NEET Eligibility Criteria 2020 – Candidates can check NEET 2020 age limit, number of attempts, minimum qualification, and more details from this page. The eligibility criteria of NEET has been defined by National Testing Agency (NTA) in the information brochure and the candidates must abide by it. The criteria of eligibility is prepared as per the Graduate Medical Education. Check if there is age limit in NEET 2020, are open and additional biology candidates eligible, what is the status of J&K candidates and more details NEET eligibility criteria 2020 from this page.
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NEET Eligibility Criteria 2020
Through National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, candidates are selected to attend MCC counselling for filling of 15% all India quota admission. The rest of the seats are filled through state counselling.
In this page, we have covered NEET eligibility criteria for following:
A) Eligibility to appear for NEET
B) Eligibility for admission via NEET score in 15% all India quota
C) Eligibility for rest of the 85% seats under states, deemed universities, central universities, ESIC and AFMC including Delhi University (DU), BHU & AMU, central pool quota, AIIMS, JIPMER
Eligibility Criteria to Appear for NEET 2020
The eligibility to appear for the exam are as follows:
NEET 2020 eligibility criteria #1: Age Limit
Lower age limit: Candidates must be upto or above 17 years of age at the time of admission or on / before December 31 of the 1st year of admission in UG medical course.
Upper age limit: Candidates must not be more than 25 years, as on the exam date. There is a relaxation of 5 years for SC/ST/OBC-NCL category and PwD candidates. Hence, the NEET upper age limit for reserved category candidates is 30 years.
Catch in upper age limit: Last year, the upper age limit for NEET was challenged in the court and since then case is pending in Delhi high court. As per the interim order of the court regarding this, the upper age limit in NEET is upheld and candidates who are more than 25 years of age can apply for the exam and counselling.
However, if upper age limit will be removed from NEET or not depends on the final verdict of the court, which shall be announced as per the scheduled dates. The admission of such candidates via NEET score thus depends on the final verdict of the court regarding NEET upper age limit.
Therefore, the age limit for appearing in NEET 2020 stands:
For Candidates of General (UR) / General-EWS | born on or before 31 Dec 2003 |
For Candidates of SC / ST / OBC-NCL / PwD Category | born on or before 31 Dec 2003 |
The official notification regarding the same, as given in the information brochure is as follows:

NEET 2020 eligibility criteria #2: Nationality
Following candidates, who fulfill rest of the eligibility criteria can apply for NEET 2020:
- Indian Nationals
- Non Resident Indians (NRIs)
- Overseas Citizen of India (OCI)
- Persons with Indian Origin (PIO)
- Foreign Nationals
Foreign nationals need to confirm eligibility by a concerned Medical / Dental / Ayurveda / Siddha / Unani / Homeopathy college or the state.
NEET 2020 eligibility criteria #3: Subjects with mark in 10+2 and board
- The candidates should have studied physics, chemistry and biology / biotechnology in 10+2 as compulsory subjects, from national or state board.
- However, private candidates, students of open board and those who studied biology as additional subject are not eligible to apply.
The latter was also challenged in court and the case still pending. Hence, these candidates can also apply. However, the final decision depends on verdict of the court.

