Repeated delays in NEET PG counselling disrupt academic cycle, burdening resident docs

Repeated delays in NEET PG counselling disrupt academic cycle, burdening resident docs 

Experts warn that unless the schedule is streamlined and accountability is fixed, the ripple effects will continue to affect the postgraduate training cycle year after year

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com  27.10.2025  TIMES EDUCATION 

In 2025, the delay in NEET PG counselling and admissions has affected the academic cycle and is causing significant stress among PG aspirants and resident doctors due to uncertainty and increased workload. The NEET PG exam was held on August 3, 2025, and the results were declared on August 19, 2025. However, more than 60 days have passed since the exam, and admissions are still pending. 

In 2024, too, the NEET PG counselling was delayed, and the round 1 admissions were conducted in October. The PG counselling has been struggling with a steady schedule for the last five years; only in 2020 and 2023 did the counselling schedule start on time, giving PG students enough time to settle into their first-year routine. A delayed academic cycle creates a vicious loop and has a domino effect on the entire PG course. The authorities must ensure the academic cycle returns to track in 2026 to ensure a smooth admission process.

 “To regularise the academic cycle, some adjustments need to be made. This year, the seat metrics (seat data) were shared on October 15, and counselling registrations could begin only after the NMC shared the seat matrix. There’s only one way to make the process smoother: conduct inspections and release results on time,” says a Health Ministry official on condition of anonymity. Often, students are partly responsible for delays; they file petitions and delay the process further. If exams and metrics are completed on time, counselling will automatically begin on time.

 “NMC is facing staffing issues — it has 33 members, of whom just two are active. If exams and metrics are delayed, the entire timeline shifts. Ideally, exams should take place by March, and the counselling process should start by May or June. But when the initial flow breaks, the delay compounds. 

This year, the session should start around November, after the first round of counselling,” adds the official. The NEET PG course spans three years. In the first year, students must submit their thesis protocol; in the second year, they write the thesis; and in the third year, they take their final exam followed by the district residency programme.

 “If metrics come as late as October-November, everything shifts,” says the official. The PG course runs year-wise, and students must take one final exam after three years. “Postgraduates become eligible for taking superspeciality exams. Hence, when PG courses end late, super-speciality exams get delayed too. The delay starts from the very first year. The NMC conducts inspections regularly. Usually, they should start around September and ideally finish by March. It was delayed this year due to a lack of staff and court cases,” says the official. 

Resident doctors say that the NMC keeps updating the seat matrix long after the results have been announced and the counselling schedule released, and this lack of accountability and the inability to adhere to fixed timelines have become a pattern over the past three to four years. “Every year, counselling gets delayed and batches overlap; there’s no strict timeline for when postgraduate residency starts. There are two sets of students — those who’ve just finished their internship and are appearing for the PG exam for the first time, and those who’ve taken a drop of one or two years to secure their preferred branch. Those who’ve taken a drop spend heavily on rent and coaching fees, amounting to Rs 50,000 60,000 a month.

 It’s stressful for both the students and their parents,” says Dr Devaunshi Kaul, senior resident, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Safdarjung Hospital, and national president, FORDA. FAIMA executive, Dr Aman Kaushik, a NEET PG aspirant, says, “When the INI CET exam can be conducted on schedule, then it should not be untenable to conduct the NEET PG exam on schedule. AIIMS releases the schedule much in advance. It is important that NBEMS releases its exam schedule on time for the 2026-27 cycle.”

MBBS counselling impacted after MCC adds new seats midway

MBBS counselling impacted after MCC adds new seats midway

 Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 27.10.2025

TIMES EDUCATION   BANGALURU

Addition of 11,000 MBBS seats and introduction of new medical colleges midway has impacted the ongoing NEET UG 2025-26 counselling process adding to the troubles of aspirants. While the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has allowed seat upgrade options till the third round since last year (2024-25), the introduction of seats midway has led to disruption in seat allotment. Candidates who secured seats in the first two rounds felt cheated after new seats were opened in top medical colleges, as they already paid fees and reported to their allotted colleges. Since new seats have been added in a few AIIMS and govt medical colleges, candidates who had to settle for lesser-known colleges are clearly frustrated. 

