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NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Age Limit & Qualification

Ajit Kumar Dubey • 9 Mins read • 31 Jul 25

NEET Eligibility

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) serves as the sole crucial path for aspiring medical students in India, especially for individuals wanting to enroll in MBBS courses. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has published the NEET 2025 eligibility standards for medical applicants on neet.nta.nic.in. The essential NEET eligibility conditions for 2025 indicate that a candidate must be 17 years old before December 31, 2025. According to the NEET eligibility criteria, the candidate must have completed class 12 by admission and studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. Use the free NEET College Predictor to predict your chances of admission to top medical universities in India.

The NEET exam eligibility criteria detail the necessary educational qualifications, age limitations, nationality requirements, and other crucial factors that determine one's eligibility for the exam. Candidates wishing to take the NEET UG 2025 must be conversant with all parts of the NEET eligibility standards. No candidate can complete the NEET application form unless they meet the established valid standards. The NEET examination is required for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, BSc nursing, and other medical programs. Consult the entire page for more details on the NEET 2025 qualifying conditions.

NEET UG Eligibility Criteria 2025

The NTA announced the NEET exam date and eligibility requirements in the NEET 2025 information bulletin. Candidates who match the eligibility criteria for NEET 2025, given below, and complete the application process by the deadline are eligible to take the undergraduate medical entrance exam. The criteria for sitting the NEET UG test are:

NEET Exam Age Limit

There is no upper age limit for NEET 2025. There are no age restrictions for the NEET exam. The NEET 2025 examination is open to all applicants, regardless of age. The candidate must be 17 years old at the time of admission or by December 31, 2025. The lower age limit for candidates is determined by their birth date. For General (UR)/General-EWS candidates, as well as those belonging to SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD/PwD categories, individuals must have been born on or before December 31, 2008.

Category	Date for Lower Age Limit
For Candidates of General (UR)/General-EWS	born on or before 31.12.2008
For Candidates of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD/PwD Category	born on or before 31.12.2008

NEET Eligibility Criteria

To be eligible for the NEET 2025 exam, a candidate must have completed class 12 by the admission date. Candidates must complete their class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core courses from a certified board.

NEET Qualification Marks in the 12th

The 12th percentile required for NEET 2025 varies by category. To be eligible for the NEET 2025 exam, students must obtain a certain aggregate percentage in their Class 12 marks.

Limit on NEET Attempts

In 2018, changes to the NEET UG eligibility standards removed the limit on the number of NEET tries. As a result, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts for NEET 2025. Candidates may take the NEET 2025 entrance exam as many times as they desire, as long as they match the qualifying requirements.

Eligibility criteria for NEET 2025: Qualifying Exam Requirements

Parameters	Details
Qualifying exam for NEET 2025	Pass 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. Class 12 or equivalent appearing aspirants are also eligible to apply for NEET. Candidates studying Biology as an additional subject after passing class 12 are also eligible.
NEET eligibility marks 2025	The minimum percentage required in the 12th for NEET is separate for each category and can be listed as under. NEET eligibility marks in 12th to be considered are aggregate marks only for PCB subjects. UR - 50%, OBC/SC/ST - 40%, PWD - 40%
Maximum Number of Attempts for NTA NEET	There are no upper age restrictions on the number of NEET 2025 attempts.

NEET 2025 Eligibility Requirements for NRI/International Students

Candidates who have completed their studies abroad must meet the NEET eligibility standards. The final assessment for NRI/foreign students must correspond to the Class 12 qualification in their home country. Candidates must have finished studies in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and have passed the theory and practical assessments in each of these disciplines, as well as English, in the qualifying exam.

Non-resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs), and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission to Medical/Dental Colleges, provided they follow the norms and regulations issued by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India, as applicable.
NRI and OCI Applicants/Candidates must submit a certificate from the relevant Indian Diplomatic Mission in their place of residency to authenticate their status as an NRI/OCI Candidate in addition to their online NEET UG 2025 application form.
Similarly, a foreign candidate applying for NEET 2025 must submit Documentary Proof (such as relevant pages of a valid passport or a certificate from the Competent Authority in their home country confirming their citizenship status) to verify their nationality in addition to the online NEET application form.

NEET Qualification Code for 2025

Candidates in the general category must pass NEET with a score of 50% in the 12th grade. Reserved categories require 40% of the total marks. When completing the application form, students must select the NEET qualification codes that correspond to the qualifying exam. Candidates should familiarize themselves with the NEET qualification codes and NEET UG 2025 test mode syllabus by examining the table below.

