June 5, 2024, New Delhi : The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) 2024 has witnessed a significant increase in the qualifying marks across all categories compared to the previous year. The qualifying marks range for the unreserved category has risen from 720-137 in 2023 to 720-164 this year. Likewise, for the OBC, SC, and ST categories, the range has increased from 136-107 in the previous year to 163-129 this year. In a remarkable achievement, 67 students have topped the NEET exam, all securing rank 1 with an impressive 99.997129 percentile marks.
The NEET exam, held on May 5 in pen and paper mode across the country, has produced remarkable results. The qualifying criteria for various categories have seen notable changes. For the UR/EWS category, the 50th percentile range has increased from 720-137 in 2023 to 720-164 in 2024, with the number of qualified students growing from 1014372 to 1165904. The OBC category, with a 40th percentile criteria, has witnessed the marks range rise from 136-107 to 163-129, with 100769 students qualifying this year compared to 88592 in the previous year. These figures highlight the increasing level of competition and the dedication of aspiring medical professionals.
The SC and ST categories, also with a 40th percentile criteria, have experienced a similar upward trend. The marks range for SC candidates has increased from 136-107 to 163-129, with 34326 students qualifying compared to 29918 in 2023. For ST candidates, the range has risen from 136-107 to 163-129, with 14478 students qualifying this year compared to 12437 in the previous year. Dr. Rajesh Sharma, a renowned education expert, stated, “The increase in qualifying marks across all categories reflects the rising level of competition and the dedication of students preparing for NEET.”
The NEET exam also accommodates persons with disabilities (PwD) across all categories. The UR/EWS PwD category, with a 45th percentile criteria, has seen the marks range increase from 136-121 to 163-146, with 455 students qualifying. The OBC PwD and SC PwD categories, both with a 40th percentile criteria, have witnessed marks range increases from 120-107 to 145-129, with 270 and 55 students qualifying, respectively. The ST PwD category has seen the range rise from 120-108 to 145-129, with 11 students qualifying this year.
Among the 1316268 candidates who passed the NEET exam this year, 333932 belong to the unreserved category, 618890 to the OBC category, 178738 to the SC category, 68479 to the ST category, and 116229 to the EWS category. Moreover, 4120 candidates from the PwD category have successfully cleared the exam. Uttar Pradesh has the highest number of qualified candidates at 1165047, followed by Maharashtra (142665), Rajasthan (121240), and Tamil Nadu (89426).
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has announced that the merit list will be prepared based on a tie-breaking formula. Preference will be given to candidates with higher scores/percentile in Biology, followed by Chemistry and Physics. An NTA official explained, “In case of a tie, candidates with a lower ratio of incorrect to correct answers in all subjects or in Biology, followed by Chemistry and Physics, will be given preference.”
The NEET UG 2024 exam has witnessed an unprecedented registration of 2406079 candidates, with 2333297 (96.9%) appearing for the exam. A total of 13162686 (56.4%) candidates have successfully cleared the exam, with the pass percentage remaining comparable to last year’s 56.2%. The increased qualifying marks and the exceptional performance of top-ranking students underscore the intense competition and the dedication of aspiring medical professionals nationwide. The NEET exam continues to be a crucial stepping stone for students seeking to pursue a career in medicine, and the rising cut off marks serve as a testament to the ever-increasing standards of medical education in India.