Since many candidates did not choose the upgrade option, they have now missed the chance to compete for the newly added seats. The untimely addition of seats has created unequal opportunities for several talented candidates. Delhi-based counselling expert, Ashish Sinha, says, “NMC delayed the process of inspections and granting approvals to medical colleges. 

By the time new seats were added, aspirants had already joined elsewhere and could not participate in further rounds, as they did not select the upgrade option during the first round of counselling. If seats were added well before the counselling, the cut-off would not look elevated. High ranking students would have thoughtfully opted for the seat in a prominent college, based on their NEET scores.” Candidates who chose upgrade option will have to face significant financial strain as most of them have paid the fee, which is not fully refundable. Several medical colleges, such as MGM Medical College, Panvel, Maharashtra, charge up to Rs 50,000 as are location fee if a candidate decides to transfer to another institution, adds Sinha. 

According to the new MCC rules, aspirants can opt out of locking their seats until round III, which is mandatory during the stray vacancy phase. Dr B Srinivas, member secretary, MCC, says, “The decision to allow upgrade option in the third round was made to accommodate delayed seat approvals by NMC and ensure fair opportunities for all candidates. We knew that seat allotments were getting delayed repeatedly, so we consciously introduced upgradation in the third round this year.” 

The move benefits students seeking government medical colleges after initially being allotted private colleges. “If a student got a private medical seat earlier but now prefers a government college, with the help of this option, they can move to the college of their choice. The vacated seat will automatically be allotted to another candidate, ensuring that all available seats are filled. This system is expected to create a dynamic flow of seat reallocation, giving more students the chance to secure better placements,” Dr Srinivas adds.

However, aspirants appearing for the state counselling face difficulty in switching from state colleges to the colleges offering All India Quota (AIQ) seats. “State counselling bodies impose strict regulations that prevent students from switching to MCC seats after Round II. In one case, during the 2025-26 counselling cycle, an aspirant who had secured admission in Karnataka paid Rs 44 lakh as annual fees, but he was unable to move to DY Patil Medical College, Pune, in Round III. New seats introduced in Round III under MCC significantly lowered the cut-off for DY Patil, Pune. Had all seats been released at once, the student would likely have secured admission there in Round II. Rules stipulate that if an aspirant surrenders a seat after Round II, the entire first-year fee is forfeited—locking them into their initial choice,” says Sinha.

Cabinet adds 10,000 new MBBS, PG seats; faculty shortage could restrict seat expansion

Cabinet adds 10,000 new MBBS, PG seats; faculty shortage could restrict seat expansion

 Unless the paucity is addressed, increasing seats would risk diluting training quality of new doctors 

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com 06.10.2025

The Union Cabinet approved phase-III medical expansion in September 2025, greenlighting the addition of over 10,000 new MBBS and PG seats to boost India’s healthcare capacity. As the government pushes ahead with expanding MBBS and postgraduate medical seats across the country, experts warn that a chronic shortage of faculty and inadequate infrastructure may dilute the quality of medical education. 

A 2023 NITI Aayog report pegged the faculty shortfall at nearly 30%. According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha, approximately 40% of faculty positions in various AIIMS remained unfilled in 2025. Premier institutions, such as AIIMS New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, and Rishikesh, have a faculty shortage of 23%-38% across various levels. 

A senior official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare acknowledges that the shortage of faculty remains a pressing concern. “The government has put in place stop-gap measures to address the issue as medical seats continue to expand,” he adds. “In a few streams, especially in the preand para-clinical areas, medical colleges are unable to find suitable faculty as fewer students opt for them compared to clinical subjects,” says the official. To increase the faculty number, the government has allowed MSc and PhD candidates to teach preand para-clinical subjects. “This is only for the initial years; eventually, reliance will increase on AI and e-books that will assist the faculty,” says the official.

Broadening the faculty pool through MSc and PhD candidates is necessary; however, preference will be given to candidates with MBBS/MD degrees. Once there is sufficient faculty and the system stabilises, these pressures will gradually subside, he adds.

Doubling MBBS seats without increasing the number of teachers and developing infrastructure will not help sustain the quality of education, says Dr Sajal Bansal, chief advisor, FAIMA, Maharashtra. “The student-teacher ratio is impacted negatively because of faculty shortage. Earlier, one teacher taught 20-25 students; now, a teacher is expected to handle a higher number of students,” he adds. To understand student experiences, FAIMA has launched a nationwide survey of medical students, covering issues such as faculty availability, clinical exposure, libraries, and infrastructure. 

