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The National Testing Agency (NTA) declared the NEET 2025 results on June 14, 2025, revealing dramatic differences from the controversial NEET 2024 results. This analysis provides a detailed comparison between NEET 2025 and 2024, highlighting the significant factors that contributed to score variations and examining the impact of enhanced security measures on examination integrity.
NEET 2025:
● Highest Score: 686 marks (Mahesh Kumar, Rajasthan)
● Top Performer Count: 1 student achieved the highest score
● Perfect Scores (720/720): 0 students
NEET 2024:
● Highest Score: 720 marks (Perfect score)
● Top Performer Count: 67 students achieved perfect scores
● Controversy: 6 students from the same exam center scored 720/720
Registration and Participation Trends
NEET 2025 Top 3:
NEET 2024 Controversy:
● 17 students secured AIR 1 with perfect 720 marks (after revision)
● Originally 67 students scored 720/720 before result revision
NEET 2024 was severely compromised by paper leaks:
● At least 155 students directly benefited from leaked question papers
● Papers were circulated on Telegram the morning of the exam
● Students paid between ₹30-50 lakh to obtain question papers in advance
● Supreme Court acknowledged paper leak as an "undisputed fact"
● CBI arrested over 250 individuals including students, parents, and middlemen
NEET 2025 maintained integrity:
● No confirmed paper leaks occurred
● Enhanced security measures prevented malpractice
● NTA flagged over 1,500 fake leak claims on social media
● Strict surveillance and monitoring systems implemented
NEET 2025 Difficulty Analysis:
● Physics section rated as the toughest in years
● Biology questions were lengthy but conceptually manageable
● Overall paper difficulty significantly higher than 2024
● No choice in Section B (mandatory 180 questions)
Impact on Scoring:
● Highest score dropped from 720 (2024) to 686 (2025)
● No student achieved perfect score in 2025
● More realistic score distribution without artificial inflation
Comprehensive Security Overhaul:
● Question papers transported under police escort
● CCTV surveillance at all exam centers
● Watermarked question papers to prevent duplication
● Electronic monitoring systems implemented
● Strict exam center selection criteria
● Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024 enforced
Legal Framework:
● Up to 5 years imprisonment for paper leak involvement
● ₹10 lakh fine for individuals, ₹1 crore for institutions
● 4-year ban from conducting exams for guilty service providers
NEET 2024 Cutoffs (Inflated due to leaks):
● General Category: 720-162 marks
● Artificially high due to compromised exam integrity
● 67 students scored perfect 720 marks initially
NEET 2025 Cutoffs (Realistic):
● General Category: 686-144 marks
● Reduction of 18 marks in cutoff range
● More achievable and merit-based thresholds
Historical Comparison of Top Scores:
● NEET 2019: 701 marks (first NTA year)
● NEET 2022: 715 marks
● NEET 2024: 720 marks (67 students - compromised)
● NEET 2025: 686 marks (1 student - legitimate)
Expert Analysis: As noted by social media observers: "This year's result score is lowest & last year result is no where near & tough paper is not the only reason but no leaks & no impersonation made a lot of difference. Well done NTA."
NEET 2025:
● Female Registered: 13,10,062 candidates
● Female Appeared: 12,71,896 candidates
● Female Qualified: 7,22,462 candidates
● Female Topper: Avika Aggarwal (Delhi) - AIR 5
Continued Female Dominance: Female candidates continue to surpass male candidates in both participation and performance, maintaining the positive trend from previous years.
Top States by Qualification Numbers (2025):
Topper Distribution:
● Rajasthan: Produced the national topper (Mahesh Kumar)
● Delhi-NCT: Strong representation in top ranks (Avika Aggarwal)
● Madhya Pradesh: Second-rank holder (Utkarsh Awadhiya)
● Other states with toppers: Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha, Gujarat
States with Increased Registrations (2025):
● Haryana, Rajasthan, Punjab
● Jammu & Kashmir, Ladakh
● Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland
States with Decreased Registrations:
● Majority of states showed decline
● Overall decrease of 1.3 lakh registrations nationally
The qualifying percentile for NEET 2025 is expected to be 50th percentile for General category candidates, 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC candidates, and 45th percentile for General-PwD candidates.
