A retrospective study of association between demographic features of NEET-based selected candidate and final outcome in undergraduate medical education

This study highlights disparities in NEET preparation and performance linked to educational backgrounds. Despite securing admission through NEET, students from state board syllabi performed better in the first-year MBBS examination compared with CBSE students. These findings suggest the need for targeted academic support for students from varied educational backgrounds and equitable educational resources and reforms in the NEET syllabus to bridge gaps among students from diverse educational systems. Policymakers should consider adapting NEET to ensure a level playing field for aspirants across different educational backgrounds.