Over 1,700 responses have been received so far. The shortage is particularly acute in non-clinical subjects such as Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Microbiology, where PG seats often remain vacant. “Most students prefer clinical branches because they want patient exposure, and non-clinical departments suffer because opportunities are limited — labs are under equipped, research exposure is poor, and job prospects are uncertain,” says Dr Bansal. Hospitals with more than 220 beds are also being converted into medical colleges to expand capacity. “These measures may bring some temporary relief, but they will not fully solve the shortage,” says Dr Sanjay Teotia, senior consultant, Balrampur Hospital, UP. 

Unless the shortage is addressed, the rapid expansion of medical seats risks diluting the training of new doctors. “Infrastructure and faculty must grow in tandem with seat expansion. Otherwise, the system will produce doctors with limited clinical exposure and inadequate guidance, which will ultimately affect patient care,” says Dr Teotia. SSC introduces reforms to make exams secure and transparent The SSC has rolled out a series of reforms to make its examinations more transparent, secure, and convenient for candidates. Candidates appearing in SSC exams can view their own question papers, responses, and the correct answers. However, restrictions apply during ongoing multishift exams to ensure that papers from later sessions are not compromised. To further assist aspirants, the Commission has also decided to publish selected past question papers as official sample sets at regular intervals. SSC has halved the fee for challenging questions, from Rs 100 to Rs 50 per question, reducing the financial burden on aspirants who wish to contest an answer. 

Another significant measure is the introduction of equi-percentile normalisation. This method compares candidates based on their percentile score rather than raw marks. It removes any 

advantage or disadvantage that may arise from variation in difficulty levels across different exam shifts. Ensuring exam security and fairness has also been a major focus. Aadhaarbased authentication has been introduced to prevent impersonation and to stop candidates from attempting the same exam multiple times.

NEET cut-offs for MBBS, BDS drop after 2nd round of counselling

NEET cut-offs for MBBS, BDS drop after 2nd round of counselling

SEAT MATRIX 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 03.10.2025

Chennai : At the end of second round of counselling for MBBS/BDS admissions, cutoffs in NEET-UG 2025 came down by two to four marks in govt medical colleges compared to first round, and up to 10 marks in govt quota seats in self-financing colleges. While the last mark for a student to get into a medical college (state private university) was 354, the cut-off scores in BDS dropped by up to 100-222 marks in round 2 of counselling.

At the end of round 2, cutoffs dropped in almost all categories, although there was no major difference in ranks. For instance, the OC (open category) cut-off for govt colleges plummeted from 650 in 2024 to 534 in 2025. In 2024, NEET cutoff for a student to get into any college in any category at the end of round 2 was 403 marks. In BDS, the cut-off was 245.

The drop in cut-offs doesn’t indicate an easing of admissions, experts say. “There is only a marginal difference in the ranks of students, though we see big differences in scores,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “Students, including many repeat candidates, found the NEET 2025 tougher. Overall performance dropped across India. There was no perfect score, and the top score was 686,” he said.

Students who were allotted seats must join colleges of their choice before deadline, or they will have to take part in the round 3 of counselling for colleges of their choice. 

The National Medical Commission allowed St Peter’s Medical College Hospital to take 100 more students by increasing total seats to 250, while Vivekananda Medical College Hospital and Research Institute will add 50 seats. These seats, along with 50 more in BDS, will be added to seat matrix once the state medical university grants affiliation, said selection committee officials.

NEET UG 2025: NRI Quota Admissions Only After Three-Tier Verification

NEET UG 2025: NRI Quota Admissions Only After Three-Tier Verification

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) released the All India Quota MBBS and BDS seat matrix on Tuesday night.

Patrika Desk

Jul 23, 2025

NEET UG

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), New Delhi, has issued a notification implementing new conditions for the admission process to MBBS seats under the NRI quota.

According to the new guidelines, students seeking admission under the NRI quota must now have their NRI status verified by the Indian Mission of the Ministry of External Affairs in their respective countries. Only after verification of documents related to the student's NRI status, or their status as the son/daughter of an NRI, or being under the guardianship of an NRI, by the Indian Mission in the country concerned, will the student be eligible for admission to an MBBS seat under the NRI quota. If documents related to the NRI category are found to be forged, action will be taken against not only the student but also the medical institution granting admission. If forged or incomplete documents are found during the investigation, the MBBS seat allocated to the student will also be cancelled.

