The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduate (NEET-UG) is a national level entrance examination conducted annually for admission to undergraduate medical courses in various government and private medical colleges across India. Here’s everything you need to know about the NEET-UG exam.

Eligibility Criteria: To be eligible to apply for NEET-UG, a candidate must have passed the 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology as compulsory subjects. The minimum qualifying marks in the qualifying examination vary for different categories. For General category candidates, it is 50%, while for SC/ST/OBC candidates, it is 40% and for General-PwD candidates, it is 45%.

Exam Pattern: NEET-UG is an offline mode (pen-and-paper-based) exam that consists of a total of 180 multiple-choice questions, each carrying four marks. The duration of the exam is three hours. The questions are asked from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology) subjects. The distribution of questions is as follows: 45 questions each from Physics and Chemistry, and 90 questions from Biology.

Application Process: The application process for NEET-UG is conducted online through the official website, neet.nta.nic.in. Candidates need to register themselves on the website first, after which they can fill the application form, upload the necessary documents, and pay the application fee. The application fee for General and OBC category candidates is Rs. 1500, while for SC/ST/PwD candidates, it is Rs. 800.

Admit Card: The Admit Card for NEET-UG is also issued online through the official website. Candidates need to download and print the Admit Card to appear for the exam. The Admit Card contains details such as the candidate’s name, roll number, photograph, signature, exam center address, and exam timings.

Result: The NEET-UG result is usually declared within a month after the exam date. The result is published on the official website, and candidates can check it by entering their roll number and date of birth.

Counseling: After the declaration of the result, the counseling process begins. The counseling process is conducted by the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS) on behalf of the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). The counseling is done in online mode, and candidates need to register themselves on the official website to participate in the counseling process. The counseling is done based on the candidate’s rank in the merit list, and candidates are allotted seats in various medical colleges based on their preferences.

NEET-UG is one of the most popular entrance exams in India, and lakhs of students appear for it every year. Aspirants who wish to appear for NEET-UG are advised to stay updated with the official website and regularly check for any updates regarding the exam. With proper preparation and dedication, one can easily crack the NEET-UG exam and secure a seat in a prestigious medical college.