2 Key Reasons for Postponement of NEET 2021 Exam
National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test 2025 ( NEET )
Counselling - 5 Nov '25 - 9 Nov '25
Why NEET 2021 could be postponed? The National Testing Agency will administer the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) on August 1, 2021. (NTA). Medical aspirants are demanding that the government postpone the NEET 2021 test owing to the surge of COVID-19 cases across the country, which has resulted in the cancellation and postponement of numerous boards and entrance exams.
Aspirants are also waiting for an update on the release date of the NEET 2021 application form, which was due to be issued on May 1 but was postponed. One of the probable causes for the postponing of the NEET 2021 test is a delay in the NEET registration procedure.
Explore colleges based on NEET
Want better recommendations?
There is a 90% more chance of getting best college recommendations by sharing preferences.
- Chat with our counselor
- Get your personalised list of colleges & exams matching your preferences
According to PTI sources, the NEET test may be postponed until September. Apart from the NTA's delay in releasing the NEET form date, applicants are concerned about the amount of COVID-19 instances across the country. And this might be a significant reason why NEET 2021 is being postponed till normalcy returns. The key reasons to postpone the NEET UG medical entrance test are discussed in this article.
According to PTI, NEET 2021 would most likely be pushed back to September. The NTA is yet to begin pre-exam activities such as registration, the rectification window, and the issuance of admit cards. And completing this procedure in a month appears to be a difficult challenge for NTA.
Explore more Medicine & Health Sciences exams with upcoming dates
10 Nov '25 - 29 Nov '25
1 Jan '26
31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26
28 Feb '26
23 Mar '26 - 24 Apr '26
- Possible Reasons for the Postponement of NEET-UG 2021
- NEET 2021 Application Form Release Date Trends
- India's COVID-19 Situation
- Students Demanding a Postponement of the NEET 2021 Exam
- NEET 2021 Exam: Seats at Stake
Possible Reasons for the Postponement of NEET-UG 2021
Here are some of the factors that might cause NEET 2021 to be postponed.
NEET 2021 Registration Procedure is Taking Longer Than Expected.
The notification further states that the NEET application form, as well as the comprehensive information bulletin, would be accessible on the official website, neet.nta.nic.in, immediately after the NEET exam date 2021 is announced. However, there has been no additional word on when the NEET application form would be made available?
Because of the delay in NEET 2021 registration, it's unclear how NTA will finish the application procedure in one month. NTA will be in charge of distributing the NEET bulletin, giving the proper window facility, and issuing NEET admit cards with the application forms.
The application form for the NEET test is usually issued 5-6 months before the exam date to provide applicants enough time to complete the rectification window, download the admit card or participate in any other pre-exam activities. Registration for the NEET test began on December 2, 2019, and the exam was held on September 13, 2020.
NEET 2021 Application Form Release Date Trends
The chart below depicts the year-by-year release of application forms and exam dates to help you understand the time-lapse between NEET registration and exam date.
NEET registration year-wise trends
| Year |
NEET Application Release Date |
Last Date to Register |
NEET Exam Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2020 |
December 2, 2019 |
January 6, 2020 |
September 13, 2020 |
| 2019 |
November 1, 2018 |
December 7, 2018 |
May 5, 2019 |
| 2018 |
February 8, 2018 |
March 9, 2018 |
May 6, 2018 |
| 2017 |
January 31, 2017 |
March 1, 2017 |
May 7, 2017 |
India's COVID-19 Situation
Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) and many state governments have suspended Class 12 board examinations because of the high number of COVID-19 cases in India. The third wave of Coronavirus is expected to hit the country in the following two months, around August, according to specialists.
Several state administrations have recommended administering the NEET exam after the test takers have been vaccinated. NEET 2021 may be postponed until September till then, according to rumours. However, the ministry of education is debating whether to hold the NEET UG 2021 exam, and a final decision would be made when the country's COVID situation is assessed.
Six ministers from opposition-ruled states petitioned the Supreme Court last year to have the NEET entrance exam postponed. The medical admission exam was repeatedly rescheduled. NEET was originally planned on May 3, but was postponed to July 26 and eventually held on September 13.
Students Demanding a Postponement of the NEET 2021 Exam
Meanwhile, medical students have taken to Twitter to petition the NTA and Education Minister Ramesh Pokhriyal 'Nishank' to postpone the NEET entrance test until October. Several recent tweets are included here.
A user urged Education Minister Prakash Javadekar and Prime Minister Narendra Modi to reconsider their choice.
Another user requested the Delhi Chief Minister to assist medical aspirants in deferring NEET 2021 due to 48 incidences of Delta+ (plus).
