NEET Biology syllabus is one of the most important aspects of preparing for this important exam. This section carries the highest weightage of NEET exam. To help NEET aspirants, here we bring the Biology syllabus for NEET along with the Biology chapter-wise weightage for the exam based on previous years’ analysis.
NEET Biology Syllabus: The National Medical Commission (NMC) released the NEET 2024 syllabus. As compared to last year, there has been certain changes in the syllabus. In the NEET syllabus for Biology, certain chapters or topics have been removed, but there has been also certain additions. This article brings the complete NEET 2024 Biology syllabus. With the NEET 2024 approaching in May, it is high time aspirants complete the NEET Biology syllabus to ace the exam. Biology carries the highest weightage in the NEET exam. Hence, candidates must pay extra focus on this subject.
Explore colleges based on NEET
Also Read:
This article of Shiksha brings the complete NEET Biology syllabus PDF along with the NEET Biology syllabus weightage or the NEET important chapters for Biology. Candidates can refer to this article to learn how to prepare for Biology section of NEET exam.
Q: What are the important chapters of the NEET syllabus?
All the chapters are important for NEET 2025. However, the most number of questions are asked from the following chapters of the syllabus of NEET.
Physics:
- Laws of Motion of System of Practices and Rigid Body
- Current Electricity Dual Nature of Radiation and Matter
- Semiconductor Electronics
- Thermodynamics
Chemistry:
- Chemical Bonding
- p-block
- Coordination Compounds
- General Organic Chemistry
- Aromatic Compounds
- Mole Concepts
- Thermodynamics
- Equilibrium
Botany
- Genetics and Evolution
- Ecology and Environment
- Plant Physiology
Zoology
- Human Physiology
- Human Reproduction and Reproductive Health
- Animal Kingdom, Origin & Evolution.
Students must note that these are a handful of important topics for the NEET 2025 syllabus and they should not restrict their preparation to these topics only, and be prepared for all the other chapters and topics carrying a high weightage in the NEET question paper based on past years' exam analysis.
Q: Has there been any change in the syllabus of NEET 2025?
Last year, the NEET syllabus underwent major changes as per the recommendation by the National Medical Commission (NMC). A number of chapters and topics were removed from Physics, Chemistry and Biology subjects. On the other hand, certain topics and chapters were added and some of the topics were modified. Since such major changes were brought in to last year's NEET syllabus, chances are low that the NEET 2025 syllabus will be changed.
NEET syllabus 2025 will be released officially by NTA along with the information bulletin for the exam, tentatively in the second week of February 2025. Hence, students preparing for NEET 2025 should start preparing, or continue their preparation based on last year's NEET syllabus. Even if some changes are introduced to the NEET 2025 syllabus, those would not be something major.
Q: What is the syllabus of NEET UG?
NEET UG Syllabus is divided among 4 sections- Physics Chemistry Zoology Botany All these 4 sections hold same marks for the examination and all the sections have 45 questions to be attempted in 45 minds itself. From the link NEET Exam Syllabus you can check the complete syllabus and important topics for 11th and 12th for Physics, Chemistry, and Zoology & Botany. More than 75% Biology syllabus is asked from NCERT, so it is mandatory for the candidate to pay the complete attention to NCERT of class 11th and class 12th.
The NEET Biology subject is further bifurcated into two subjects, Botany and Zoology. As per the NEET 2024 syllabus, both Class 11 and Class 12 chapters along with the units are included. Candidates looking for best books for NEET Biology can start with the Class 11 and Class 12 NCERT books. Even though Biology carries the highest weightage, the number of units is the lowest, which is 10.
Also Read: NEET Biology Questions and Answers PDF Download
NEET 2024 Biology Syllabus
Although there is no segregation of syllabus for Class 11 and Class 12, for the convenience of students, the following table brings the NEET Biology syllabus for both Class 11 and Class 12. The chapters are mixed between Botany and Zoology. Some of the topics are common for both areas.
NEET Biology Syllabus for Class 11 |
NEET Biology Syllabus for Class 12 |
---|---|
Diversity in Living World |
Reproduction |
Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants |
Genetics and Evolution |
Cell Structure and Function |
Biology and Human Welfare |
Plant Physiology |
Biotechnology and Its Applications |
Ecology and Environment |
NEET 2024 Biology Syllabus
In this section, we bring to you the topics under each unit of the chapter under the Biology syllabus for NEET.
Unit I: Diversity in Living World
-
What is living?; Biodiversity; Need for classification; Taxonomy & Systematics; Concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; Binomial nomenclature.
-
Five kingdom classifications; salient features and classification of Monera; Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens; Viruses and Viroids.
