NEET UG · Physics · Current Electricity

Ohm's Law and Resistance: NEET previous year questions

28 questions in ten years of NEET, in 10 of 10 papers. Pattern: Every year. Here is how it is asked and which ideas come back.

Asked in 10 years: 28; about 2.7 per paper
Years asked: 10/10; last asked 2026
Chance of a question next paper: 93%; historical rate, how we compute it
Weighted estimate: 2.5; model; history: 2.7 a paper on average, typically 1–4

Key findings

01
Asked in 10 of 10 papers, 28 questions in all: #2 of 204 topics by ten-year total.
02
59% of its questions since 2018 tested an idea never asked before; 1 repeated an idea from the year before.
03
The most repeated idea is Parallel Resistors and Current Divider, asked 4 times (2018, 2021, 2025), usually as “numerical”.
04
NEET has asked 17 of the 85 ideas in this topic; 61 have never been asked, directly or indirectly.
05
Mostly asked as numerical (39%); 57% easy, 0% hard, and down from 2.9 to 2.2 questions a paper since 2024.

Questions per year

Up to 2023: 2.9; per paper
Since 2024: 2.2; -0.7
Usual gap: 1.0 yrs; between papers asking it
Swing: ±1.0; questions, year to year

Recent framings

effect of temperature on circuit current
numerical: equivalent resistance of cut wire pieces
numerical: battery current in resistor network

Revise first

Parallel Resistors and Current Divider (2018 2021 2025); Series Resistors and Voltage Divider (2021 2023 2024); Temperature Dependence (2023 2026)

How it is asked

Difficulty, format and skill

Across all 28 questions on Ohm's Law and Resistance since 2017.

Difficulty

QUESTIONS

1612

Easy16 · 57%
Medium12 · 43%
Hard0 · 0%

Format

Numerical · 11 Q39%
Figure-based · 10 Q36%
One-line MCQ · 6 Q21%
Match the lists · 1 Q4%

Skill tested

Multi-step · 8 Q29%
Calculation · 6 Q21%
Application · 6 Q21%
Recall · 4 Q14%
Data or graph · 2 Q7%
Figure reading · 1 Q4%
Concept · 1 Q4%

Repeats

New idea, or one asked before?

Each column is a paper. Blue questions tested an idea NEET had not asked before; navy ones went back to an idea from an earlier paper. 2017 is the first paper, so everything in it counts as new.

’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

Idea asked for the first time
Idea asked in an earlier paper

Coverage of the topic

NEET has asked 17 of the 85 ideas in this topic. 61 have never been asked yet.

1761

Asked directly17 · 20%
Touched inside another question7 · 8%
Never asked61 · 72%

Ideas come from Lumi’s syllabus map of NCERT. A never-asked idea is not a safe skip: most new questions come from exactly these.

Drill down

Idea, year, question

Every idea NEET tested in this topic, with its ten papers. Open one to read the questions.

ideaAskedShareYears’17’18’19’20’21’22’23’24’25’26

Repeated4 · 14%14%3/102
- 2025 · Q6
  The current passing through the battery in the given circuit, is:
  mediumFigure-based
- 2025 · Q33
  A wire of resistance R is cut into 8 equal pieces. From these pieces two equivalent resistances are made by adding four of these together…
  easyNumerical
- 2021 · Q49
  Three resistors having resistances $r_1$ , $r_2$ and $r_3$ are connected as shown in the given circuit. The ratio $\frac{i_3}{i_1}$ of…
  easyFigure-based
- 2018 · Q6
  A set of 'n' equal resistors, of value 'R' each, are connected in series to a battery of emf 'E' and internal resistance 'R'. The current…
  mediumNumericalNew idea
Repeated4 · 14%14%3/102
Repeated3 · 11%11%3/10
Repeated2 · 7%7%2/10
Repeated2 · 7%7%2/10
Repeated2 · 7%7%2/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10
1 · 4%4%1/10

Squares are the ten papers, 2017 to 2026; darker means more questions. Share is of the level above.

Ideas

Every idea inside this topic

17 different ideas were tested; 6 came more than once. Parallel Resistors and Current Divider is the foundation for 24 other ideas in the syllabus.

