About NEET-UG
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Undergraduates (NEET-UG) is India's premier medical entrance examination conducted annually by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This comprehensive examination serves as the single gateway for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, and AYUSH courses across the country.
NEET-UG determines eligibility for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, BSMS, and BNYS courses in government, private, deemed, and central universities including AIIMS and JIPMER. The examination is mandatory for all students aspiring to pursue medical education in India or for Indian students studying MBBS abroad.
Conducting Authority: National Testing Agency (NTA)
Official Website: neet.nta.nic.in
NEET-UG 2026: Important Dates
Registration Open
Exam Date Announced
| Event |
Date |
| Notification Release |
February 8, 2026 |
| Registration Start |
February 8, 2026 |
| Registration Last Date |
March 8, 2026 |
| Correction Window |
March 10-12, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release |
Late April 2026 (Expected) |
| Exam Date |
May 3, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Exam Timing |
2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (3 hours) |
| Answer Key Release |
Mid-May 2026 (Expected) |
| Result Declaration |
June 2026 (Expected) |
| Counselling Start |
July 2026 (Expected) |
Eligibility Criteria for NEET-UG 2026
-
Nationality:
Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and Foreign Nationals are eligible to apply for NEET-UG 2026.
-
Age Limit:
• Minimum Age: Candidates must be 17 years old on or before December 31, 2026
• Maximum Age: There is NO upper age limit for NEET-UG 2026
• Date of Birth: Must be on or before December 31, 2009
• As per the National Medical Commission (NMC) 2022 update, the upper age limit has been completely removed to provide equal opportunities to all medical aspirants
-
Educational Qualification:
Candidates must have passed or appearing in 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized board with:
• Physics (Compulsory)
• Chemistry (Compulsory)
• Biology/Biotechnology (Compulsory)
• English (Compulsory)
• Students appearing in Class 12 in 2026 can apply provisionally
-
Minimum Marks Required (PCB):
• General/EWS Category: Minimum 50% aggregate marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology
• OBC/SC/ST Categories: Minimum 40% aggregate marks in PCB
• PwD (General/EWS): Minimum 45% aggregate marks in PCB
• PwD (OBC/SC/ST): Minimum 40% aggregate marks in PCB
-
Number of Attempts:
There is NO limit on the number of attempts for NEET-UG 2026. Candidates can appear for the exam as many times as they wish, provided they meet the eligibility criteria each year.
-
Additional Subject:
As per NMC 2024 revision, candidates who studied Biology/Biotechnology as an additional subject in Class 12 are also eligible to appear for NEET-UG 2026.
NEET-UG 2026 Examination Pattern
NEET-UG 2026 is conducted as a Pen and Paper based (offline) examination with multiple-choice questions (MCQs). The exam duration is 3 hours (180 minutes).
Key Features:
- Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper based) - OMR sheet
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes)
- Total Questions: 180 MCQs
- Total Marks: 720 marks
- Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions with 4 options each
- Language Medium: Available in 13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu)
- Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted
Subject-wise Distribution:
| Subject |
Section A |
Section B |
Total Questions to Attempt |
Total Marks |
| Physics |
35 Questions |
10 Questions |
45 |
180 |
| Chemistry |
35 Questions |
10 Questions |
45 |
180 |
| Botany |
35 Questions |
10 Questions |
45 |
180 |
| Zoology |
35 Questions |
10 Questions |
45 |
180 |
| GRAND TOTAL |
180 |
720 |
Syllabus Distribution (Class 11 vs Class 12)
The NEET-UG 2026 syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum for Class XI and Class XII. Both classes hold significant importance in the examination.
| Subject |
Class XI Weightage |
Class XII Weightage |
Remarks |
| Physics |
~45% |
~55% |
Balanced emphasis on both classes |
| Chemistry |
~40% |
~60% |
Higher weightage to Class 12 |
| Botany |
~50% |
~50% |
Equal distribution |
| Zoology |
~50% |
~50% |
Equal distribution |
Key Syllabus Topics:
Physics: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Electrodynamics, Optics, Modern Physics
Chemistry: Physical Chemistry, Inorganic Chemistry, Organic Chemistry
Biology: Diversity of Living Organisms, Cell Biology, Plant Physiology, Human Physiology, Genetics, Ecology
NEET-UG 2026 Examination Centers
NEET-UG 2026 will be conducted at approximately 550+ cities across India and 14 international cities to accommodate the large number of candidates (over 20 lakh aspirants annually).