-
Salient features and classification of plants into major groups - Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms (three to five salient and distinguishing features and at least two examples of each category);.
-
Salient features and classification of animals-nonchordate up to phyla level and chordate up to classes level (three to five salient features and at least two examples)
Unit II: Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
-
Morphology and modifications; Tissues; Anatomy and functions of different parts of flowering plants: Root, stem, leaf, inflorescence- cymose and recemose, flower, fruit and seed (To be dealt along with the relevant practical of the Practical Syllabus). Family (malvaceae, Cruciferae, leguminoceae, compositae, graminae).
-
Animal tissues; Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (frog). (Brief account only)
Unit III: Cell Structure and Function
-
Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life; Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; Plant cell and animal cell; Cell envelope, cell membrane, cell wall; Cell organelles-structure and function; Endomembrane system-endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles; mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, micro bodies; Cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultra structure and function); Nucleus-nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus.
-
Chemical constituents of living cells: Biomolecules-structure and function of proteins, carbodydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action, classification and nomenclature of enzymes.
-
B Cell division: Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance.
Unit IV: Plant Physiology
- Photosynthesis: Photosynthesis as a means of Autotrophic nutrition; Site of photosynthesis take place; pigments involved in Photosynthesis (Elementary idea); Photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; Cyclic and non cyclic and photophosphorylation; Chemiosmotic hypothesis; Photorespiration C3 and C4 pathways; Factors affecting photosynthesis.
-
Respiration: Exchange gases; Cellular respiration-glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); Energy relations- Number of ATP molecules generated; Amphibolic pathways; Respiratory quotient.
-
Plant growth and development: Seed germination; Phases of Plant growth and plant growth rate; Conditions of growth; Differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation; Sequence of developmental process in a plant cell; Growth regulators-auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA.
Unit V: Human physiology
-
Breathing and Respiration: Respiratory organs in animals (recall only); Respiratory system in humans; Mechanism of breathing and its regulation in humans-Exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration Respiratory volumes; Disorders related to respiration-Asthma, Emphysema, Occupational respiratory disorders.
-
Body fluids and circulation: Composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood; Composition of lymph and its function; Human circulatory system-Structure of human heart and blood vessels; Cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG, Double circulation; Regulation of cardiac activity; Disorders of circulatory system-Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Angina pectoris, Heart failure.
-
Excretory products and their elimination: Modes of excretion- Ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; Human excretory system-structure and fuction; Urine formation, Osmoregulation; Regulation of kidney function-Renin-angiotensin, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, ADH and Diabetes insipidus; Role of other organs in excretion; Disorders; Uraemia, Renal failure, Renal calculi, Nephritis; Dialysis and artificial kidney.
-
Locomotion and Movement: Types of movement- ciliary, fiagellar, muscular; Skeletal musclecontractile proteins and muscle contraction; Skeletal system and its functions (To be dealt with the relevant practical of Practical syllabus); Joints; Disorders of muscular and skeletal systemMyasthenia gravis, Tetany, Muscular dystrophy, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Gout.
-
Neural control and coordination: Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humanscentral nervous system, peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system; Generation and conduction of nerve impulse; Reflex action; Sense organs; Elementary structure and function of eye and ear.
-
Chemical coordination and regulation: Endocrine glands and hormones; Human endocrine systemHypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal, Pancreas, Gonads; Mechanism of hormone action (Elementary Idea); Role of hormones as messengers and regulators, Hypo-and hyperactivity and related disorders (Common disorders e.g. Dwarfism, Acromegaly, Cretinism, goiter, exopthalmic goiter, diabetes, Addison’s disease). (Imp: Diseases and disorders mentioned above to be dealt in brief.)
Unit VI: Reproduction
-
Sexual reproduction in flowering plants: Flower structure; Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination-types, agencies and examples; Outbreeding devices; Pollen-Pistil interaction; Double fertilization; Post fertilization events- Development of endosperm and embryo, Development of seed and formation of fruit; Special modes-apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; Significance of seed and fruit formation.
-
Human Reproduction: Male and female reproductive systems; Microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary; Gametogenesis-spermatogenesis & oogenesis; Menstrual cycle; Fertilisation, embryo development upto blastocyst formation, implantation; Pregnancy and placenta formation (Elementary idea); Parturition (Elementary idea); Lactation (Elementary idea).