Seat Matrix Released, Choice Filling Until 28t

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) released the All India quota MBBS and BDS seat matrix on Tuesday night. With this, the MCC has also started the process of the All India online first-round counselling. The seat matrix for the online first-round counselling has been released according to the availability of seats in different institutions. Along with the release of the seat matrix, the choice filling process has also begun, which will run from 22nd to 28th July. Information on the first-round seat allotment will be released on 31st July.

Verification Process

First Level: The respective medical college will verify the documents at the time of reporting.

Second Level: The college will send the documents to the MCC, which will conduct a second verification.

Third Level: The MCC will send the documents to the Indian Mission/Ministry of External Affairs of the respective country for verification.

20 debarred for forging certificates in MBBS, BDS applications

20 debarred for forging certificates in MBBS, BDS applications

Pushpa.Narayanan@timesofindia.com. 16.07.2025

Chennai : At least 20candidates who forged their nativity, community, and NRI certificates in their MBBS/BDS applications have been debarred for three academic years, and their candidature for 2025 admissions cancelled, the selection committee announced on Tuesday. The committee will also initiate legal action against the candidates. The committee scrutinised more than 70,000 applications received for undergraduate medical and dental courses over the last two weeks. “We found some candidates submitted fake/forged/false documents. Their candidature is cancelled. If any more candidates are found to have submitted such documents at any stage of counselling or admission process, the same measures will be carried out,” said an official. At least four candidates forged certificates from embassies such as Abu Dhabi, Malaysia, and Saudi Arabia. While seven applicants submitted fake nativity certificates from the tahsildars, nine others forged both community and nativity certificates, the announcement said. “Last year, we found fake embassy certificates in UG and PG applications. In some cases, students even managed to take the seat. We cancelled their admission, but we are still fighting court battles,” a senior official said. To intensify screening, the selection committee has a four-tier system to verify documents. While the first tier of staff, mostly outsourced, verifies if candidates completed the documents, staff in the second tier red-flag suspicious documents, and officials in the third and final tier decide on action to be taken. Officials are now verifying other documents, including NEET admit cards, relationship certificates, and minority certificates, besides community, nativity, and NRI certificates. “When candidates make a small mistake by mentioning the wrong sex or if they fail to submit some document, we give candidates time for correction. But if the mistake is with mala fide intentions, we cancel candidature,” the official added.

NEET 2025: Check Out Top Medical Colleges In Tamil Nadu To Pursue MBBS

NEET 2025: Check Out Top Medical Colleges In Tamil Nadu To Pursue MBBS

 As Per NIRF Written By Divyani Paul  

Published On 20 June 2025 6:03 PM | Updated On 20 June 2025 6:03 PM

Tamil Nadu- Tamil Nadu is known for its strong educational infrastructure, which is why the state is currently in the top states list on the highest number of medical colleges in India. The state has over 75 medical colleges, of which 39 are government and 36 are private institutions.

Tamil Nadu's reign is also reflected in the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) released by the Ministry of Education in 2024. On this, a total of seven medical colleges from the state made it to the NIRF 2024 ranking list.

In the top 50 medical institutes released by NIRF under the Ministry of Education, Christian Medical College has secured 3rd rank with 75.11 marks, Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham has secured 8th rank with 68.81, Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital has secured 10th rank with 64.12, Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences has secured 12th rank with 63.72, SRM Institute of Science and Technology has secured 18th rank with 62.00, Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research has secured 20th rank with 61.62, and PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research has secured 41st rank with 53.11.

Moreover, according to the NIRF Rankings 2024 released last year by the Ministry of Education, The following are the top 50 Medical colleges across India, as per the NIRF Ranking 2024 -

Rank Institute State Score 

1 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Delhi Delhi 94.46 

2 Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research Chandigarh 80.83 

3 Christian Medical College Tamil Nadu 75.11

 4 National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences, Bangalore Karnataka 71.92 

5 Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research Pondicherry 70.74 

6 Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences | | Uttar Pradesh 70.07 

