This unique conference served as a global platform for scholarly discourse, bringing together a diverse array of experts, researchers, practitioners and policy makers from across the world.

The launch took place in the presence of Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, and Mr. Gopal Srinivasan, Chairman and Managing Director, TVS Capital.

It also has details about 560 institutions for loan funding, making it the most comprehensive platform for start-ups and investors, say sources from IIT Madras.

Information Platform

This is the only information platform in the Indian context that captures the complete spectrum of funding options available for early stage start-ups, say sources from IIT Madras.

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Apart from information, the platform also contains various AI driven tools such as startup valuation and investor connection tools for entrepreneurs.

Valedictory

Addressing the valedictory session on 15 December 2023, Dr. PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan, Tamil Nadu Minister of Information Technology and Digital Services said the notion of an advanced economy is that it should also have a very efficient capital market.

If I take the US as an example, there was every kind of risk-return profile in the investment community, and therefore, available to entrepreneurs, businesses, Government and real estate developers.

Capital was available to finance risk at varying levels. In the start-up space, there were hundreds of billions of dollars available at the angel investing level and in other stages to finance start-ups at different stages of their journey, he said speaking at IIT Madras.

Expectations

Speaking on expectations from start-ups and innovation’, Dr. PTR Palanivel Thiagarajan said in Tamil Nadu, we have a decent track record that should be the envy of many States.

Part of that is built on our century-long history of focus on education and creation of the kind of human talent and human capital that is capable of benefiting from the waves of new technology, he said speaking at IIT Madras.

It is also built from the opening up of global markets, from opportunities that come up as a function of disruptive or transformative changes in the industry.

In particular, as a Government, we try our best to ensure that our philosophy of equitable access and social justice is implemented, even in the start-up and innovation ecosystem, he said speaking at IIT Madras.

‘We have targeted funds for SC/ST entrepreneurs and women with all our training programs are also geared to those parts of the community that do not get access to equal education opportunities.’

‘Now, I also find that the other side of the equation, viz., research and thought leadership on the Indian ecosystem is also very strong.’

‘Financing is a very important component of the start-up story and I must congratulate IIT Madras for having the foresight to set up something like CREST.’

Indian Start-up Ecosystem

The Indian start-up ecosystem has led to the emergence of 6 decacorns and more than 100 unicorns and continues to be the third largest tech startup ecosystem after the U.S. and China, say sources from IIT Madras.

With its prominence in the global arena as a key centre for startups and Innovation, the Indian startup ecosystem is set to take the baton of development in the subcontinent and win over the world, creating history.

Outcomes

Highlighting the important outcomes, Conference Coordinator Prof. Thillai Rajan A., Head, Centre for Research on Startups and Risk Financing (CREST), IIT Madras, said the objective of CREST is to be a globally renowned centre for research on start-ups, innovation and risk financing.

Apart from undertaking cutting edge research projects and various studies for the government, CREST has also built India’s most comprehensive information platform for the start-up ecosystem, said Prof Thillai Rajan of IIT Madras.

‘It is thereby fulfilling the long felt need of such an information platform for the entrepreneurs and other stakeholders.’

By bringing in the power of information within the easy reach of entrepreneurs, the platform democratizes start-up formation and funding, said Prof Thillai Rajan of IIT Madras.

‘This platform would also meet the data requirement needs of the faculty members and research scholars for cutting edge research.’

Director of IIT Madras

Addressing the inaugural session, Prof. V. Kamakoti, Director, IIT Madras, said, “India can become a superpower by 2047 only if there are more employers than employees.

Higher education institutions have a very important role in making that happen. Therefore, creating, nurturing and supporting start-ups should be a part of every higher education institution, said Director of IIT Madras.

‘In addition to returns and wealth creation, start-ups can play a very important role in finding a solution for various problems through innovation.’

The difference between the start-up ecosystems here and overseas is the availability of organized data.

The information portal developed by CREST and YNOS, an IIT Madras incubated start-up addresses this gap, he said.

Ecosystem enablers such as Incubators, Accelerators, Mentors, Innovators such as scientists and technology professionals and Corporate Managers, specifically in the innovation and startup cells also stood to benefit from this conference.

This conference hosted over 200 global attendees from political parties, industries, practitioners, startups, as well as academia and government, say sources from IIT Madras.

