The new syllabus of NEET 2024 has been published by the National Medical Commission on 6th October 2023. Here I have made a detailed analysis and compared the biology syllabus of NEET 2024 with the biology syllabus of NEET 2023. You can find out the topic number and page number of topics from the NCERT biology textbook (2023 and 2021 editions) that are mentioned in the new biology syllabus of NEET 2024. The topics that are deleted from the old biology syllabus or added to the new biology syllabus of NEET 2024 are highlighted here separately.
What is the new Biology Syllabus of NEET 2024?
The National Medical Commission issued a public notice on 6th October 2023 which contains the finalised syllabus of NEET 2024. The public notice advises to refer to the updated finalised syllabus of NEET 2024 for the preparation of the study material and for preparation of NEET (UG) examinations for academic
session 2024-25. You can download the public notice that contains the entire syllabus of NEET 2024 by clicking on the download button below.
The finalised biology syllabus of NEET 2024 contains 10 units which are mentioned in the NCERT biology textbook for class 11 and class 12. Unit 1 to unit 5 covers the NCERT biology textbook for class 11 while unit 6 to unit 10 covers the NCERT biology textbook for class 12.
Here I have mentioned the Biology syllabus of NEET 2024 with different colour.
- The red colour front indicates the deleted portion.
- The green colour front indicates the newly added portion.
- The orange colour front indicates the topics that do not exist in the latest NCERT Biology (although exit in NCERT Biology 2021 edition) but are still included in the NEET 2024 Biology Syllabus.
- The violet colour front indicates the topics that are neither mentioned in the finalised syllabus nor the previous syllabus but a fixed number of questions are asked in NEET every year.
Biology Syllabus of NEET 2024 for Class 11
UNIT 1: Diversity in Living World
The Living World
What is living?; Biodiversity; Need for classification; Three domains of life; Taxonomy & Systematics; Concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; Binomial nomenclature; Tools for study of Taxonomy – Museums, Zoos, Herbaria, Botanical Gardens.
Biological Classification
Five kingdom classifications; salient features and classification of Monera; Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens; Viruses and Viroids.
Plant Kingdom
Salient features and classification of plants into major groups-Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms and Angiosperms (three to five salient and distinguishing features and at least two examples of each category); Angiosperms classification up to class, characteristic features and examples).
Animal Kingdom
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 2: Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
Morphology of Flowering Plants
Morphology and modifications; functions of different parts of flowering plants: Root, stem, leaf, inflorescence- cymose and racemose, flower, fruit and seed (To be dealt along with the relevant practical of the Practical Syllabus). Family (malvaceae, Cruciferae (Brassicaceae) , leguminosae (Fabaceae), compositae, gramineae, Solanaceae)
Anatomy of Flowering Plants
The tissues, The tissue system, Anatomy of dicotyledonous and monocotyledonous plants, Secondary Growth
Structural Organisation in Animals
Animal tissues; Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (Frog). (Brief account only)
UNIT 3: Cell Structure and Function
Cell: The Unit of Life
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, microbodies; Cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultrastructure and function); Nucleus-nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus.
Biomolecules
Chemical constituents of living cells: Biomolecules-structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action.
Cell Cycle & Cell Division
B Cell division: Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance.
UNIT 4: Plant Physiology
Transport in Plants
Movement of water, gases and nutrients; Cell to cell transport-Diffusion, facilitated diffusion, active transport; Plant – water relations – Imbibition, water potential, osmosis, plasmolysis; Long distance transport of water – Absorption, apoplast, symplast, transpiration pull, root pressure and guttation; Transpiration-Opening and closing of stomata; Uptake and translocation of mineral nutrients-Transport of food, phloem transport, Mass flow hypothesis; Diffusion of gases (brief mention).
Mineral Nutrition
Essential minerals, macro and micronutrients and their role; Deficiency symptoms; Mineral toxicity; Elementary idea of Hydroponics as a method to study mineral nutrition; Nitrogen metabolism-Nitrogen cycle, biological nitrogen fixation.
Photosynthesis
Photosynthesis as a means of Autotrophic nutrition; Site of photosynthesis takes 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 in Plants
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 & movement
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; Seed dormancy; Vernalisation; Photoperiodism.
UNIT 5: Human Physiology
Digestion and absorption
Alimentary canal and digestive glands; Role of digestive enzymes and gastrointestinal hormones; Peristalsis, digestion, absorption and assimilation of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; Caloric value of proteins, carbohydrates and fats; Egestion; Nutritional and digestive disorders – PEM, indigestion, constipation, vomiting, jaundice, diarrhoea.
Breathing and exchange of gases
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 fluid 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 function; 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, flagellar, muscular; Skeletal muscle-contractile 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 system- Myasthenia gravis, Tetany, Muscular dystrophy, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Gout.
Neural control and Coordination
Neuron and nerves; Nervous system in humans central 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 Integration
Endocrine glands and hormones; Human endocrine system- Hypothalamus, 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, goitre, exophthalmic goitre, diabetes, Addison’s disease).
(Imp: Diseases and disorders mentioned above to be dealt in brief.)
Biology Syllabus of NEET 2024 for Class 12
UNIT 6: 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.
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants
Flower structure; Development of male and female gametophytes; Pollination-types, agencies and examples; Outbreeding devices; Pollen-Pistil interaction; Double fertilisation; Post fertilisation 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 up to 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 7: Genetics and Evolution
Principles of Inheritance and Variation
Mendelian Inheritance; Deviations from Mendelism- Incomplete dominance, Codominance, 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 fingerprinting, 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 8: Biology and Human Welfare
Human Health and Disease
Health and Disease; Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases (Malaria, Filariasis, Ascariasis. Typhoid, Pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm, dengue, chikungunya); Basic concepts of immunology-vaccines; 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 biofertilisers.
UNIT 9: Biotechnology and its applications
Biotechnology: Principles and Processes
Principles and process of Biotechnology: Genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA technology).
Biotechnology and its Applications
Application of Biotechnology in Health and Agriculture: Human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy; Genetically modified organisms-Bt crops; Transgenic Animals; Biosafety issues- Biopiracy and patents.
UNIT 10: Ecology and Environment
Organisms and Populations
Organisms and environment: Habitat and niche; Population and ecological adaptations; Population interactions-mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism; Population attributes-growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution.
Ecosystem
Ecosystem: Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; Energy flow; Pyramids of number, biomass, energy; Nutrient cycling (carbon and phosphorous); Ecological succession; Ecological Services-Carbon fixation, pollination, oxygen release.
Biodiversity and 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 warming; Ozone depletion; Deforestation; Any three case studies as success stories addressing environmental issues.
Here is the comparison between the Biology Syllabus of NEET 2024 and Biology Syllabus of NEET 2023 as well as with NCERT. However, the soft copy of the syllabus of NEET 2024 is not available in the official website of NTA and NMC. For any update about the finalised syllabus of NEET 2024, you can visit this website again or visit the official website of NTA-NEET or NMC.
Download the pdf version about the comparison of syllabus of NEET 2024 with old Syllabus.