7 Banaras Hindu University Uttar Pradesh 69.54

8 Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham Tamil Nadu 68.81 

9 Kasturba Medical College, Manipal Karnataka 67.42 

10 Madras Medical College and Government General Hospital, Chennai Tamil Nadu 64.12 

11 Dr. D. Y. Patil Vidyapeeth Maharashtra 64.10

 12 Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences Tamil Nadu 63.72 

13 Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 63.68 

14 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Rishikesh Uttarakhand 63.16 

15 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhubaneswar Odisha 62.97 

16 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Jodhpur Rajasthan 62.57 

17 Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital Delhi 62.36 

18 S.R.M. Institute of Science and Technology Tamil Nadu 62.00 

19 King Georges Medical University Uttar Pradesh 61.95

20 Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research Tamil Nadu 61.62 

21 Siksha O` Anusandhan Odisha 61.28 

22 Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research West Bengal 60.47 

23 Datta Meghe Institute of Higher Education and Research Maharashtra 60.14 

24 Maulana Azad Medical College Delhi 59.63 

25 Kalinga Institute of Industrial Technology Odisha 59.60 

26 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Patna Bihar 58.24 

27 Aligarh Muslim University Uttar Pradesh 58.07 

28 St. John's Medical College Karnataka 58.03 

29 Lady Hardinge Medical College Delhi 57.80 

30 Armed Force Medical College Maharashtra 57.68 

31 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Bhopal Madhya Pradesh 57.66 

32 University College of Medical Sciences Delhi 57.65 

33 Kasturba Medical College, Mangalore Karnataka 57.12 

34 Institute of Liver and Biliary Sciences Delhi 56.89 

35 Govt. Medical College & Hospital Chandigarh 56.53 

36 Maharishi Markandeshwar (Deemed to be University) Haryana 56.53 

37 Jamia Hamdard Delhi 55.53 

38 All India Institute of Medical Sciences Raipur Chhattisgarh 55.27 

39 JSS Medical College, Mysore Karnataka 55.00 

40 Dayanand Medical College Punjab 54.48 

41 PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Tamil Nadu 53.11 

42 Government Medical College, Thiruvananthapuram Kerala 52.30 

43 Sawai Man Singh Medical College Rajasthan 51.91 

44 Medical College West Bengal 51.87

 45 Gujarat Cancer and Research Institute Gujarat 51.77 

46 M. S. Ramaiah Medical College Karnataka 51.76 

47 Mahatma Gandhi Medical College and Research Institute Pondicherry 51.02 

48 Osmania Medical College Telangana 50.99

 49 Christian Medical College Punjab 50.96 

50 Pandit Bhagwat Dayal Sharma University of Health Sciences Haryana 50.71

Disclaimer: This website is primarily for healthcare professionals. The content here does not replace medical advice and should not be used as medical, diagnostic, endorsement, treatment, or prescription advice. Medical science evolves rapidly, and we strive to keep our information current. If you find any discrepancies, please contact us at corrections@medicaldialogues.in.

MCC counselling: Check procedure to apply, registration fee and documents required for candidates who cleared NEET UG exam

MCC counselling: Check procedure to apply, registration fee and documents required for candidates who cleared NEET UG exam

ET Online Last Updated: Jun 16, 2025, 10:17:00 AM IST

Synopsis NEET UG 2025 results are out, and counselling is expected to begin soon for MBBS, BDS, and BSc-Nursing admissions. Qualified candidates must register on the MCC website. Counselling includes AIQ, State Quota, Deemed & Central Universities, and Private Medical Colleges. 

Eligibility requires meeting the NTA's cut-off percentile. Keep documents ready and stay updated on the official website for announcements. Agencies MCC Counselling 2025 Now that the The NEET UG 2025 results are out, the counselling process is expected to begin soon. However, the exam authority has not given any confirmation on the counselling procedure for admission to MBBS, BDS, and BSc-Nursing courses in medical and dental colleges all over India.

Students who have qualified for the NEET UG 2025 exam must register on the official MCC website to participate in the counselling rounds. NEET Counselling: Types There are four types of counselling. All India Quota (AIQ) – 15% and State Quota – 85%, Counselling for Deemed & Central Universities, and Private Medical College Counselling.

The AIQ counselling is done by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for admission to MBBS/BDS seats in Central and Deemed Universities, including AIIMS, JIPMER, AMU, BHU, and others.

State Quota Counselling is conducted by the respective state counselling authorities. Each state manages admissions to 85% of the seats in government and private medical colleges within the state.