-
Reproductive health: Need for reproductive health and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD); Birth control-Need and Methods, Contraception and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP); Amniocentesis; Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies – IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (Elementary idea for general awareness)
Unit VII: Genetics and Evolution
-
Heredity and variation: Mendelian Inheritance; Deviations from Mendelism- Incomplete dominance, Co-dominance, Multiple alleles and Inheritance of blood groups, Pleiotropy; Elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; Chromosome theory of inheritance; Chromosomes and genes; Sex determination-In humans, birds, honey bee; Linkage and crossing over; Sex linked inheritance-Haemophilia, Colour blindness; Mendelian disorders in humans-Thalassemia; Chromosomal disorders in humans; Down’s syndrome, Turner’s and Klinefelter’s syndromes.
-
Molecular basis of Inheritance: Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; Structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication; Central dogma; Transcription, genetic code, translation; Gene expression and regulation- Lac Operon; Genome and human genome project; DNA finger printing, protein biosynthesis.
-
Evolution: Origin of life; Biological evolution and evidences for biological evolution from Paleontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidence); Darwin’s contribution, Modern Synthetic theory of Evolution; Mechanism of evolution-Variation (Mutation and Recombination) and Natural Selection with examples, types of natural selection; Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy-Weinberg’s principle; Adaptive Radiation; Human evolution.
Unit VIII: Biology and Human Welfare
-
Health and Disease; Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (Malaria, Filariasis, Ascariasis. Typhoid, Pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ring worm); Basic concepts of immunologyvaccines; Cancer, HIV and AIDS; Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse, Tobacco abuse.
-
Improvement in food production; Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, Biofortification; Apiculture and Animal husbandry.
-
Microbes in human welfare: In household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation and as biocontrol agents and biofertilizers.
Unit IX: Biotechnology and Its Applications
-
Principles and process of Biotechnology: Genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA technology).
-
Application of Biotechnology in Health and Agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy; Genetically modified organisms-Bt crops; Transgenic Animals; Biosafety issuesBiopiracy and patents.
Unit X: Ecology and Environment
- Organisms and environment: Population interactions-mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; Population attributes-growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution.
-
Ecosystem: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; Energy flow; Pyramids of number, biomass, energy.
-
Biodiversity and its conservation: Concept of Biodiversity; Patterns of Biodiversity; Importance of Biodiversity; Loss of Biodiversity; Biodiversity conservation; Hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, biosphere reserves, National parks and sanctuaries, Sacred Groves.
-
Environmental issues: Air pollution and its control; Water pollution and its control; Agrochemicals and their effects; Solid waste management; Radioactive waste management; Greenhouse effect and global warning; Ozone depletion; Deforestation; Any three case studies as success stories addressing environmental issues.
List of Chapters Removed from NEET Biology Syllabus
The following chapters have been removed from the NEET 2024 Biology syllabus.
Unit | Chapters |
---|---|
Diversity in Living World | Three domains of life, Tools for study of Taxonomy – Museums, Zoos, Herbaria, Botanical gardens |
Plant Physiology |
|
Human Physiology | Digestion and absorption; Alimentary canal and digestive glands; Role of digestive enzymes and Neural Control and Coordination: Reflex action; Sense organs; Elementary structure and function of eye and ear. |
Reproduction | Reproduction in organisms: Reproduction, a characteristic feature of all organisms for continuation of species; Modes of reproduction – Asexual and sexual; Asexual reproduction; Modes-Binary fission, sporulation, budding, gemmule, fragmentation; vegetative propagation in plants. |
Biology and Human Welfare | Improvement in food production; Plant breeding, tissue culture, single cell protein, Biofortification; Apiculture and Animal husbandry. |
Ecology and Environment | Organisms and environment: Habitat and niche; Population and ecological adaptations Nutrient cycling (carbon and phosphorous); Ecological succession; Ecological Services-Carbon fixation, pollination, oxygen release Environmental issues: Air pollution and its control; Water pollution and its control; Agrochemicals |
Click here to download the NEET 2024 Biology Syllabus PDF
Q: Is the NEET syllabus tough?
The NEET syllabus is same as that of Class 11 and Class 12 CBSE Board exam syllabi. Hence, it is not that difficult or students need not study anything additional apart from their school or Board exam studies. However, the difficulty level of the exam depends on the question types, which is generally tricky in nature, which makes the difference in the difficulty level.
The best way to tackle the NEET syllabus is through revision and taking as many mock tests as possible. According to experts and previous years' NEET analysis, Physics section is the toughest followed by Chemistry and Biology. Moreover, toughness is subjective and it depends on the preparation level and aptitude of students.
Q: What is the Biology syllabus for NEET?
The Biology syllabus for NEET has undergone changes based on the recommendations by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Although earlier the NEET syllabus for Biology was categorised into Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus, it has now been merged. The units of the NEET 2024 Biology syllabus is given below.
