The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a medical entrance examination that takes place on a national level. Naturally, the number of students that appear for the NEET exam is in lakhs. But out of those lakhs of students, How Many Students Crack NEET Every Year?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts the exam and announces the cut-off scores after declaring the results. Students have to sit for the exam and score marks above the predetermined cut-off to reserve seats in an undergraduate medical course of their choice, such as MBBS, BDS, and other medical programs. This blog will give you an insight into how many students get selected each year.
Number of NEET Examinees Each Year
When the NEET exam took place for the first time in 2013, a total of 6.5 lakh students appeared for the exam. The number kept increasing as the years passed, with over 14 lakh students appearing for the exam in 2019.
However, as the pandemic struck, the number fell rapidly. In 2020, only 13.6 lakh students sat for the exam, registering the lowest growth rate when NEET was established. The coming years saw the number of applicants gradually rising. In NEET UG 2025, 22,09,318 students appeared for the exam, and 12,36,531 candidates qualified by meeting the minimum percentile criteria set by the National Testing Agency (NTA). That means roughly 56% of students cleared the qualifying cut-off.
The highest number of registrations was recorded in 2024, with over 24 lakh students applying for NEET, making it the biggest medical entrance exam in India in terms of participation.
NEET UG Official Data Snapshot
Below is the official summary based on NTA’s latest available figures.
Exam and Result Timeline (2025 Reference)
- Exam Date: 4 May 2025
- Result Declaration: 14 June 2025
- Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
- Official Website: NEET.nta.nic.in
Candidates Registered, Appeared and Qualified For NEET UG
The Below table shows how many students cleared NEET out of those who actually appeared.
| Year | Registered (Approx) | Appeared (Approx) | Qualified (Approx) |
| 2019 | 14.10 lakh | 13.26 lakh | 7,97,042 |
| 2020 | 15.97 lakh | 13.66 lakh | 7,71,500 |
| 2021 | 16.14 lakh | 15.4 lakh | 7,97,042 |
| 2022 | 18.72 lakh | 17.64 lakh | 9,93,069 |
| 2023 | 20.87 lakh | 20.38 lakh | 11,45,976 |
| 2024 | 24.06 lakh | 23.33 lakh | 13,16,268 |
| 2025 | 22.76 lakh | 22,09,318 | 12,36,531 |
If you are wondering how many students qualify NEET, the answer varies each year. In recent years, the number has ranged between 10 to 13 lakh candidates.
What Does “Crack NEET” Actually Mean?
Many students assume cracking NEET means getting an MBBS seat. That is not accurate.
To qualify NEET:
- You must score at or above the minimum qualifying percentile for your category.
- You become eligible for counselling.
- You receive an All India Rank (AIR).
But qualifying does not guarantee admission. That depends on rank and seat availability. This is where understanding the NEET selection ratio becomes important.
NEET Success Rate vs MBBS Selection Ratio
India currently has around 1.1 lakh MBBS seats in total, that is, government and private combined.
Now let’s move to the comparison of the number of seats and the number of appeared students.
2019
- Appeared: 13.26 lakh students
- Seats: ~80,000
- Selection Ratio: 1 seat per 16 students
2024
- Appeared: 23.33 lakh
- Seats: ~1.08 lakh
- Selection Ratio: 1 seat per 21-22 students
2025
- Appeared: 22.09 lakh
- Seats: ~1.10 lakh
- Selection Ratio: 1 seat per 20 students
Real Competition Insight
- Though
- 56% students are qualifying NEET,
- only about 5% of the total appeared students are actually able to secure an MBBS seat.
What This Means:
- Qualifying NEET is just the beginning.
- Competition is for the top ranks, not for qualifying marks.
- MBBS Government Seats are far more competitive.
- The competition is around 1 seat per 35-40 students.
Trend Analysis (2019-2025)
- The number of students appearing for NEET has increased from 14 lakh students in 2019 to 24 lakh students in 2024, which is almost a 70% increase.
