NEET UG 2024-25 shatters records with 24 Lakh applications

In a significant milestone for medical education in India, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) for the 2024-25 academic year has set a new record with a staggering 24 lakh applications received from aspiring candidates. This marks the ninth consecutive year of improvement for NEET UG, underlining its status as the premier entrance exam for medical, dental, and allied health programs in the country.

The surge in applications can be attributed partly to the addition of approximately 6000 more seats in government colleges, which has slightly eased the competition, bringing the aspirants per seat ratio to 42.2. Notably, there has been a remarkable increase of 3 lakh registrations compared to the previous year, representing the highest jump in the last seven years.

Since its inception in 2017 when it surpassed the 10 lakh mark, NEET UG has consistently witnessed a substantial rise in applicants. This year’s record application count outpaced its closest competitor, CUET UG, by five lakhs, solidifying NEET UG’s position as the largest medical entrance exam in India.

Despite challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020-21, NEET UG has maintained an impressive growth rate in applications, with an increase of over 11 percent annually, except during the pandemic years. However, until 2023, the expansion of government college seats had not kept pace with the growing number of candidates. This trend shifted in 2024, with the addition of 17 seats surpassing the 14.1 percent increase in applicants, resulting in a favorable seat-to-applicant ratio of 1:42.2, the best in nine years.

The number of seats in government colleges reached 56,385 across 706 institutions in 2024, marking a substantial increase from previous years. Notably, female participation in NEET UG has consistently outnumbered males for over a decade, with the 2024 exam witnessing the highest-ever female participation at 57.2 percent.

NEET UG, introduced by the government of India as part of the ‘One Nation One Examination’ policy, serves as a unified platform for medical aspirants seeking admission to various institutions across the country. Conducted in offline mode, NEET UG remains a critical component of the medical education landscape, facilitating fair and transparent admissions processes for students nationwide.