Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam? - Check Here Updates

Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam? - Check Here Updates

Manisha TiwariUpdated on 07 Feb 2025, 10:08 PM IST

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a highly competitive examination conducted by the NTA for admission to undergraduate medical and dental programs. NMC introduced new eligibility guidelines for NEET aspirants on November 22, 2023 allowing students with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics subjects to appear for the upcoming NEET examination. Check the NMC’s notice for PCM student’s eligibility in NEET.
NMC’s notice for eligibility of PCM students in NEET

LiveNEET UG 2026 LIVE: NTA NEET syllabus out at neet.nta.nic.in; NEET brochure expected soon, updatesJan 11, 2026 | 11:06 AM IST

As per the marking scheme for the NEET UG 2026, candidates will be provided four marks for each right answer, whereas one mark will be deducted for each wrong response in the examination.

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Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam? - Check Here Updates
Can PCM Students Give NEET Exam

As per the revised guidelines, candidates who have completed their Class 12 education with Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics as their core subjects are now eligible to appear for NEET UG. However, it is mandatory for such students to have studied Biology or Biotechnology as an additional or optional subject during their academic tenure. This article from Careers360 on ‘Can PCM students give NEET exam’? Answers all the questions of the aspiring students with PCM backgrounds. Read further to get detailed information.

NMC guidelines for PCM students

The National Medical Commission (NMC) on November 22, 2023 issued new guidelines for expanding the NEET eligibility criteria for PCM students. As per the NMC new guidelines for MBBS exam, candidates who have studied Physics, Chemistry, Mathematics and English in their class 12 or equivalent are eligible for NEET UG exam. The authority now permits candidates to include Biology/ Biotechnology as an additional subject, even if it was not part of their initial core curriculum in class 12. Check the image below to get more information.

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Can PCM Students appear for NEET?

Previously, PCM students who have not studied Biology in their class 12 curriculum were not eligible to appear for NEET. However, with the reforms in the NEET eligibility guidelines made by NMC, there are ways PCM students can overcome this barrier which are mentioned below.

  • Studying Biology as an additional subject in class 12: Many education boards in India allow students to take up an additional subject in Class 12. PCM students can opt for Biology as an extra subject during their Class 12 studies or as a private candidate. If they clear the exam and meet the minimum aggregate requirements, they become eligible for NEET.

  • Private exams: PCM students may choose to take bridge courses or private examinations to fulfill the Biology requirement. We can understand this as open schooling platforms like the National Institute of Open Schooling (NIOS) offer Biology as a standalone subject. By passing such exams, PCM students can satisfy the eligibility criteria for NEET.

  • Reattempting class 12 with Biology subject: Most of the students do not prefer this option however, in rare cases, students may decide to re-enroll in class 12 to include Biology as one of their core subjects. This option requires significant time and effort but is feasible for those who have made up their minds to pursue a medical career.

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Can PCM students give NEET 2025: Challenges for PCM students

Even if a PCM student becomes eligible for NEET 2025 by taking Biology as an additional subject, they face several challenges which are elaborated below.

  • Completing course in time: NEET 2025 syllabus for Biology is vast which includes two year’s material from class 11 and 12. For PCM students, who may not have a strong foundation in Biology, completing the NEET Biology syllabus in time and memorizing the concepts can be a daunting task.

  • Time management: PCM students aspiring to appear for NEET 2025 may face issues in balancing the preparation for Biology along with the already challenging NEET Physics syllabus and NEET Chemistry syllabus. However, it's not an impossible task.

  • Tackling higher competition: As NEET is the single medical entrance exam in India for undergraduate medical courses, it attracts some of the brightest minds in the country, most of whom have spent years focusing on PCB subjects. PCM students may find it difficult to compete with such candidates without rigorous preparation.

  • Mental and emotional pressure: For some students, a shift from mathematics-oriented academic background to a medical one can be a challenging task. Students often face self-doubt and stress while adapting to this change.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q: Why is Biology essential for NEET eligibility?
A:

Biology is the foundation of medical sciences and therefore, it is an essential subject for the NEET 2025 eligibility. 

Q: Can PCM students without Biology as a subject in class 12 become eligible for NEET?
A:

No, PCM students without Biology or Biotechnology in their class 12 curriculum are not eligible for NEET. They would need to take Biology through additional courses or reattempt class 12 with the required subject combination.

Q: Is Biology mandatory for PCM students to appear for the NEET exam?
A:

Yes, Biology or Biotechnology is mandatory to appear for the NEET 2025 exam. PCM students must include it as an additional subject in their class 12 studies to meet the eligibility criteria.

Q: Can students with a PCM background give the NEET 2025 exam?
A:

Yes, PCM students can appear for the NEET exam if they have studied Biology or Biotechnology as an additional subject in their class 12 or equivalent education from a recognized board.

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Questions related to NEET

On Question asked by student community

Have a question related to NEET ?

Hi there,

Apart from NEET and CUET you can explore the following career paths to

Students pursuing the PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) stream can explore a wide range of options apart from CUET and NEET. Their choices are not just limited to medicine and can expand to include numerous areas

Hello,

The link to the papers is attached here. Solving previous year questions will help you understanding the important topics. You can also practice the sample papers and mock test papers of careers360 which will help you analyse your in-depth performance.

https://medicine.careers360.com/download/sample-papers/neet-previous-5-years-question-papers-20212025-answer-keys-solutions-pdf-free-download

Thank you.

HELLO,

Below i am attaching the link through which you can download the NEET question paper in Hindi PDF

Here is the link :- https://medicine.careers360.com/hi/articles/neet-question-paper

Hope this will help you!

Hello Akanksha

It is possible to complete the syllabus within 4 months with discipline and clear plan. You need to be consistent everyday.

•In the first month you can complete

Units & measurement, motion in 1d and 2d, laws of motion, work power energy

Some basic concepts of chemistry, atomic

Hello,

The application process for NEET UG 2026 state quota seats in Karnataka, Gujarat, Maharashtra, and Puducherry is expected to begin in July 2026, after the NEET 2026 results are announced in June 2026. The exact dates are announced by each state's respective counselling authority.

I hope it will clear