Medicine is a deeply fulfilling and respected career focused on enhancing health, alleviating suffering, and potentially saving lives. It requires a relentless commitment to learning, exceptional communication skills, and profound empathy. As a career, it provides a wide array of opportunities to contribute significantly to individual and community health across various specializations.

In India, the process of getting admission into medical colleges primarily revolves around two major entrance examinations, NEET-UG for undergraduate courses and NEET-PG for postgraduate courses. Here are the details:

1. NEET-UG (National Eligibility Entrance Test – Undergraduate):

This is a national-level entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), and AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy) courses in Indian medical/dental colleges.

Eligibility Criteria for NEET-UG:

Age: The candidate must have completed 17 years of age at the time of admission or will complete the age on or before 31st December of the year of admission to the first-year undergraduate medical course. The maximum age for the NEET-UG is 25, with candidates in the SC/ST/OBC-NCL category and PWD candidates receiving a 5-year age reduction.

Academic Requirements: Candidates must have completed physics, chemistry, biology/biotechnology, and English as core subjects in 10+2 or the equivalent from a recognized board. General category candidates must have passed the above subjects individually and must have obtained a minimum of 50% marks taken together in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology. For SC/ST/OBC-NCL candidates, the minimum mark requirement is 40%.

2. NEET-PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Postgraduate):

NEET-PG is a national-level exam conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE) for students who wish to study postgraduate doctorate medical courses in India, such as MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Surgery), and PG Diploma courses.

Eligibility Criteria for NEET-PG:

Candidates must have an MBBS degree or Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate recognized by the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 with a valid registration certificate issued by MCI or State Medical Council.

The candidate must have completed (or will be completing) their internship on or before the required date of the respective admission year.