Understanding NEET and Veterinary Courses: A Closer Look

In India, National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) has been the primary entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical and dental courses since 2019. Interestingly, the veterinary field has also fallen under the ambit of NEET. This article delves into the details of how veterinary courses are now included in NEET 2019 and the implications for aspiring veterinarians.

What Exactly is NEET?

The National Eligibility Entrance Test (NEET) is a national-level entrance examination conducted annually in India by the National Testing Agency (NTA). It was introduced in 2019 as a single unified entrance exam to facilitate admission to MBBS, BDS, as well as veterinary and BS/BA (ICRS) courses. Prior to this, there were separate entrance exams for different courses, which created confusion and inconsistency.

The Evolution of Entrance Exams for Veterinary Courses in India

Before the introduction of NEET, the All India Pre-Veterinary Test (AIPVT) was the primary entrance exam for undergraduate veterinary courses. However, in 2017, the government of India decided to replace AIPVT with NEET for the sake of uniformity and to streamline the admission process across various educational institutions in India.

Eligibility Criteria and Structure

For students aspiring to pursue veterinary degrees through NEET 2019, the following key criteria should be kept in mind:

Eligibility Criteria

Academic Qualification: Students must have passed their Higher Secondary (12th grade) examination with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as compulsory subjects. Age Limit: There is no age limit for NEET, but some age relaxation is given to reserved category candidates. Language Proficiency: Proficiency in the English language is essential as the exam is conducted in English.

The examination consists of multiple-choice questions (MCQs) from the following subjects:

Physics Chemistry Biology (including Zoology and Botany) English Language

Saturation of Seats

The veterinary courses are allocated 15% of seats through NEET, with the remaining seats being managed by individual state agencies. For example, in states like Karnataka and Madhya Pradesh, veterinary seats are filled through a state-level counselling process. However, even in such states, candidates need to register for the NEET to be eligible for quota-based selection.

Process and Admission Routes

After qualifying the NEET, candidates are ranked based on their performance. Based on these ranks and the availability of seats, students can choose veterinary courses during the counselling process. States may have additional rounds of counselling, especially for state-specific quotas.

Key Resources for Further Information

Here are some resources for more detailed and up-to-date information:

Veterinary Council of India (VCI) National Testing Agency (NTA) Careers360 - Does Veterinary Come Under NEET?

In Conclusion

Admission to veterinary undergraduate courses in India has officially been made more transparent and streamlined through the integration of NEET 2019. Aspiring veterinarians now face a consistent and clear path towards pursuing their career goals.