NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test)

Till 2018, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, introduced in place of the erstwhile All India Pre Medical Test (AIPMT) , was conducted by the CBSE as a single window entrance on the first Sunday of May each year. However, following concerns raised by candidates on the pressure put on them to clear the largest MBBS entrance exam in one go or repeat another year, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has been set up by the Government of India and conducts the exam. NEET 2020 will be conducted on May 3, 2020, in offline mode.

Government college MBBS seats are the most sought after through NEET, followed by those offered in reputed Deemed Universities like Kasturba Medical College Manipal and Central Universities like Banaras Hindu University. The Armed Forces Medical College, Pune, is the only institute which shortlists students for its MBBS course through NEET scores but also conducts its own subsequent interview and selection process.

Apart from MBBS and BDS, NEET also offers admissions to all AYUSH courses and to other paramedical courses like Nursing in some states. All Government, Private and Deemed Institutions offering MBBS, BDS or AYUSH courses across all states (apart from AIIMS and JIPMER) can only hold admissions on the basis of NEET.