- MBBS seats have increased at a slow rate.
Result:
Competition is increasing every year despite slight seat growth.
Category-wise Qualifying Criteria
NTA determines qualification based on percentiles, not fixed marks.
| Category | Minimum Qualifying Percentile |
| General (UR) | 50th percentile |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40th percentile |
| General-PwD | 45th percentile |
| OBC/SC/ST-PwD | 40th percentile |
Students scoring below these percentiles are not considered qualified.
This percentile-based system ensures fairness despite variation in paper difficulty each year.
Is NEET Competition Increasing?
Yes, competition has increased over the past decade due to:
- Rising awareness about medical careers
- Increase in aspirant population
- Limited government medical seats
- One-nation one-exam system
Although the number of MBBS seats has increased gradually, aspirants have increased at a faster rate. That directly impacts the NEET success rate for top ranks.
NEET 2026 Preparation Tips & Tricks
Can an Average Student Crack NEET?
One of the most common questions is: can an average student crack NEET?
The honest answer is yes, but only with consistent and structured preparation.
At Aakash Institute, we have trained students from different academic backgrounds. Many successful candidates were not school toppers. They built their success through:
- Strong NCERT understanding
- Regular mock testing
- Concept clarity in Physics
- Discipline and daily revision
So if you are asking can an average student crack NEET, remember this — NEET rewards consistency more than intelligence.
NEET 2026 Preparation Plan for Average Students
Best Strategy for NEET Preparation
Understanding competition is important, but execution matters more. Here is the best strategy for NEET preparation based on expert academic experience.
1. Prioritise NCERT
- Biology questions are heavily NCERT-based.
- Inorganic Chemistry comes directly from textbook lines.
- Organic reactions must be revised repeatedly.
2. Structured Mock Tests
Start full-length mock tests early. Analyse mistakes after every test. At Aakash Institute, structured test series help students improve rank accuracy.
3. Strengthen Weak Subjects
Most students struggle with Physics numericals. Daily practice improves confidence.
4. Time Management
NEET is a 3-hour exam with 180 questions. Time allocation must be pre-planned.
The best strategy for NEET preparation is not studying more hours, but studying smartly with evaluation and feedback.
What Happens After Qualification?
When you qualify, you:
- Get your scorecard and All India Rank.
- Be eligible for 15% All India Quota counselling conducted by MCC.
- Have the option to apply for state quota seats.
- Admission depends on rank, reservation, and seat availability.
The counselling process is the final determinant of your admission, not merely your qualification.
Final Analysis: How Many Students Crack NEET?
If we look at the numbers:
- There were approximately 22 lakh students who appeared.
- Close to 12 lakh students qualified.
- Around 1 lakh students were able to get MBBS seats.
So, the question of how many students crack NEET can only be answered if the term is defined.
If cracking means just qualifying, 50-60% around qualify.
If cracking means securing MBBS, only about 8-9% are able to get it.
This gives you the actual NEET selection ratio in India.
Students may waste a lot of time worrying about these figures while they should be concentrating on the quality of their preparation. With good mentoring, proper revision, and guidance from a professional educators or institute like Aakash, your chances of success can be very high.
FAQs
1. How many students qualify for NEET every year?
Generally, 10 to 13 lakh candidates qualify. One such instance is 2025, when 12,36,531 students qualified.
2. What is the actual NEET success rate?
The NEET success rate based on the qualification criterion is generally between 50 to 60%. However, the admission rate for the MBBS course is less than 10%.
3. Can an average student crack NEET in first attempt?
Definitely. Many students ask whether an average student can crack NEET, and with disciplined preparation and regular mock practice, many succeed in their first attempt.
4. What improves NEET selection ratio chances?
Adhering to the finest NEET preparation strategy, gaining thorough knowledge of NCERT, and regularly analyzing mock test results have a strong impact on improving rank performance.
