Deferment and uncertainty around NEET exam dates have resulted in an increased demand for alternative careers options in medicine which are not dependent on this entrance test. Know what caused this outflux here.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) may have announced the new exam dates for NEET 2020, but the uncertainty still looms in the minds of the test-takers. As the number of COVID-19 cases in India rise, NEET 2020 aspirants are worried that the examination may be pushed even further. Some even fear that NEET 2020 may be cancelled and the admissions to MBBS/BDS courses will be on the basis of the marks obtained in Class 12. However, these are merely speculations arising out of the fear of the unknown.
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
Many students have spent two or more years preparing for NEET exam. Many of them have appeared for NEET in previous years. The speculations around NEET 2020 exam dates and the admission process for the current year have caused these students to worry about their future. Preparing for NEET 2020 without knowing the fate of the examination is taking a toll on them. To break out of this, students have now turned to other career options in medicine which are not dependent on NEET. An indication of this is the steady rise in the number of students looking for information on the admission process of paramedical courses.
Also Read: Medical courses without NEET
Students have turned to take admissions in these courses rather than waiting out for NEET 2020. But the exam date is not the only concern. Many students do not have access to modern technology and have been missing out on the NEET preparation due to inaccessibility to coaching centres. The pandemic has caused reverse migration causing students to return to their homes, some of which are remote areas where internet connection is still weak/absent. Preparing for NEET 2020 is becoming a challenge for these students.
Explore more Medicine & Health Sciences exams with upcoming dates
15 Oct '26
20 Oct '26
7 Nov '26
18 Dec '26
But it is not only the less fortunate who have been affected by the delay in NEET exam dates. Many students who have been attending the online classes are also finding it difficult to complete their preparation. Online classes may be delivering the necessary information to these students, but is not helping them much with their doubts. Many students are not comfortable in clarifying doubts in an online session, while reaching out to the teacher offline is becoming difficult at the same time. The doubt clearing sessions organised online also have limited reach and accessibility. Another major change is that students have to appear for NEET mock tests online. The method is not proving to be useful for many students preparing for an examination which is meant to be held offline.
On the other hand, admission to paramedical and nursing courses, in most of the institutes, is based on the marks obtained in Class 12. The remaining institutions conduct a separate examination for admission to these courses. The application process for many institutions has just begun, giving the students an option to apply for the desired paramedical course. An added bonus is the fees, most paramedical courses have a reasonable tuition fee. Taking admission into one of the many paramedical courses will save these students from the hamster wheel that NEET 2020 preparation has become for them.
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) |
20 Oct '26 | FMGE October 2026 Exam City In... |
27 Oct '26 | FMGE October 2026 Exam Admit C... |
14 Jan '27 - 31 Jan '27 | OJEE 2027 registrations |
22 Apr '27 - 30 Apr '27 | OJEE 2027 Admit Card Release |
Jul '22 | DAVV CET 2022 Registration |
Jun '26 | PU CET (UG) 2026 Counselling P... |
May '26 | PU CET (UG) 2026 Result |
Student Forum
Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
Yes, a NEET rank of 1,000 can be considered an excellent rank if you belong to the General AI category. For the aforementioned category, the highest rank acceptable was 222044. On the other hand, for the BDS course, the maximum rank acceptable was 522640. Hence, a NEET Rank of 1,000 could get you ad
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
Here is the table below showing some of the top BSc Nursing college without NEET in Delhi NCR, along with their tuition fees.
| Top Colleges | Tuition Fee |
|---|---|
| Amity University, Gurugram | INR 7.52 lakh |
| Sharda School of Nursing Science & Research | INR 11.08 lakh |
| SGT University, Gurgaon | INR 13 lakh |
| Holy Family College of Nursing | INR 2.4 lakh |
| SVSU - Swami Vivekanand Subharti University | INR 9.95 lakh |
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 6 days ago
In many cases, yes. Some sources say NEET is not compulsory for BPT in Karnataka. Many private colleges admit students on 12th marks. Government and counselling seats may follow a different process. Rules change every year, so read the latest notice before you apply.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Not always. While NEET is common, several Karnataka colleges also accept KCET scores, and some even offer direct admission based on 12th marks. This is different from MBBS, where NEET is compulsory everywhere. So if you missed NEET or didn't score well, you still have other routes into a good nursin
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
The Kerala NEET UG Counselling Round 3 was conducted from September 16 to September 26. The deadline for candidates to report and join their allotted college/seat was October 1.
S
Beginner-Level 4
Answered a week ago
Yes, NEET UG is compulsory for any MBBS admission in India, including Bhopal. There is no other entrance exam or backdoor route allowed legally. After NEET, admission happens either via AIIMS-specific counselling or MP state counselling. Management quota seats also require a valid NEET score first.
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered a week ago
Hi.
Yes. You can do many paramedical/allied-health courses in Chennai without NEET.
For Tamil Nadu, the Directorate of Medical Education and Research has a separate admission process for Allied and Healthcare (AHS) UG degree courses, distinct from MBBS/BDS admission. The 2026–27 admission notification
h
Scholar-Level 17
Answered a week ago
Students need to attain a rank of at least 1746 in the NEET exam if they belong to the General AI category. The AIIMS Bathinda NEET Cutoff 2026 is released in the form of ranks. Candiates can check the table below to know the maximum rank required for other categories.
| Category | AIIMS Bathinda NEET Cutoff 2026 |
|---|---|
| General | 1746 |
| OBC | 2185 |
| SC | 18819 |
| ST | 28998 |
| EWS | 2928 |
| PwD | 118549 |
N
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Most B.Sc Nursing programmes in Uttar Pradesh do require a NEET UG score for admission. Some diploma-level or Post Basic Nursing programmes may accept students through separate state entrance tests instead. Private colleges sometimes have their own entrance criteria too. It's best to check each coll
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 weeks ago
Possibly yes, if your college accepts the separate MH B.Sc Nursing CET exam. Not every student needs to clear NEET to get a nursing seat in Maharashtra. Some private institutes rely purely on this state-level test. So a weak NEET score doesn't automatically close the door on nursing.
T
Contributor-Level 10