The category wise minimum percentage needed is given below:
Category | Min % in Phy + Chem + Bio/Bio-tech |
UR | 50% |
SC/ST/OBC-NCL | 40% |
PwD | 45% |
Criteria #4. Qualifications and Qualifying Examination Codes
To be eligible for 15% all India quota seats, the candidates must fulfill any one of the codes below:
Code 1.
- Student who is appearing in Class 12th exam in the year 2020 and their result is awaited are eligible to apply for NEET 2020 entrance exam. However, their admission will be provisional till they do not submit the certificate in proof of fulfilling the qualifying examination.
- Candidates who have appeared or are appearing in the qualifying examination with English, Physics, Chemistry and Biology as main subjects and expect to pass the examination with required percentage of marks are also eligible to apply.
OR
Code 2.
- Candidates must pass Higher/Senior Secondary Examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination which is equivalent to 10+2 Higher/Senior Secondary Examination after a period of 12 years study.
- The last two years of such study comprising of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Bio-technology and Mathematics or any other elective subject.
OR
Code 3. Should have passed the Intermediate / pre-degree exam in Science from a recognized body with Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Bio-technology (including practical test in these subjects) and also English as a compulsory subject.
OR
Code 4. Should have passed pre-professional / pre-medical exam with Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Bio-technology & English after passing either HSE or the Pre-University or an equivalent exam. The Pre-professional / Pre-medical exam shall include practical tests in these subjects and also should have passed in English as a compulsory subject.
OR
Code 5. Those who have passed the first year of the degree course of 3 years from a recognised University with Physics, Chemistry and Biology / Bio-technology including practical tests in these subjects are also eligible to apply. Furthermore, a candidate should have passed the earlier qualifying examination with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnology) with English at a level not less than a core course.
OR
Code 6. Those who have a BSc degree from a recognised Indian university are also eligible. Such candidates should have passed the BSc exam with not less than two of the subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Bio-technology and should have passed 10+2 with PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) and English.
OR
Code 7. Candidates who have passed any other exam which is in scope and standard (Last 02 years of 10+2 Study comprising of Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology; which shall include practical test in these subjects) and is found to be equivalent to the Intermediate Science Examination of an Indian University / Board. Furthermore, candidates should have studied and passed in Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Bio-technology including practical tests in each of these subjects and English.
Educational Qualification for Foreign National
Students who have studied abroad and wish to seek admssion in medical colleges in India must have passed in the subjects of Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Bio-technology and English up to the 12th standard level. They should have obtained 50% marks and their equivalency determined by Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as per regulations of the MCI and the concerned University.
Eligibility for Admission in 15% All India Quota via NEET 2020
To be eligible for 15% Al India Quota seats, candidates have to score more than the below given cut off percentile score of NEET 2020:
Category | Rquired percentile |
Other | 50th |
UR-PH | 40th |
ST | 40th |
ST-PH | 40th |
SC | 40th |
SC-PH | 40th |
OBC | 45th |
OBC-PH | 40th |
Other than score more than the cut off percentile, the eligible candidates of NEET should also fulfill following criteria.
Criteria #1: Nationality
The following nationalities are eligible for 15% all India quota seats:
- Indian Nationals
- Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
- Overseas citizen of India (OCI)
- Persons of Indian Origin (PIO)
- Foreign Nationals
Candidates from UT of J&K and Ladakh are not eligible for 15% all India quota seats:
- Candidates who are the domicile of J&K and Ladakh are not eligible for 15% all India quota seats.
- If the candidate still wishes to apply for the same, then they have to sign a self-declaration stating that they are not the domicile of J&K and Ladakh.
- The declaration is generated at the time of filling the form from the login of NEET 2020.
- The self declaration is verified at the time of 15% quota counselling
- If the declaration is found false at that time of counselling, the candidature is cancelled and criminal charges are also applied in such candidates.
After the J&K Reorganization Act, 2019, J& K is now a union territory and has been requested to join 15% all India quota counselling. If they do so, all candidates of J&K become eligible for 15% quota counselling. However, this shall depend on the decision of the UT, which is pending.

Eligibility for seats under States / Deemed Universities / Central Universities / ESIC / AFMC / AIIMS / JIPMER
Candidates can read below the eligibility for seats under the control of States/Deemed Universities/Central Universities/ESIC and AFMC including Delhi University (DU), BHU & AMU/central pool quota, AIIMS, JIPMER.
- Candidates must be a citizen of India / OCI / NRI / POI.
- Foreign candidates can also get admission in medical / dental / unani / ayurveda / homeopathy given that they are as per the rules and regulations by state governament or institutions or centarl government.
- Foreign candidates need to confirm their eligibility to concerned medical / dental / unani / ayurveda / homeopathy college or state.
- Also, they must satisfy all the eligibility criteria that are needed to appear for NEET 2020.
NEET 2020 Reservation
NTA prepares an all India merit list of the qualified candidates on the basis of their performance in the entrance exam. Candidates are offered admission on the basis of the list in MBBS/BDS courses as per the existing reservation policy. Candidates can check the reservation of seats in All India quota and seat quota seats in the table below.
Reservation of seats in government medical colleges under 15% All India Quota
The following percentage of seats are reserved for the categories:
Category | Reservation |
SC | 15% |
ST | 7.5% |
OBC | 27% |
PwD | 05% |
Note: In case of seats filled by the State Medical Colleges/Universities/Institutions /Private Medical colleges under other than 15%. All India Quota, the reservation policy of the concerned State Govt. shall apply.
About NEET 2020
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a national level test which is conducted to shortlist candidates for admission in MBBS/ BDS courses. The entrance exam is being conducted by National Testing Agency (NTA) from the year, earlier, it is was conducted by CBSE. NTA is responsible for conducting the entrance exam, declaration of result and for providing All India Rank Merit List to the DGHS for the conduct of counselling for 15% All India Quota Seats and for providing the result to States/other Counselling Authorities.
Recommended: NEET preparation resources
Syllabus
Sample Paper
Previous Year Question Papers
Notes
NEET Preparation Plan
About NTA
Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD), Government of India (GOI) established the National Testing Agency (NTA). It is responsible for conducting various entrance exams for admission in numerous courses. The responsibility of the NTA will be confined to the conduct of the entrance examination, declaration of result and providing All India Rank to the Directorate General Health Services, Government of India for the conduct of counselling for 15% All India Quota Seats and for supplying the result to state/other Counselling Authorities.
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