Patna: The race to secure a medical seat in Bihar has become increasingly competitive, with a sharp rise in the number of students appearing for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) over the past five years, even as the state’s success rate has declined.
Data released by the National Testing Agency (NTA) shows that more than 1,59,000 candidates from Bihar appeared for NEET-UG 2025, compared with just over 83,000 in 2021. Despite the growing number of aspirants, the percentage of students qualifying has fallen from 55.79% in 2021 to 50.86% in 2025.
Education experts say the rising number of candidates reflects the continuing appeal of medicine as a career among young people in the state, but also highlights the mounting pressure caused by limited seats in medical colleges.
Over the last five years, a total of 6,08,900 students from Bihar appeared for the examination, of whom 3,22,622 qualified. The average success rate during this period stood at 53.56%.
Specialists in the coaching sector said qualifying in NEET alone no longer guarantees admission to a medical college. With competition intensifying, students scoring 650 marks or above are expected to stand a stronger chance of securing admission this year.
Bihar currently has 12 government and 10 private medical colleges. Government institutions together offer around 1,630 MBBS and dental seats, while private colleges account for approximately 1,050 seats.
Some of the state’s most sought-after institutions include Patna Medical College and Hospital, Nalanda Medical College and Hospital, Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences and Darbhanga Medical College and Hospital.
Admissions to dental, Ayurveda, Unani and homeopathy courses are also conducted on the basis of NEET scores. Counselling for 85% of the state quota seats is managed by the Bihar Combined Entrance Competitive Examination Board, while the remaining 15% fall under the All India Quota.
Bihar’s performance in NEET-UG over five years
| Year | Registered | Appeared | Qualified | Pass Percentage |
| 2021 | 95,150 | 83,038 | 46,327 | 55.79% |
| 2022 | 103,691 | 98,668 | 55,709 | 56.46% |
| 2023 | 121,647 | 118,533 | 64,916 | 54.77% |
| 2024 | 154,461 | 149,494 | 74,716 | 49.98% |
| 2025 | 164,186 | 159,167 | 80,954 | 50.86% |
