Yes, the NEET syllabus has undergone significant changes compared to what might have been in place around 1988. In 1988, medical entrance exams were conducted by various individual medical colleges or state-level authorities, and there wasn't a single, unified national-level entrance exam like NEET (which was first introduced in 2013). Therefore, there wouldn't have been a standardized "NEET syllabus" in 1988 to directly compare with the current one.

However, we can discuss the general evolution of the syllabus for medical entrance exams in India. In the late 1980s, the syllabi for these exams were primarily based on the Class 11 and 12 curricula of the respective state boards and the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE). The focus was largely on testing the students' understanding of the fundamental concepts in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany and Zoology).

Fast forward to the present NEET syllabus for 2025, which is now standardized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and based on the NCERT syllabus for Classes 11 and 12. The current NEET syllabus is much more comprehensive and detailed. While the core subjects remain Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, the specific topics and their depth have evolved considerably over the decades due to advancements in scientific knowledge and changes in the school education curriculum.

For instance, topics like Biotechnology, Ecology and Environment, and more advanced concepts in genetics and molecular biology, which might have had less emphasis or been absent in the syllabi of 1988, are now integral parts of the NEET syllabus. Similarly, in Physics and Chemistry, the syllabus has been refined to include more application-based questions and a broader range of topics reflecting modern understanding.

Furthermore, the structure and format of the exam have also changed drastically. NEET is a multiple-choice question-based exam with a specific marking scheme, a format that might not have been universally followed in all medical entrance exams in 1988. The emphasis on a standardized national syllabus and a single entrance exam is a major shift from the decentralized system that likely existed in 1988.