Deemed and Central Universities Counselling is done for all seats in Deemed Universities and Central Universities like AIIMS, JIPMER, and others, which is also conducted by the MCC.

Private Medical Colleges conduct their separate counselling processes for their seats, often based on NEET scores, but sometimes with additional criteria as well. No announcement of date yet Generally, NEET UG 2025 counselling begins in July or August, a month after the announcement of results. The state quota counselling begins around the same timeframe, depending on the state.

However, there is no official confirmation on the commencement of the counselling process. Candidates who have qualified for the NEET UG 2025 exam are advised to keep their documents ready for the counselling process.

Counselling procedure During counselling, the eligibility criteria, self-declarations, all the uploaded documents, etc., of the eligible candidates shall be verified as per norms specified by the respective authorities and/or Medical / Dental Colleges.

AACCC (All-India Ayush Central Counselling Committee) is the counselling authority for AIQ to BAMS, BUMS and BSMS courses under NCISM. AACCC is also be the Counselling Authority for AIQ concerning BHMS under NCH. Who is eligible to appear for NEET UG 2025 Counselling? To be eligible for NEET UG 2025 counselling (both All India Quota and State Quota), candidates must have secured equal to or above the qualifying cut-off percentile as prescribed by the NTA.

Here are the qualifying percentiles and corresponding cut-off marks: Category Qualifying Percentile Cut-off Marks Unreserved (UR) / EWS 50th percentile 686 – 144 OBC / SC / ST 40th percentile 143 – 113 UR-PwBD 45th percentile 143 – 127 OBC/SC/ST-PwBD 40th percentile 126 – 113

How to apply for MCC counselling? Visit the official website of MCC. Register themselves by providing basic details. Pay registration fee, select your preferred colleges, and lock preferences. After this process, the seat allotment list will be issued by the concerned counselling authority. Then, the candidates will have to report to the allotted college for document verification. Failure to do so will result in the cancellation of their seat.

Documents required NEET 2025 Admit Card NEET 2025 Scorecard/Rank Letter Class 10 & 12 Mark Sheets Identity Proof (Aadhar/PAN/Passport/Voter ID) Passport-size photographs (8 copies) Caste Certificate (if applicable) Disability Certificate (if applicable) Documents for NRI candidates Passport & Embassy Certificate Sponsorship Affidavit Relationship Affidavit Application Fee

NEET Counselling: Registration fee There is a registration fee, which varies based on the category. Candidates belonging to the general category will have to pay a refundable fee of Rs 1,000 (as per the previous year's notification), and reserved category candidates will have to pay Rs 500. There will be a Rs 5,000 fee for deemed universities for all categories. Candidates are advised to refer to the official website for more recent updates.

Refundable security amount: Rs 10,000 for UR/EWS candidates and Rs 5,000 for SC/ST/OBC/PwD. Any UR candidate opting for Central Universities/ AFMC/ ESI will pay Rs 1000+ Rs 10,000, which amounts to Rs. 11,000 at the time of registration. Any SC/ST/OBC/PwD candidate will pay Rs 500 + Rs 5,000, amounting to Rs. 5,500 at the time of registration.

NEET-UG 2025 held peacefully, but paper errors spark anxiety

NEET-UG 2025 held peacefully, but paper errors spark anxiety

 Manash.Gohain@timesofindia.com 11.06.2025

New Delhi : NEET-UG 2025, held on May 4, was conducted securely, thanks to enhanced security measures put in place by ministry of education, in coordination with state authorities. However, students and parents/guardians have raised serious concerns over errors in the question paper and delays in redressal of grievances, urging National Testing Agency (NTA) to respond quickly. 

The exam results are expected later this month. NEET-UG remains the gateway for over 20 lakh students aspiring to get into MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate medical courses.

In Sikar (Rajasthan) and Gujarat, candidates received faulty booklets with jumbled page numbers. For example, students who received Paper Code 47 in Sikar found that the pages of the question paper were not in order. In Gujarat, particularly in Jamnagar, candidates using the Gujaratimedium Paper Code 48 faced the same issue. Due to the incorrect sequence of pages in the question paper — like question 7 being followed by question 15 — some candidates said they darkened the circle for the wrong question. Others said valuable time was lost trying to figure out the correct corresponding circles on the answer sheet. 

