Medical aspirants from all over India can fill the form of NEET 2020 in online mode only from December 2 to 31, 2019. Compared to last time, there are significant changes in the registration process of the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (UG).
To start with, the application fee amounts are Rs 1500 for general, Rs 1400 for general-EWS and OBC-NCL, and Rs 800 for SC, ST, PWD, transgender. Last time the application fee was Rs 1400 for general and OBC, and Rs 750 for SC, ST, PWD, transgender candidates.
Not only has the fee amount undergone changes, so have the mode of fee payment.
This time candidates will be able to pay the application fee for NEET 2020 exam through online modes only, using a debit card, credit card, net banking, and UPI. While credit card, debit card, net banking modes were available last year too, UPI has been added, and the facility to pay fee through challan has been removed.
Documents required for NEET 2020 application form are now passport size photograph, postcard size photograph, signature, left hand thumb impression, and class 10 passing certificate. 3 of the documents are new to the list, namely the postcard size photograph, left hand thumb impression, and class X passing certificate.
A thumb impression used to be required until a few years ago, but was not needed in last year’s NTA NEET application form. However this time, in a bid to create stricter measures for identity verification, the National Testing Agency has asked candidates to upload 5 documents instead of 2.
Another change is allowing class 12 roll number to be a permissible ID for registration. The first step in applying for NTA NEET exam is to register, in which one has to enter identity details of any one permissible IDs. As per the information bulletin, the permissible IDs are the last 4 digits of aadhaar number, class 12 roll number, election card, ration card, bank account passbook with photo, passport number, or any other photo identity card issued by the government.
However only passport number and aadhaar number will be accepted from NRIs, and passport number only from foreign nationals, OCIs, PIOs.
The steps to apply for NEET 2020 are also different from last time. In this year as well the last year, the number of steps for applying are 4. However last year the steps were to fill the online application and note down the application number, upload photo and signature, make payment of fee by prescribed modes, and lastly to print confirmation page after successful remittance of fee.
This time though the 4 steps to apply are first to complete the registration page, then fill in the complete application form, then upload scanned images, and finally to pay fees and check the status of receipt of online application form with fee.
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) UG 2020 is the single medical entrance exam in India; admission to AIIMS and JIPMER will also be through NEET only and these institutes shall not hold separate exams from now on. The exam is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2020, in 155 examination cities.