NEET 2025 Cutoff Trends:
● General Category: 686-144 marks (50th percentile)
● EWS Category: 45th percentile (143-127 marks)
● OBC-NCL/SC/ST: 40th percentile
● PwD Categories: 45th percentile
The NEET 2025 cutoff has reduced than last year due to factors such as tougher difficulty level, and lower number of test-takers.
Leading states by qualification: Uttar Pradesh: 170,684 qualified, Karnataka: 83,582, Kerala follows in the list of top-performing states.
Regional Analysis:
● Uttar Pradesh continues to lead with the highest number of qualified candidates
● Karnataka and Maharashtra show strong candidate depth
● Rajasthan produced the national topper
● Delhi-NCT has strong representation in top ranks
The NEET 2025 topper list suggests that the majority of the toppers are from Rajasthan. The other states from which NEET 2025 toppers have emerged include Andhra Pradesh, Punjab, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Odisha and Gujarat.
NEET 2025 Safe Scores:
● General Category: 400+ marks for realistic chances
● Reserved Categories: 300+ marks for good prospects
● Top Government Colleges: 600+ marks required
Compared to 2024 Inflated Requirements: The 2024 paper leak controversy artificially inflated cutoffs, making admission unrealistically competitive. NEET 2025 has restored merit-based selection criteria.
● MBBS Seats: 1,18,190 total seats across India
● BDS Seats: 27,618 seats available
● AYUSH Seats: 52,720 seats in various disciplines
Enhanced Transparency:
● No grace marks controversy (unlike 2024)
● Clear tie-breaking criteria implementation
● Reliable scorecard generation without revisions
Counselling Structure:
● All India Quota (15%) counselling by MCC
● State Quota (85%) counselling by respective states
● Multiple rounds ensuring fair seat allocation
The NEET 2024 paper leak scandal served as a wake-up call for the Indian medical entrance examination system. The Supreme Court's acknowledgment of paper leaks as an "undisputed fact" and the involvement of over 250 individuals in malpractice highlighted the urgent need for comprehensive reforms.
Technological Interventions:
● Advanced CCTV monitoring systems
● Electronic surveillance of question paper transport
● Real-time monitoring of exam centers
● Cybersecurity teams tracking online threats
Legal Deterrents:
● Public Examinations (Prevention of Unfair Means) Act, 2024
● Severe penalties including imprisonment and heavy fines
● Institutional bans for guilty service providers
Community Participation:
● NTA reporting portal for suspicious activities
● Over 1,500 fake leak claims identified and reported
● Active monitoring of social media platforms
The NEET 2025 results demonstrate that when conducted with integrity, the examination produces realistic and merit-based outcomes. The absence of paper leaks and the implementation of robust security measures have restored public confidence in India's premier medical entrance examination.
If two or more candidates achieve same marks or percentile scores in NEET(UG) – 2025, the ranking will be decided using the following criteria: Criteria 1: If candidates have the same scores in NEET(UG) – 2025, the one with the higher Biology (Botany and Zoology) score gets a higher rank, followed by Chemistry, Physics, and other factors.
NEET 2025 represents a pivotal moment in Indian medical education, marking the successful restoration of examination integrity after the controversial 2024 paper leak scandal. The dramatic difference in top scores—from 67 students achieving perfect 720 marks in 2024 to a single legitimate 686-mark topper in 2025—illustrates the impact of enhanced security measures and fair examination practices.
The NEET 2025 results serve as a testament to the fact that when examinations are conducted with integrity, they produce fair and realistic outcomes. For future aspirants, this examination sets the standard for merit-based medical education in India, emphasizing the importance of thorough preparation over shortcuts and malpractice.
The medical education community can now move forward with confidence, knowing that NEET 2025 has successfully restored the credibility and fairness that are essential for selecting India's future healthcare professionals. The dramatic score differences between 2024 and 2025 will be remembered as evidence of how proper security measures and integrity can transform an examination system from controversy to credibility.
Co-Founder & Senior Physics Faculty
B.Tech. IIT-Delhi (2007)
IIT Delhi. 15+ Years of experience as Physics Faculty and Author
