NEET-UG 2023 sees record registration, equals 2018 attendance of 97 per cent

New Delhi: The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test – Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2023 not only received record registration (20.87 lakhs), it also equaled the 2018 record attendance of 97 per cent attendance on Sunday. With this NEET-UG also registered the highest number of candidates sitting for any competitive exam so far in India.

Up from 95 per cent in 2022, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, Undergraduate (NEET-UG) 2023 registered 97 per cent attendance on Sunday, equalling the all time registered in 2018 . In 2021 to 95 per cent aspirants, while in 2020 during the Covid outbreak it registered one of the lowest of 85 per cent. In 2019 it registered 92.7 per cent attendance, while in 2017 it was 94 per cent.

According to National Testing Agency (NTA), a total of 97 per cent of the registered candidates appeared for the medical/ dental entrance test. The test had been postponed in 22 centres in Manipur due to law and order situation.

The test on Sunday was conducted in 499 cities across the country (485) and overseas (14), assisted by 527 City Coordinators , over 6100 observers, over 600 deputy observers , 4075 centers.

The record 20.87 lakh candidates are vying for over 1.4 lakh MBBS/BDS seats, including in private colleges. The gender gap also breached the 2 lakh-mark with 11.8 lakh female candidates, 2.8 lakh more than males, registering for the test.

NEET-UG is the qualifying entrance exam for admission to Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS), Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS), Bachelor of Ayurveda, Medicine, and Surgery (BAMS), Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery (BSMS), Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery (BUMS), Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery (BHMS) and BSc (H) Nursing.