NEET-UG is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate), a mandatory, nationwide entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses, including MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH programs, in India. It is an examination conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA).
The concept was introduced in 2013 by the Medical Council of India (MCI) and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) to solve the problem of a fragmented admission system. Before its implementation, various states and institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER conducted their own entrance exams, which led to varying criteria and a significant burden on students. NEET-UG replaced the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT) and state-level tests to establish a uniform and standardized evaluation system. Although the Supreme Court initially quashed the exam on July 18, 2013, it was successfully reintroduced in 2016.
The mechanism involves a pen-and-paper test with a total of 180 multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology), carrying a maximum of 720 marks. The marking scheme awards +4 for a correct answer and deducts -1 for an incorrect one.
NEET-UG is governed by regulations under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, and the Dentists Act, 1948. Following the enactment of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, it became the sole entrance test for all medical colleges, including institutions like AIIMS and JIPMER, which previously held separate exams. It is also the qualifying exam for admission to AYUSH courses under the National Commission for Indian System of Medicine Act, 2020, and is mandatory for Indian students seeking to study MBBS abroad.
The administrative body shifted from the CBSE to the NTA starting in 2019. Recent changes for the 2026 exam include the requirement for a live photograph during online registration and the eligibility of candidates who studied Biology as an additional subject after Class 12. The core syllabus, based on the NCERT curriculum, has remained consistent since 2025.