Following the exam, parents/guardians submitted formal complaints to Gujarat govt and NTA, attaching scanned copies of the faulty booklets as proof. “Students even raised the issue during the test but were told to solve the faulty paper,” a parent wrote. 

A state official confirmed the receipt of such complaints. The NTA has declined to comment on the Sikar case, stating the matter is sub judice. Examinees and coaching experts have also flagged certain questions as being beyond the medical syllabus. One example doing the rounds is question 38 of Code 47, which involved solving a calculusbased derivative — a topic more suited to engineering entrance tests like JEE (Main). Although the provisional answer keys were released on June 3, several students say they have not received any acknowledgement from NTA regarding their objections. An NTA official said:  questions were from the prescribed syllabus. The answer keys have been published and objections invited from candidates. These will be reviewed by a committee of subject experts”. He also clarified that there are four versions of the question paper, each with its own answer key. 

However, this does not resolve the concern about misprinted or non-sequential pages, which is a layout issue rather than a content-related one.

 RESULTS BY JUNE END: In Sikar (Rajasthan) and Gujarat, candidates received faulty booklets with jumbled and non-sequential page numbers

Difficulty level of Physics in NEET may continue to increase

Difficulty level of Physics in NEET may continue to increase

 Over 40% of Physics questions in NEET 2025 could not be solved in 1- minute-per-question timeframe 

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 12.05.2025

NEET-UG held on May 4, 2025, brought tears to candidates who struggled to complete the Physics section on time. Most candidates walked out of the exam centres disheartened, primarily due to the difficulty level of the Physics section. Overall, the entire question paper was timeconsuming. Experts claim that the Physics section included questions that were of the Joint Entrance Examination (JEE) and Physics Olympiad level. The difficulty level of NEET is expected to rise in the future as the National Testing Agency (NTA) plans to regulate the competition. NEET format requires aspirants to solve 180 questions in 180 minutes, allowing only one minute per question. To succeed, students must not only have a strong grasp of the subjects but also solid time management. However, many found that several questions in the Physics section demanded more than a minute to solve, disturbing their rhythm and triggering panic among the exam takers. 

Akshay Saxena, co-founder, Avanti Fellows, says, “The paper was based on NCERT syllabus, but the difficulty level was higher than NEET 2024, where 17 students secured top ranks. Clearly, NTA wants to increase the competition level. The Physics questions were based on reasoning, and a few were paragraph-based questions, which consumed more time to comprehend. Moreover, questions in the Biology section were drawn from topics not covered in previous years.” Nabin Kaarki, national academic director, Medical, Aakash Educational Services Limited, says, “The Physics paper, this year, was one of the toughest. NEET question papers consist of straightforward questions, but it was more complicated. 

Around 40% of the Physics involved multiple concepts and required a deeper level of mathematical understanding.” NEET 2025 tested not only knowledge and time management but also aspirants’ ability to perform under pressure. “Earlier, NEET was primarily about speed. This year, finishing the paper within 180 minutes seemed nearly impossible,” Kaarki says, adding, that about seven to eight questions in the Physics section were of high difficulty, with one even resembling a Physics Olympiad-level problem. This overwhelmed students who did not have a strong foundation in Physics.

As a result of the challenging Physics section, “A significant drop in the NEET cutoff this year is predicted. While last year’s cut-off ranged between 600 and 650, this year it is expected to fall to 500–550,” says Saxena. It is anticipated that a lower overall performance among candidates may reduce the admission cut-offs across categories. “The cut-off scores for the General category may range between 550- 580 marks, while for OBC candidates, they could be between 530-560 marks. Similarly, the SC category will be in the range of 400-450, and the ST categories are projected to have cut-offs ranging from 350 -400 marks,” says Anil Nagar, Founder and CEO, Adda247. Despite the paper’s difficulty, counselling and seat allotment process will continue to follow the same standard procedure, including multiple rounds and a stray vacancy round. “Top rankers will still have the first choice of college, whether their score is 720/720 or 670/720. In any competitive exam, what matters is being better than the rest. Competition is not going anywhere it is simply evolving; students are advised to be prepared for difficult papers in the coming years,” says Kaarki. 

