NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is the only exam in India that gives students a chance to join medical and dental courses like MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, and more. Every year, lakhs of students from across India appear for this exam, making it highly competitive.
The number of students registering for NEET shows how interested students are in becoming doctors and other medical professionals. The National Testing Agency (NTA) handles the exam and tracks the number of applicants.
In this blog, we’ll look at how many students registered for NEET 2025, how this number compares to previous years, and other important details.
NEET 2025 Registration Numbers
In 2025, around 23 lakh students registered for NEET. While this is a big number, it is slightly less than the 24.06 lakh registrations seen in 2024.
Even though there’s a small drop, the exam is still very competitive, and students are working hard to get admission into good government and private medical colleges.
The NEET UG 2025 exam is scheduled to be held on May 4, 2025.
NEET Registration Trends (Year-wise)
To understand the trend, here’s a table showing how NEET registrations have changed over the years:
| Year | Registered Students |
|---|---|
| 2025 | 23,00,000 (approx.) |
| 2024 | 24,06,079 |
| 2023 | 20,87,462 |
| 2022 | 18,72,343 |
| 2021 | 16,14,777 |
| 2020 | 15,97,435 |
From 2020 to 2024, the number of students increased each year. 2024 saw the highest-ever registrations. But in 2025, there was a small decline.
Gender-wise NEET Registrations (2024)
The official gender-wise data for 2025 hasn’t been released yet. But based on 2024:
- Male candidates: Around 10.29 lakh
- Female candidates: Around 13.76 lakh
- Third gender: 18 candidates
More female students appeared for NEET than male students in 2024, and this trend may continue in 2025 too.
State-wise NEET Registrations
Although state-wise numbers for 2025 are not available yet, these states usually have the highest registrations:
- Maharashtra
- Uttar Pradesh
- Tamil Nadu
- Rajasthan
- Karnataka
These states have large populations and many NEET aspirants. Even students from smaller and northeastern states appear for the exam in good numbers.
NEET 2025: Number of MBBS Seats vs. Applicants
In 2025, India has around 1.20 lakh MBBS seats in government and private colleges.
With 23 lakh students applying, this means that only 1 out of every 19 students will get an MBBS seat. This shows just how tough the competition is, and why students need to study with full dedication.
Why Did NEET 2025 Registrations Drop Slightly?
Here are some possible reasons why fewer students registered this year:
- More career options are available after Class 12, such as biotechnology, pharmacy, forensic science, and even non-science fields.
- High costs in private medical colleges discourage many students from applying.
- Stress and pressure around NEET cause some students to skip the exam.
- Some students are choosing to study MBBS abroad in countries like Russia, Ukraine, or the Philippines.
- Repeaters from last year who already got seats didn’t register again.
Important Dates for NEET 2025
Here are some key dates students should remember:
- Last date to apply: March 7, 2025 (Registration closed)
- Admit card release: Expected in mid-April 2025
- Exam date: May 4, 2025
- Result: Expected in June 2025
- Counselling: Likely to start in July or August 2025
Students should keep checking the official NTA website for the latest updates.
FAQs: NEET 2025 Registrations
Q. How many students registered for NEET 2025?
Around 23 lakh students registered for NEET UG 2025.
Q. Is NEET 2025 registration higher than 2024?
No, registrations in 2025 dropped slightly from 24.06 lakh (2024) to 23 lakh.
Q. What is the exam date for NEET 2025?
The exam will be held on Sunday, May 4, 2025.
Q. How many MBBS seats are available in 2025?
There are around 1.20 lakh MBBS seats available across India.
Q. Which states have the highest NEET registrations?
Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Rajasthan, and Karnataka usually have the most NEET applicants.