Parallel Resistors and Current Divider4×
numerical
Figure-based · 11% next · foundation for 24
Series Resistors and Voltage Divider4×
numerical
Numerical · 11% next · foundation for 24
Carbon Resistor Color Coding3×
resistor colour code reading
One-line MCQ · 6% next
Temperature Dependence2×
numerical
Figure-based · 6% next · foundation for 8
Joule Heating and Electrical Power2×
numerical
Numerical · 6% next · foundation for 11
Negative Temperature Coefficient2×
identify materials with a given property
One-line MCQ · 6% next
Balanced Wheatstone Bridge1×
identify circuit achieving bridge balance
Figure-based · 6% next · foundation for 10
Cell Internal Resistance1×
numerical
Numerical · 6% next · foundation for 10
Microscopic Vector Form of Ohm's Law1×
numerical
Numerical · 4% next
Microscopic Model of Resistivity1×
match list on drift and resistivity relations
Match the lists · 4% next · foundation for 1
Charge Carrier Mobility1×
numerical
Numerical · 4% next
Resistivity vs Temperature Graphs1×
graph interpretation of resistivity vs temperature
Figure-based · 4% next
Bulb Brightness in Series and Parallel1×
numerical
Figure-based · 4% next
Fuse Wire Melting Current1×
identify device by function
One-line MCQ · 4% next
Voltmeter Loading Effect1×
compare meter readings in two circuits
Figure-based · 4% next
Short-Circuiting a Cell1×
graph interpretation of short-circuit current vs cells
Figure-based · 4% next
Wire Stretching and Resistance1×
numerical
One-line MCQ · 4% next

Idea	Times	Format	Chance next	Foundation for
Parallel Resistors and Current Dividernumerical	4	Figure-basedMulti-step	11%	24 ideas
Series Resistors and Voltage Dividernumerical	4	NumericalApplication	11%	24 ideas
Carbon Resistor Color Codingresistor colour code reading	3	One-line MCQApplication	6%	–
Temperature Dependencenumerical	2	Figure-basedCalculation	6%	8 ideas
Joule Heating and Electrical Powernumerical	2	NumericalCalculation	6%	11 ideas
Negative Temperature Coefficientidentify materials with a given property	2	One-line MCQRecall	6%	–
Balanced Wheatstone Bridgeidentify circuit achieving bridge balance	1	Figure-basedMulti-step	6%	10 ideas
Cell Internal Resistancenumerical	1	NumericalCalculation	6%	10 ideas
Microscopic Vector Form of Ohm's Lawnumerical	1	NumericalCalculation	4%	–
Microscopic Model of Resistivitymatch list on drift and resistivity relations	1	Match the listsRecall	4%	1 ideas
Charge Carrier Mobilitynumerical	1	NumericalCalculation	4%	–
Resistivity vs Temperature Graphsgraph interpretation of resistivity vs temperature	1	Figure-basedData or graph	4%	–
Bulb Brightness in Series and Parallelnumerical	1	Figure-basedMulti-step	4%	–
Fuse Wire Melting Currentidentify device by function	1	One-line MCQRecall	4%	–
Voltmeter Loading Effectcompare meter readings in two circuits	1	Figure-basedConcept	4%	–
Short-Circuiting a Cellgraph interpretation of short-circuit current vs cells	1	Figure-basedData or graph	4%	–
Wire Stretching and Resistancenumerical	1	One-line MCQApplication	4%	–

Chance next is the historical rate at which an idea with this record came back in the following paper. It is low for every idea, which is why learning the topic beats memorising past questions. All repeated ideas

Every question

Ohm's Law and Resistance questions, year by year

The opening words of each question as it appeared in the official paper, with the idea it tested.

NEET 20261 question

Q36
Consider two circuits, (A) and (B), each having two resistors. One of them has a positive temperature coefficient of resistance,…
Idea: Temperature Dependence
MediumFigure-based · figure

NEET 20252 questions

Q6
The current passing through the battery in the given circuit, is:
Idea: Parallel Resistors and Current Divider
MediumFigure-based · figure
Q33
A wire of resistance R is cut into 8 equal pieces. From these pieces two equivalent resistances are made by adding four of these together…
Idea: Parallel Resistors and Current Divider
EasyNumerical

NEET 20244 questions

Q19
The terminal voltage of the battery, whose emf is 10 V and internal resistance 1 Ω, when connected through an external resistance of 4 Ω…
Idea: Cell Internal Resistance
New ideaEasyNumerical · figure
Q35
A wire of length ' $l$ ' and resistance 100 Ω is divided into 10 equal parts. The first 5 parts are connected in series while the next 5…
Idea: Series Resistors and Voltage Divider
Asked last yearMediumNumerical
Q41
Two heaters A and B have power rating of 1 kW and 2 kW, respectively. Those two are first connected in series and then in parallel to a…
Idea: Joule Heating and Electrical Power
MediumNumerical
Q44
Choose the correct circuit which can achieve the bridge balance.
Idea: Balanced Wheatstone Bridge
New ideaMediumFigure-based · figure

