When is the NEET exam? NEET is held once a year, typically on the first or second Sunday of May. The National Testing Agency (NTA) officially announces the exact date at neet.nta.nic.in. Results are usually declared in June, and counselling runs from July to September.
The NTA follows a predictable but not rigid annual schedule for NEET-UG. Each cycle begins with an official notification, moves through registration, admit card release, the exam itself, and ends with result and counselling. Knowing when the NEET exam is held each year helps you plan preparation without scrambling at the last minute.
According to NTA’s published schedules, the exam has consistently landed in May. NEET 2024 was held on 5 May 2024 (as per the official NTA notification), NEET 2023 on 7 May 2023, and NEET 2022 on 17 July 2022, which was delayed from its original May slot due to administrative reasons. NEET 2025 is expected to follow the same May window — check neet.nta.nic.in for the confirmed date once the official notification drops.
The Ministry of Education reported that over 24 lakh students registered for NEET 2024, making it one of the largest single-day medical entrance examinations in the world. Missing a registration deadline because you relied on an outdated date is a costly mistake when that many students are competing for the same seats.
| Phase | Usual Month | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Official Notification | February | Published on nta.ac.in and neet.nta.nic.in |
| Application Window Opens | February to March | Online only via the NEET portal |
| Application Window Closes | March to April | Late fee window may extend by 1-2 weeks |
| Admit Card Release | April to early May | Downloaded from the official portal only |
| NEET Exam Day | First to third Sunday of May | Pen-and-paper mode, 3 hours 20 minutes |
| Provisional Answer Key | May (within 2 weeks of exam) | Candidates can raise objections online |
| Result Declaration | June | Scorecard available on the NEET portal |
| Counselling (MCC) | July to September | Conducted by Medical Counselling Committee |
The NEET exam date has not always stayed fixed. The 2020 exam was postponed twice due to COVID-19, eventually held in September 2020 instead of May. The 2022 exam moved to July. In 2024, post-exam controversies around paper leaks led to a Supreme Court-monitored review, which pushed counselling timelines significantly. The NTA has since announced reforms to its exam conduct process.
These shifts do not mean the schedule is unreliable, but they do mean you cannot set your preparation clock based on a date you read in January. Check the official notification the moment it drops and monitor for any corrigendum before the admit card is released.
The only authoritative source for the NEET exam date is the National Testing Agency (NTA). NTA took over NEET from CBSE in 2019, and since then all official communications have moved through two primary channels: nta.ac.in (the NTA homepage) and neet.nta.nic.in (the dedicated NEET portal).
State-level counselling bodies like KEA (Karnataka Examinations Authority), the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), and the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) publish their own counselling schedules after the NTA result is out. Those are downstream of the NTA calendar, not independent of it.
The Press Information Bureau (PIB) at pib.gov.in also carries official Ministry of Education announcements about exam calendars. That is a useful cross-reference when you want government-level confirmation of when the NEET exam is scheduled.
NEET-PG, the postgraduate medical entrance, follows a separate schedule and is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), not NTA. It typically falls in the second half of the year. If you are an MBBS student planning postgraduate admission, check natboard.edu.in, not the NTA NEET portal.
Once NTA publishes the result, your scorecard and All India Rank (AIR) become the basis for counselling. The Medical Counselling Committee manages 15% All India Quota seats at government colleges, while state quota seats (85%) go through state-specific authorities. According to MCC data, over 1.08 lakh MBBS seats across government and private medical colleges were available through NEET 2023 counselling — a figure that has grown incrementally each year as new colleges receive NMC approval.
Candidates who do not clear NEET or do not secure a preferred seat often reconsider their options. Some take a drop year and re-attempt. Others explore allied health sciences, nursing, pharmacy, or entirely different career paths. If you are at that crossroads, it is worth reading about IIT, IISER and IIM courses after 12th or checking out a broader guide to career paths after 12th grade to see what else fits your profile.
For students who want structured career planning beyond just exam preparation, 3.0 University’s career planning guide for Class 12 and college students covers decision frameworks that apply whether you are aiming for medicine, technology, or professional certifications.
Medicine is one of the highest-paid professions in India, but it is not the only path to a well-compensated, impactful career. Students who do not secure a NEET seat often pivot into technology fields with strong hiring demand. If you want to build skills that are immediately marketable, 3.0 University offers hands-on certification programmes in Cybersecurity and Ethical Hacking, AI, Blockchain, and Web3. Some learners also pair these with free credentialing resources like ISRO’s free online courses with certificates to build a stronger portfolio. Explore the full catalogue at 3University.io/courses.
The NEET 2025 exam date has not been officially confirmed at the time of writing. Based on historical patterns, the NEET exam is expected in May 2025, likely on the first or second Sunday of the month. The official date will be published at neet.nta.nic.in once NTA releases the notification, typically in February. Do not rely on any other source until the official notification is live.
The NEET exam is held once a year, typically between the first and third Sunday of May. NTA officially announces the exact date through the NEET notification published at nta.ac.in and neet.nta.nic.in. In exceptional years — such as 2020 (COVID-19) and 2022 (administrative reasons) — the exam has shifted to July or September. Always verify the current year’s date against the official NTA notification.
The NEET application window typically opens in February or March, roughly 10 to 12 weeks before the exam. NTA announces the exact opening date in the official notification. The window usually stays open for three to four weeks, with a short late-fee extension. Missing the deadline means waiting a full year, so track the notification date closely at neet.nta.nic.in.
NTA typically declares the NEET result within four to six weeks of the exam, which puts it in June for a May exam. The provisional answer key comes first, usually within two weeks of the exam. Candidates can raise objections online, after which the final answer key and result are published together on the official portal.
Yes, it can. NEET 2022 shifted from May to July, and 2020 moved to September due to COVID-19. Postponements have happened due to administrative, legal, or public health reasons. Once NTA announces a date, monitor the official portal for any corrigendum or revised schedule. Do not assume the announced date is final until the admit card is released.
The NEET exam is conducted in pen-and-paper (OMR) mode and lasts 3 hours and 20 minutes. The exam is held in a single shift, typically from 2:00 PM to 5:20 PM IST. Candidates must report to their allotted centre at least one hour before the gate-closing time, which is usually 1:30 PM. Exact timings are printed on the admit card.
Whether you are preparing for NEET, reconsidering your path after results, or simply planning your next move, 3.0 University’s online certification programmes in Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, AI, Blockchain and Web3 are built for students and professionals who want practical, industry-ready skills. Explore what is available at 3University.io/courses and start building credentials that work in the real world.
Last updated: September 2025. Reviewed by the 3University editorial team.
We create, review, and maintain educational content covering Cybersecurity, Ethical Hacking, Artificial Intelligence, Blockchain, Web3, and emerging technologies.
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