The first two days of the conference featured technical presentation sessions, plenary talks and a gala networking dinner.

The third day of the conference was devoted to panel discussions, keynote talks, and in-depth fireside chats with speaker-scholars drawn from academia, government, investors, ecosystem enablers, and startup founders, say sources from IIT Madras.

Admission into UG medical courses, popularly known as MBBS would commence with conducting NEET UG for 2025. Candidates who pass the exam have to take part in the counselling for MBBS admission.

A few other sources convey that registration for NEET UG in 2025 may also commence in March 2025.

Schedule

NEET UG 2025 registration schedule will be made known after the announcement about exam’s application submission commences.

The NEET UG 2025 registration would usually be open for a month or more. The application correction facility will be made active after submission comes to an end.

After corrections, the admit cards are made available for download. Those who have completed their NEET UG 2025 application submission process successfully, alone will be able to download the hall ticket.

Candidates have to write the exam and pass it with required qualifying marks to be eligible for taking part in the counselling process for getting admitted into a medical college.

More about the exam

The full name of the exam is National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test  Undergraduate.

The exam is conducted offline in pen-and-paper mode and answers have to be registered on a separate answer sheet.

The questions in NEET UG 2025 would be related to biology, physics and chemistry which are taught in classes 10,11 and 12 in recognized educational institutions across India.

Questions will be in a multiple-choice format where each question has more than one reply and the right one among that has to be chosen to get marks.

Students willing to join BDS in colleges located across India also have to submit NEET UG 2025 application.

Medical colleges abroad also consider scores of NEET UG for providing admission into MBBS courses.

Who can take up NEET UG 2025 application submission?

Candidates who have passed plus-two in the science stream with biology, physics and chemistry as subjects can take up NEET UG 2025 application submission.

Students who have appeared for their final year exams and are waiting for the results or students who are about to appear for the final year exams of their qualifying degree can also take up NEET UG 2025 application submission.

However, these students have to pass their exams and provide proof of it by the time of admission.

1. The above URL has to be typed into the browser and submitted to allow the website to download.

2. Once the webpage is ready, candidates can click the button Click Here for Registration/Login

3. Clicking the above button will open another webpage with URL ‘https://neet.ntaonline.in/frontend/web/’

4. Once the webpage with above URL opens, candidates can click the registration link and create an account with username and password.

5. After obtaining the account, they can come to the same webpage (https://neet.ntaonline.in/frontend/web/) and login and start applying for the exam.

Website for NEET UG 2025 Application is Here

NEET UG 2025 application submission fees

NEET UG 2025 application submission fees is Rs 1700 for General category candidates and NRI applicants. The same is Rs 1600 for General-EWS/OBC-NCL category applicants.

SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender category applicants have to pay Rs 1000 while taking up NEET UG 2024 registration.

The fee may also change due to various reasons, candidates can read information bulletin related to NEET UG 2025 application when it is released.

How to download hall ticket?

The process to download hall ticket is online and it can be done on the official website ‘https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET’

1. Candidates have to type the URL mentioned above in the browser and submit it to allow the website to download.

2. Once the website is ready, candidates can click the link for the hall ticket.

3. This will likely open another website and there, they have to enter their application number and other details and submit them to view the admit card.

Point to remember

Once the admit card is visible, applicants can download and take a printout. Only those who have successfully completed NEET UG 2025 application submission will be able to download admit card.

The link to download admit card will be made active on the official website at the appropriate time.

Students can visit the official website as the exam time nears, to find the link for download hall ticket. Link for obtaining admit cards are usually made available about 10 to 15 days before the exam day.

Students who pass NEET UG 2025 application submission with the required qualifying marks can apply for counselling where they choose the college and course. Counselling takes place to fill seats at the All India level and state level.

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Students who wish to study in central government institutions can apply under the All India Quota for which Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts the counselling.

Respective authorities of various states in India conduct counselling at their state level. Candidates can visit the official websites of the respective authorities for more information.

The best thing to do would be to follow the website of NTA for updates on 2025 NEET UG. Registration can be done at the appropriate time.

Candidates who do not get a seat in the institution of their choice in the initial rounds of counselling can apply in the subsequent rounds.

Preparation involves studying all the lessons in the syllabus, students must ensure that they have mastered all the subjects to score marks in NEET UG for 2025.