“Modiji, please postpone the NEET UG exam until October,” a NEET aspirant asked.
Because many students have not been vaccinated, an aspirant asked that NEET 2021 be postponed.
“Sir, you have cancelled CBSE Class 12 examinations (July) since it is difficult to vaccinate all kids in a short period of time, therefore why can't you postpone NEET-UG until mid October?” a medical aspirant tweeted, questioning the officials.''
Requesting that Ramesh Pokhriyal ‘Nishank,' the education minister, grasp the circumstances and publish the NEET exam date as soon as possible.
NEET 2021 Exam: Seats at Stake
However, the ministry of education is currently debating whether or not to hold the NEET UG entrance test, and no decision has yet been made. NEET 2021 will be held for 83,072 MBBS seats, 26,949 BDS seats, 52,720 AYUSH seats, and 603 BVSc & AH seats. NEET UG 2021 results will be accepted for BSc Nursing and BSc Life Sciences admissions starting in 2021.
Read More:
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jun '20 | AIIMS MBBS 2020 Results |
May '20 | AIIMS MBBS 2020 Exam |
Jun '20 | JIPMER 2020 exam (tentative) |
Nov '25 | FMGE 2025 Registration Decembe... |
17 Jan '26 | FMGE 2025 Exam December Sessio... |
Jan '26 | OJEE 2026 registrations |
Mar '26 | OJEE 2026: Last date of fee pa... |
Jul '22 | DAVV CET 2022 Registration |
Mar '26 | PU CET (UG) 2026 Application F... |
Apr '26 | PU CET (UG) 2026 Registration ... |
31 Dec '25 - 7 Jan '26 | NTA UGC NET December 2025 Exam... |
Jan '26 | NTA CMAT 2026 Exam Date |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered a month ago
PGIMER does not accept the NEET UG score. You need to appear in the PGIMER BSc Nursing exam separately for the BSc Nursing program. To appear in this examination, students must have completed the Class 12 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English subjects. A separate counseling will
P
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
For admission to BAMS at Taranath Government Ayurveda Medical College, you will generally need documents such as your NEET 2025 Scorecard, Class 12 mark sheets and certificate, Class 10 mark sheet, caste certificate (if applicable), domicile/nationality certificate, and passport-sized photographs. T
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
No, NEET is not compulsory to pursue medicine courses abroad. However, students who wish to return to India to practice medicine after completing their studies abroad need to have cleared the NEET exam.
A
Contributor-Level 8
Answered a month ago
When we talk about the paramedical courses which do not require you to sit for NEET exam then we have options like :
- Medical Lab Technology (MLT)
- Radiology and Imaging Technology
- Physiotherapy (BPT)
- Operation Theatre Technology
- Anesthesia Technology
- Optometry
- Dialysis Technology
- Nutrition and Dietetics
D
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, NEET-UG is mandatory for admission to the MBBS course at NTRUHS. The full form of NEET is National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET). This is the only entrance exam for admission to MBBS courses offered in India. The exam is conducted once a year in offline mode. Further, applicants who secu
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a month ago
Yes, applicants can get admission to the NTRUHS BSc course without NEET. As per the information available on the official website, admission to the BSc course is based on merit/ Andhra Pradesh EAMCET/ APNCET scores. Moreover, there is a possibility that some of the affiliated colleges of NTRUHS acc
K
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
The application fee ranges from INR 500 to INR 5,500. Students can check the table below to know the Karnataka NEET UG Counselling application fee:
Category | Fee (in INR) |
|---|---|
NRI/OCI/PIO/Foreign nationals | 5,500/- |
General/2A/2B/3A/3B | 2,500/- |
SC/ST/Cat-I/PWD | 500/- |
S
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, candidates seeking admission in MBBS programme of Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research must have a valid NEET score. Aspirants are allotted seats through centralised counselling by MCC of DGHS, New Delhi. There are a total of 250 seats available in the MBBS programme of SR
N
Guide-Level 15
Answered 2 months ago
Yes, NEET is obligatory for Indian students who want to practice in India after returning from foreign MBBS. If students don't qualify from NEET, they cannot register with the Medical Council of India (NMC).
NEET is not required for admission into foreign medical schools themselves. This would includ
Y
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 months ago
Jobs in engineering fields like Computer Science or AI from a top institute and becoming a Commercial Pilot are among the best high-paying jobs that do not require NEET.
Additionally, careers in Data Science, the Merchant Navy, and Pharmacy also offer lucrative opportunities without requiring the NEE
R
Contributor-Level 8
I have qualified for the NEET-UG, do I have to appear separately for PGIMER nursing entrance exam?