NEET Eligibility Criteria Changed, Attempts Capped to three

By Saumya Srivastav

As the new guidelines for National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (NEET) flood the news portals, Medical aspirants across the country are perplexed with the news as now, they can appear for the examination only thrice.

NEET-UG is a national level entrance examination for the medical and dental aspirants, which is conducted every year by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). All the accredited medical and dental colleges take admission to their MBBS/BDS programmes on the basis of the candidate’s NEET scores. The courses offered by these colleges are approved by the Medical/Dental Council of India which falls under the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India.

The newly introduced rules will limit the number of attempts and candidates appearing for the examination who took it as a second thought while trying their luck for other examinations. University Grants Commission (UGC) has also introduced the rules for age limits for candidates appearing for NEET, being a minimum of 17 years raising to 25 as the maximum, beyond which the candidate will not be entertained. Although, 5 years of leverage is allowed for reserved categories being, 30 as their maximum age to be considered as eligible. Your candidature will not be taken forward unless you meet the new eligibility criteria, in order to appear for the Medical and Dental Examination.

The new criteria will surely restrict these activities at the examination centers and capping on the number of attempts will require the aspirants to concrete their decision in terms of their interest and passion towards their career.

The New Eligibility Guidelines Include:

Age Eligibility:

• Candidate should be a minimum of 17 years at the time of admission which can exceed to a maximum of 25 years for general categories.
• +5 years of leverage is allowed to reserved categories which enables them to appear for the examination till 30 years.
• Overseas citizens of India (OCI) and Foreign Nationals are eligible to appear For NEET. Their candidature is subjected to certain rules and regulations framed by the respective State Government and Government of India.

Qualifications: (10+2)

• A minimum of 50% marks for General candidates (GC), 45% marks for Gen-PH and 40% marks for reserved categories (RC) in PCM/B, taken together in the qualifying examination.

NEET Scores (Minimum Percentile):

• The criteria has been changed from 50% of absolute marks to 50^th percentile for GC, 45^th percentile for GC-PH and 40^th percentile for RC, scored in the NEET examination. This is to ensure that no seats are remained unfilled.
• The percentile shall be determined on the basis of highest marks secured in All India common merit list in NEET for admission to MBBS course.

No state eligibility criteria will be applicable the students who take admission under 15% All India Quota Scheme.