NEET 20234 questions

Q3
If the galvanometer $G$ does not show any deflection in the circuit shown, the value of $R$ is given by :
Idea: Series Resistors and Voltage Divider
MediumFigure-based · figure
Q18
Resistance of a carbon resistor determined from colour codes is $(22000\pm5\%)\ \Omega$ . The colour of third band must be :
Idea: Carbon Resistor Color Coding
EasyOne-line MCQ
Q37
The resistance of platinum wire at 0°C is 2 $\Omega$ and 6.8 $\Omega$ at 80°C. The temperature coefficient of resistance of the wire is :
Idea: Temperature Dependence
New ideaEasyNumerical
Q40
10 resistors, each of resistance $R$ are connected in series to a battery of emf $E$ and negligible internal resistance. Then those are…
Idea: Series Resistors and Voltage Divider
EasyNumerical

NEET 20223 questions

Q2
As the temperature increases, the electrical resistance :
Idea: Negative Temperature Coefficient
EasyOne-line MCQ
Q6
A copper wire of length 10 m and radius $(10^{-2}/\sqrt{\pi})$ m has electrical resistance of 10 Ω. The current density in the wire for an…
Idea: Microscopic Vector Form of Ohm's Law
New ideaMediumNumerical
Q20
Two resistors of resistance, 100 Ω and 200 Ω are connected in parallel in an electrical circuit. The ratio of the thermal energy developed…
Idea: Joule Heating and Electrical Power
New ideaEasyNumerical

NEET 20213 questions

Q3
The effective resistance of a parallel connection that consists of four wires of equal length, equal area of cross-section and same…
Idea: Series Resistors and Voltage Divider
New ideaEasyNumerical
Q4
Column - I gives certain physical terms associated with flow of current through a metallic conductor. Column - II gives some mathematical…
Idea: Microscopic Model of Resistivity
New ideaMediumMatch the lists
Q49
Three resistors having resistances $r_1$ , $r_2$ and $r_3$ are connected as shown in the given circuit. The ratio $\frac{i_3}{i_1}$ of…
Idea: Parallel Resistors and Current Divider
EasyFigure-based · figure

NEET 20204 questions

Q144
The solids which have the negative temperature coefficient of resistance are :
Idea: Negative Temperature Coefficient
New ideaEasyOne-line MCQ
Q163
Which of the following graph represents the variation of resistivity ( $\rho$ ) with temperature (T) for copper ?
Idea: Resistivity vs Temperature Graphs
New ideaEasyFigure-based · figure
Q164
The color code of a resistance is given below : [figure: resistor with bands Yellow, Violet, Brown, Gold] The values of resistance and…
Idea: Carbon Resistor Color Coding
EasyFigure-based · figure
Q173
A charged particle having drift velocity of $7.5\times10^{-4}$ m s $^{-1}$ in an electric field of $3\times10^{-10}$ V m $^{-1}$ , has a…
Idea: Charge Carrier Mobility
New ideaEasyNumerical

NEET 20193 questions

Q17
Six similar bulbs are connected as shown in the figure with a DC source of emf E, and zero internal resistance. The ratio of power…
Idea: Bulb Brightness in Series and Parallel
New ideaMediumFigure-based · figure
Q23
Which of the following acts as a circuit protection device ?
Idea: Fuse Wire Melting Current
New ideaEasyOne-line MCQ
Q24
In the circuits shown below, the readings of the voltmeters and the ammeters will be :
Idea: Voltmeter Loading Effect
New ideaMediumFigure-based · figure

NEET 20183 questions

Q5
A carbon resistor of $(47 \pm 4.7)$ k $\Omega$ is to be marked with rings of different colours for its identification. The colour code…
Idea: Carbon Resistor Color Coding
New ideaEasyOne-line MCQ
Q6
A set of 'n' equal resistors, of value 'R' each, are connected in series to a battery of emf 'E' and internal resistance 'R'. The current…
Idea: Parallel Resistors and Current Divider
New ideaMediumNumerical
Q7
A battery consists of a variable number 'n' of identical cells (having internal resistance 'r' each) which are connected in series. The…
Idea: Short-Circuiting a Cell
New ideaMediumFigure-based · figure

NEET 20171 question

Q45
The resistance of a wire is 'R' ohm. If it is melted and stretched to 'n' times its original length, its new resistance will be :
Idea: Wire Stretching and Resistance
EasyOne-line MCQ

Questions from the official NEET UG papers published by NTA (CBSE before 2019). Topic and idea tags, counts and notes are Lumi’s.