NEET Examination Eligibility Codes 2025

For NEET UG 2025, examination codes (01-07) are used to categorise candidates based on their academic credentials. Code 1 pertains to pupils who will take Class 12 in 2025, Code 2 to those who have already graduated from Class 12, and Code 3 to those who have completed a 10+2 equivalent or pre-degree test.

NEET Qualifying codes	Qualifying examination codes
Code 01	Class 12 Board Exam 2025 Code Selection Students awaiting results must select a code. Must complete class 12 according to the standards by admission time.
Code 02	NEET 2025 Exam Code Usage Candidates studying for higher/senior secondary or Indian School Certificate Examination (ISCE) must use this code. The final two years of study should include science courses, extra electives, and English as a key subject. The examination code for NEET 2025 repeaters remains unchanged. For those who passed the qualifying exam from CBSE/ICSE or any state board in 2020, they can register using Code 2.
Code 03	Code Selection for Science Candidates Candidates with Intermediate/Pre-degree Science Examinations from Indian universities/boards. Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as required subjects. The curriculum should include hands-on evaluation in the science fields. Candidates with 12th-grade or equivalent qualifying exam from the state board are also eligible.
Code 04	Pre-Professional/Pre-Medical Exam Application Code Candidates with pre-professional/pre-medical examinations: Higher Secondary, Pre-University, or similar. The exam includes physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, and English. Requires practical examinations in multiple areas, including English.
Code 05	Code Selection for University Degree Program Candidates are enrolled in a three-year degree program at a recognized university. The first year includes practical assessments in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology. The qualifying exam must be a university examination. Previous qualifying examination, specifically 10+2, must include core topics.
Code 06	BSc Application Requirements Passed BSc Examination from an Indian university. At least two Physics, Chemistry, and Biology courses. Must have passed prior qualifying exam (10+2) in English, Physics, Chemistry, and Biology.
Code 07	Code Selection for Indian University/Board's Intermediate Science Examination Candidates with similar scope and standard (last two years of 10+2 studies) should choose this code. Candidates who completed the qualifying exam in an international country must also use this code.

Conclusion of NEET Eligibility Criteria 2025: Age Limit & Qualification

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2025 is important for Indian medical aspirants seeking admission to various medical programs. Eligibility is determined by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and includes age, educational qualifications (Class 12 with specific subjects and minimum marks), and nationality. There is no upper age limit or restriction on the number of attempts.

Frequently Asked Questions

Que1. What are the qualifications for NEET 2025?

Ans. The basic qualifying conditions vary depending on the category. The barrier for the General and EWS categories is established at the 50th percentile (a score of 261 out of 960). Candidates in the General PwBD category must score at the 45th percentile, or 244.

Que2. Is a 75% criterion necessary for NEET?

Ans. No, there is no 75% eligibility criteria for NEET 2025. In contrast to other engineering admission exams like JEE Main, NEET UG does not require a 75% overall in Class 12.

Que3. How many attempts may we make at NEET?

Ans. In 2018, changes to the NEET qualifying criteria resulted in the removal of NEET attempt restrictions. As a result, there are no restrictions on the number of attempts for the NEET exam.

Que4. What percentage is required for MBBS in India?

Ans. The percentage required for NEET in class 12 varies by category and can be summarised below. The eligibility criteria for NEET in the 12th grade will solely take into account the aggregate marks from PCB subjects: UR 50%, OBC/SC/ST 40%, and PWD 40%.

Que5. Who is eligible for the NEET exam?

Ans. Candidates who meet the NTA's eligibility standards can take the NEET exam.

Que6. What are the regulations for the NEET exam?

Ans. The authority has established precise regulations and criteria that an applicant must follow to be considered for the admission procedure. The applicant can review the guidelines contained in the information booklet to help them comply with it.

Que7. I will take a year off between grades 11 and 12. Am I qualified for the NEET 2025?

Ans. Yes, individuals who have taken a gap year are qualified for NEET 2025. Previously, MCI updated the "Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997", which stated that a student must finish a continuous two-year study term to be eligible for NEET. Nonetheless, the Delhi High Court struck down this modification, allowing candidates with gap years to take NEET 2025 for the time being. The most recent NEET information leaflet also mentions this.

Que8. Is it possible for me to take NEET 2026 if I do not pass the NEET 2025?

Ans. You are eligible to sit for NEET 2026 even if you did not pass NEET 2025. There are no limitations to retaking the exam.

Que9. Will there be varying attempt limits for various categories in NEET 2026?

Ans. No, the policy regarding attempts is the same across all categories, including General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD. Every individual has limitless opportunities.

Que10. If I am younger than 17 years old, may I apply for the NEET Exam 2026?

Ans. No, the minimum age for NEET 2026 is 17 years as of January 31, 2026.