Unit I: Diversity in Living World
Unit II: Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
Unit III: Cell Structure and Function
Unit IV: Plant Physiology
Unit V: Human Physiology
Unit VI: Reproduction
Unit VII: Genetics and Evolution
Unit VIII: Biology and Human Welfare
Unit IX: Biotechnology and Its Applications
Unit X: Ecology and Environment
Q: Why was the NEET 2024 syllabus changed?
The National Testing Agency (NTA), had clarified the reason behind changing the NEET 2024 syllabus. NTA stated, "Due to the COVID-19 scenario, various School Boards deleted portions of each subject's syllabus. The deleted portion is still not being taken back by these Boards. The deletions were not uniform across various boards. Hence, a number of requests were received by the NTA for the revision of the syllabus." Last year, before the NEET exam, several students and parents asked NTA to release the rationalised NEET syllabus. Since the syllabus of NEET was already released before the rationalisation took place,
Q: What is the Chemistry syllabus for NEET?
The NEET Chemistry syllabus is segragated into Organic, Inorganic and Physical Chemistry chapters. The units covered in these three areas are given below.
Physical Chemistry
Unit I: Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry
Unit II: Atomic Structure
Unit III: Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
Unit IV: Chemical Thermodynamics
Unit V: Solutions
Unit VI: Equilibrium
Unit VII: Redox Reactions and Electrochemistry
Unit VIII: Chemical Kinetics
Inorganic Chemistry
Unit IX: Classification in Elements and Periodicity in Properties
Unit X: p-Block Elements
Unit XI: d and f Block Elements
Unit XII: Coordination Compounds
Organic Chemistry
Unit XIII: Purification and Charactisation of Organic Compounds
Unit XIV: Some Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry
Unit XV: Hydrocarbons
Unit XVI: Organic Compounds Containing Halogens
Unit XVII: Organic Compounds Containing Nitrogen
Unit XIX: Biomolecules
Unit XX: Principles Related to Practical Chemistry
Also Read: NEET Chemistry Syllabus With Chapter-wise Weightage
Q: What was the ratio of questions asked from Class 11 and Class 12 syllabi in the NEET 2024 exam?
NEET Biology Syllabus Chapter Wise Weightage
The following table brings the topics from the NEET Biology syllabus in NEET along with their weightage.
Name of the chapter |
Number of questions asked (Approx.) |
Weightage in per cent |
---|---|---|
Anatomy of Flowering Plants |
0-1 |
2 |
Animal Kingdom |
2 |
7 |
Biodiversity and Conservation |
1 |
3 |
Biological Classification |
0-1 |
2 |
Biomolecules |
1 |
4 |
Biotechnology and its Applications |
1 |
3 |
Biotechnology: Principles and Processes |
1 |
3 |
Body Fluids and Circulation |
0-1 |
1 |
Breathing and Exchange of Gases |
0-1 |
2 |
Cell Cycle and Cell Division |
0-1 |
2 |
Cell: The Unit of Life, Biomolecules |
0-1 |
2 |
Chemical Coordination and Integration |
1 |
4 |
Digestion and Absorption |
1 |
3 |
Ecosystem |
0-1 |
2 |
Environmental Issues |
0-1 |
2 |
Evolution |
0-1 |
2 |
Excretory Products and their Elimination |
0-1 |
2 |
Human Health and Disease |
1 |
3 |
Human Reproduction |
1 |
3 |
Locomotion and Movement |
0-1 |
2 |
Microbes in Human Welfare |
0-1 |
2 |
Mineral Nutrition |
0-1 |
1 |
Molecular Basis of Inheritance |
2 |
6 |
Morphology of Flowering Plants |
1 |
5 |
Neural Control and Coordination |
0-1 |
2 |
Organisms and Populations |
0-1 |
2 |
Photosynthesis in Higher Plants |
0-1 |
2 |
Plant Growth and Development |
0-1 |
1 |
Plant Kingdom |
1 |
4 |
Principles and Inheritance and Variation |
1 |
5 |
Reproduction in Organisms |
0-1 |
1 |
Reproductive Health |
0-1 |
2 |
Respiration in Plants |
0-1 |
1 |
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants |
1 |
5 |
Strategies for Enhancement in Food Production |
0-1 |
2 |
Structural Organisation in Animals |
0-1 |
2 |
The Living World |
0-1 |
2 |
Transport in Plants |
0-1 |
1 |
Total |
90 |
100 |
Note: The above table carries topic-wise weightages based on last year's NEET exam. Candidates may use it for reference by omitting the removed topics.
