centers, but students complete their answers on paper.
- Multi-Stage Exam for Medical Aspirants: To handle the large number of NEET-UG candidates, the committee suggests a two-stage exam similar to JEE, which would help in managing applicants better and assessing them more thoroughly.
- Streamlining CUET Subjects: The committee advises limiting the number of subjects in the CUET to reduce redundancy, as students often retake subjects they have already completed in board exams.
- Increasing NTA Staffing: The committee recommends that the NTA hire more full-time staff instead of mainly using temporary workers. This would help in better organizing and managing the exams.
- Strengthening Data Security: The committee highlights the importance of improving data security and suggests that the NTA should control more exam centers itself to reduce dependence on outside centers.
- Reducing Paper Leak Risks: To lower the risk of paper leaks, the committee recommends digitally sending question papers and releasing them closer to the exam time. This would improve security, especially after recent issues with NEET-UG paper leaks.
- Limiting Exam Attempts: The committee proposes setting a cap on the number of NEET-UG attempts per candidate, moving away from the current unlimited attempts. This change would encourage candidates to prepare thoroughly and make the exam process fairer.
An Indian citizen or a person who has been granted Overseas Citizenship of India possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India who is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with the National Medical Commission or any State Medical Council on or after 15.03.2002 shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by the prescribed authority for that purpose.
Eligibility Criteria: No person shall be allowed to appear in the screening test unless:
(1) he/she is a Citizen of India or has been granted Overseas Citizenship of India and possess any primary medical qualification to be a recognized qualification for enrolment as medical practitioner in the country in which the institution awarding the said qualification is situated.
(2) he/ she had obtained ‘Eligibility Certificate’ from the National Medical Commission (or the erstwhile Medical Council of India) as per the ‘Eligibility Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations, 2002’. This requirement shall not be necessary in respect of Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India who have acquired the medical qualifications from foreign medical institutions or have obtained admission in foreign medical institution before 15th March 2002.
Indian Citizens/Overseas Citizen of India intending to obtain primary medical qualification from any medical institution outside India, on or after May 2018, shall have to mandatorily qualify the ‘National -Eligibility-cum- Entrance Test for Admission to MBBS course’. The result of the ‘National- Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Admission to MBBS course’ shall deem to be treated as the Eligibility Certificate for such persons, provided that such persons fulfil the Eligibility Criteria for admission to the MBBS course prescribed in the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997.”
Furthermore, the result of NEET shall be valid for a period of three (3) years from the date of declaration of result, entitling a candidate to pursue MBBS or equivalent medical course including pre-medical/language course, if any, followed by MBBS or equivalent medical course.
.The screening test shall be conducted as per the Schedule of examination announced by the Prescribed Authority. The procedure of conducting the test shall be in accordance with the Scheme announced by the National Medical Commission in this regard.
.The Prescribed Authority shall intimate the result of the Screening Test to the candidates as well as to the National Medical Commission and the State Medical Councils. The unsuccessful candidates shall also be appropriately informed. The candidates who qualify the Screening Test may apply to the National Medical Commission or to any State Medical Council for provisional registration/ permanent registration.