AppNEET Eligibility Criteria
Age, nationality, the Class 12 requirement, attempt limits and reservation — the four gates you pass before the exam is even relevant.
You need to be 17 by 31 December of the admission year, have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English, and scored at least 50% in those science subjects — 40% for SC, ST and OBC, 45% for General-PwD.
There is no upper age limit and no cap on attempts. Indian nationals, NRIs, PIOs, OCIs and foreign nationals are all eligible.
Age #
You must turn 17 on or before 31 December of the year you seek admission. There is no upper limit.
| Category | Minimum Age Limit |
|---|---|
| General | Born on or before December 31, 2003 |
| SC/ST/OBC/PWD | Born on or before December 31, 2003 |
The lower bound is the one that bites: a candidate who turns 17 in January of the admission year is not eligible that cycle, however well they score. The upper limit was removed, so droppers and mature candidates face no ceiling.
Needs refresh: the table above is pinned to a 2003 birth date, which was the 2020 cycle’s cutoff. The rule is stable; the date is not.
Nationality #
Every nationality category is eligible — Indian, NRI, PIO, OCI and foreign nationals.
| CATEGORY | ELIGIBILITY |
|---|---|
| Indian Nationals | Eligible |
| Non-Resident Indians (NRI) | Eligible |
| Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) | Eligible |
| Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) | Eligible |
| Foreign Nationals (Depends upon the respective state) | Eligible |
Foreign nationals are eligible subject to the rules of the institution they apply to. Seat availability differs by quota — NRI and management quotas close at much deeper ranks, as the cutoff page shows.
Class 12 requirement #
Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English — with a minimum aggregate in the science subjects that varies by category.
| Category | Minimum Marks |
|---|---|
| General | 50% |
| EWS | 50% |
| General (Physically Handicapped) | 45% |
| OBC/SC/ST | 40% |
| OBC/SC/ST (Physically Handicapped) | 40% |
Accepted qualifying examinations
NTA recognises seven qualifying-examination codes. Code 1 covers candidates still sitting Class 12; the rest cover completed qualifications and equivalents.
| Qualifying Examination Codes | Qualifications |
|---|---|
| Code 1 | Students who will be appearing in Class 12 Board Examinations or whose result is awaited are eligible to appear for NEET 2018. In case a candidate is unable to pass the qualifying examination with the required marks, then they will not be eligible for admissions. |
| Code 2 | The Senior Secondary Education or the Indian School Certificate examination after 12 years’ study, where the last two years of such study consist of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology or Mathematics or any other elective subject with core-level English. |
| Code 3 | The Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in science as offered by an Indian University/Board or other recognized examining body with Physics, Chemistry, Biology /Bio-technology and also English as compulsory subjects. |
| Code 4 | The Pre-professional/Pre-medical examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Bio-technology & English after passing either the Higher Secondary Examination or the Pre-University or an equivalent examination. It includes all the practice tests in these subjects and English has been made a compulsory subject. |
| Code 5 | The first year of the three years’ degree course from a recognized University with Physics, Chemistry and Biology/ Bio-technology including practical tests and core-level English. |
| Code 6 | Candidate should have passed B.Sc. from an Indian University with not less than two of the subjects among Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany & Zoology)/Bio-technology.Apart from this, it is necessary that the candidate should have cleared the earlier qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English. |
| Code 7 | Apart from the above-mentioned examinations, any exam which is found to be equivalent to the intermediate science examination of an Indian University/Board with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English as compulsory subjects will be considered. It also consists of practical tests in each subject. |
Attempts #
There is no limit on how many times you can sit NEET.
The attempt cap was removed, so a candidate may appear in consecutive years without restriction. The practical limit is age at admission, not attempts — and since the upper age limit is also gone, neither binds in the way it once did.
Reservation #
Within the 15% All India Quota, 62.5% of seats are reserved across five categories.
| CATEGORY | PERCENTAGE (%) |
|---|---|
| OBC (Non-Creamy Layer) | 27 |
| EWS | 10 |
| SC | 15 |
| ST | 7.5 |
| PwD | 3 |
State quota
| CATEGORY | ELIGIBILITY |
|---|---|
| Indian Nationals | Eligible |
| Non-Resident Indians (NRI) | Eligible |
| Persons of Indian Origin (PIO) | Eligible |
| Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) | Eligible |
| Foreign Nationals (Depends upon the respective state) | Eligible |
State quota rules are set by each state and commonly require domicile, schooling within the state, or both. Check the specific state’s counselling authority — the rules are not uniform.