NEET 2023 Analysis of Biology Section
As per the NEET 2023 analysis, the Biology section of the exam was easy to moderate. This section comprised a total of 90 questions. The experts from different coaching centres analysed that the topics from Class 11 Biology syllabus dominated the NEET 2023 exam. Maximum questions were from the NCERT books. NEET 2023 Biology section comprised as many as 11 analytical questions. Candidates found these analytical questions from NEET Biology syllabus difficult.
The following infographic brings the weightage of NEET Biology questions for Class 11 and Class 12.
NEET 2024 will be conducted online. The NEET exam pattern and syllabus will remain the same as last year. The exam will be conducted for a duration of 200 minutes and the NEET question paper will carry 200 questions, out of which 180 questions have to be attempted. Each subject will be divided into two sections. The first section will have 35 questions all of which are compulsory to attempt. The second section will have 15 questions, out of which 10 questions need to be attempted.
Read More:
Sreetama has over a decade of editorial experience in the higher education beat. A wanderlust by passion, she is also an avid reader and a music lover. Among friends, she is popular for her sense of humour.
News & Updates
Explore Other Exams
Jun '20 | AIIMS MBBS 2020 Results |
May '20 | AIIMS MBBS 2020 Exam |
Jun '20 | JIPMER 2020 exam (tentative) |
27 Dec '24 - 30 Dec '24 | FMGE 2024 December Session Fin... |
8 Jan '25 - 12 Jan '25 | FMGE 2024 Admit Card for Decem... |
Jan '25 | OJEE 2025 registrations |
Apr '25 | OJEE 2025: Admit Card Release |
Jul '22 | DAVV CET 2022 Registration |
Mar '25 | PU CET (UG) 2025 Application F... |
Mar '25 | PU CET (UG) 2025 Registration ... |
Student Forum
Answered 19 hours ago
No, it is not possible to get into North Bengal Medical College at 28460 rank via NEET UG. To secure a seat at the institute, candidates need to acquire a rank below or equal to the NEET UG cutoff. Considering the North Bengal Medical College cutoff 2024, the last round cutoff rank stood at 15433 fo
C
Beginner-Level 2
Answered 20 hours ago
If your merit number is 397 in NEET, the probability of your getting admission to the Government College of Pharmacy, Aurangabad will depend on the previous year's cutoffs and the certain percentage quotas assigned to each category. The B.Pharm programs in this college admitted the general category
K
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 20 hours ago
For NEET 2025, the application process will likely begin in the first week of February 2025. The registration deadline is expected to be around March 2025. After the registration window closes, candidates will have a brief correction window, typically in the second week of March 2025. The NEET UG 20
T
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 20 hours ago
No, JIPMER Puducherry admit candidates to its MBBS programme based on merit in NEET only. There is no other provision for selection. National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is conducted once in a year in offline or paper-pencil based test (PBT) mode. The national-level exam is conducted by the
R
Beginner-Level 3
Answered 21 hours ago
Preparing for NEET as a repeater requires a strategic approach. Here are some tips to help you maximize your chances of success:
Analyze Your Previous Attempt: Review your last attempt to identify areas where you struggled. Focus on improving these weak spots.
Create a Study Plan: Develop a structured
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered 21 hours ago
With a score of 400 marks in NEET, your chances of getting admission to a government medical college are quite slim, as this typically corresponds to a rank above 2,50,000. However, you still have some options:
Private Medical Colleges: You have a fair chance of getting admission to private medical c
A
Contributor-Level 9
Answered Yesterday
Apart from the common entrance exams like JEE (for engineering), NEET (for medical), and CET (for various professional courses), there are other entrance exams for admission to good colleges, depending on the course and field of interest. Here are some of them:
GATE (Graduate Aptitude Test in Enginee
R
Contributor-Level 10
Answered 2 days ago
MCAT stands for Medical College Admissions test, which is generally required by all the US Medical schools. Harvard Medical School also has a requirement for the same.
HMS does not require NEET as a part of their admission process. Although an average minimum score of 520.19 is required in MCAT exam
M
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 days ago
MCAT stands for Medical College Admissions test, which is generally required by all the US Medical schools. Harvard Medical School also has a requirement for the same.
HMS does not require NEET as a part of their admission process. Although an average minimum score of 520.19 is required in MCAT exam
R
Beginner-Level 4
Answered 2 days ago
SRIHER accepts NEET UG scores for admission to MBBS and BDS. The last-round scores for MBBS and BDS, among the General AI category were 370144 and 166033, respectively. Therefore, it is possible to get admission to SRIHER at 30000 rank, for the General AI category candidates.
N
Contributor-Level 10
Can we get admission with 28460 rank in NEET UG to get a seat in the Medical department of North Bengal Medical College?