The high difficulty of this year’s NEET paper may increase the number of repeat attempters in NEET 2026. “As repeaters often feel additional pressure to secure a good rank. Repeaters will need to adapt their preparation strategies, focusing more on conceptual clarity and advanced problemsolving to tackle similarly tough papers in the future. The increasing competition and unpredictability could make drop years riskier, but committed students may still see it as a necessary step,” says Naga

NEET 2025: NTA Issues Exam Day Guidelines, Dress Code, Barred Items List

NEET 2025: NTA Issues Exam Day Guidelines, Dress Code, Barred Items List

NTA has issued detailed NEET 2025 rules, including dress code, items allowed, barred items, and exam day instructions. Candidates must follow guidelines strictly to avoid cancellation of candidature.

Authored by: TN Education Desk

Updated May 3, 2025, 12:58 IST

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the rules and regulations for the NEET UG 2025 exam. These guidelines are crucial for all medical aspirants appearing for the exam. 

The NEET 2025 exam will be held in offline mode (pen and paper-based). Candidates must follow the instructions strictly, as failure to do so may lead to cancellation of their candidature.

NEET 2025 Exam Rules and Guidelines

Candidates appearing for NEET 2025 will undergo extensive checking at the exam centres using highly sensitive metal detectors. The NTA has clearly stated that certain items are strictly prohibited inside the examination hall under all circumstances.

Barred Items Include:

Study and Stationery Items: Printed/written material, geometry boxes, calculators, pens, plastic pouches, pen drives, erasers, log tables, electronic pens or scanners.

Electronic Devices: Mobile phones, Bluetooth devices, microphones, earphones, pagers, health bands.

Personal Belongings: Wallets, goggles, handbags, belts, caps.

Accessories: Watches, wristwatches, bracelets, cameras.

Jewellery/Metallic Items: Any form of ornament or metallic item.

Food and Drinks: Opened or packed food items, water bottles.

Suspicious Devices: Items that could hide microchips, cameras, or communication devices.There will be no facility at the exam centres to store personal belongings, and candidates bringing such items will be held responsible.

Candidates wearing customary, cultural, or religious clothing must report to the exam centre at least two hours before the last reporting time to allow for smooth and respectful frisking. If any suspected device is found during screening within these garments, candidates may be asked to remove or leave the item outside the hall.

NEET 2025 Dress Code Guidelines

To ensure fairness, the NTA has issued a strict dress code:

Heavy clothing or long sleeves are not allowed.

Candidates wearing cultural or customary attire should arrive an hour before the last reporting time (12:30 PM).

Only slippers or sandals with low heels are permitted. Shoes are strictly not allowed.

Any exceptions due to medical or other valid reasons must be approved by NTA before the admit card is issued.

Candidates are advised to regularly check the official website for more information and updates.

NMC issues clarification on NIOS students’ eligibility for NEET UG: Check details here

NMC issues clarification on NIOS students’ eligibility for NEET UG: Check details here

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has confirmed that NIOS students are eligible for NEET UG 2025 under GMER-23 regulations. Clarifying confusion over NTA’s NEET-UG Bulletin 2025, NMC stated that NIOS students, including those taking an additional subject at an authorized institution, can apply. NEET UG 2025 registration is open until March 7.

TOI Education

Mar 1, 2025, 9:47 IST

NIOS enrollment

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a clarification regarding the eligibility of National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) students for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) Undergraduate 2025. The clarification follows concerns over discrepancies between the National Testing Agency’s (NTA) NEET-UG Bulletin 2025 and NMC regulations.

In response to an RTI application dated February 11, 2025, the NMC addressed confusion regarding NIOS students’ eligibility for NEET UG 2025 due to interpretations of the NEET-UG Bulletin 2025. The commission clarified that students from NIOS, state open schools, or private candidates qualify under the GMER 2023 regulations.

NIOS students eligible for NEET UG 2025

Furthermore, the NMC noted that students are permitted to study an additional subject through NIOS, provided it is undertaken at an authorized institution. This clarification aims to address concerns among aspirants regarding their eligibility status.

Meanwhile, the National Testing Agency (NTA) began the online registration process for NEET UG 2025 on February 7. Interested candidates can apply for the exam through the official website, neet.nta.nic.in, until March 7, 2025.

NEET UG is the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other medical courses across India. The NMC’s clarification provides relief to NIOS students seeking to appear for the exam, ensuring they remain eligible under the latest regulations.

Candidates can check the official notice as provided here.

For more information, candidates are advised to visit the official website of the National Medical Commission.