Important Points:
- Candidates can select up to 4 preferred exam cities during registration
- City allocation is subject to availability and NTA's discretion
- International centers available for NRI/OCI/Foreign National candidates
- Exact exam center address will be mentioned on the admit card
Courses Available through NEET-UG 2026
| Category |
Course Name |
Duration |
Degree |
| Medical |
Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery |
5.5 years |
MBBS |
| Dental |
Bachelor of Dental Surgery |
5 years |
BDS |
| AYUSH |
Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine and Surgery |
5.5 years |
BAMS |
| Bachelor of Unani Medicine and Surgery |
5.5 years |
BUMS |
| Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine and Surgery |
5.5 years |
BHMS |
| Bachelor of Siddha Medicine and Surgery |
5.5 years |
BSMS |
| Bachelor of Naturopathy and Yogic Sciences |
5.5 years |
BNYS |
| Veterinary |
Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry |
5 years |
BVSc & AH |
| Nursing |
B.Sc. Nursing (Military Nursing Service only) |
4 years |
B.Sc. Nursing |
Total Institutions:
• 780 Total Medical Colleges (MBBS)
• 318 Dental Colleges (BDS)
• 914 AYUSH Colleges
• 47 Veterinary Colleges
• 20 AIIMS Campuses
• 2 JIPMER Campuses
Seat Allocation & Counselling
NEET-UG 2026 Counselling Process:
The counselling for NEET-UG 2026 qualified candidates is conducted by:
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC): For All India Quota (15% seats)
- State Counselling Authorities: For State Quota (85% seats)
- Deemed/Central Universities: Separate institutional counselling
Seat Distribution:
| Quota Type |
Percentage |
Managed By |
| All India Quota (AIQ) |
15% |
Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
| State Quota |
85% |
Respective State Authorities |
| Deemed/Central Universities |
100% |
Individual Institutions |
Counselling Rounds:
- Round 1: All India Quota Counselling
- Round 2: All India Quota Second Round
- Mop-up Round: For remaining vacant seats
- State Counselling: Conducted separately by each state
Important Exam Day Guidelines
Documents Required:
- NEET-UG 2026 Admit Card (printed copy mandatory)
- Valid Photo ID Proof (Aadhaar Card/PAN Card/Driving License/Passport)
- Passport Size Photographs (same as uploaded in application form)
- PwD Certificate (if applicable)
Dress Code:
- Light-colored clothes (white or light colors preferred)
- Half-sleeved clothes recommended
- Avoid clothes with large buttons, brooches, or badges
- No metallic items, jewelry, or accessories
- Simple footwear (sandals or slippers)
Prohibited Items:
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, or any electronic devices
- Calculators (manual calculations required)
- Geometry box, textbooks, or study materials
- Wallet, handbag, or any bag
- Food items or water bottles (except medical requirements with permission)
Reporting Time:
- Candidates must reach the exam center 90 minutes before the exam start time
- Entry gates close 30 minutes before the exam start time
- Late entry is strictly not permitted
Special Guidelines for NRI/OCI/Foreign National Candidates
NRI (Non-Resident Indian), OCI (Overseas Citizen of India), PIO (Person of Indian Origin), and Foreign National candidates are eligible for NEET-UG 2026 with the following requirements:
- Must meet the same educational qualification criteria (PCB + English in Class 12)
- Minimum marks requirement: 50% for General/NRI, 40% for reserved categories
- Must upload certificate from Indian Diplomatic Mission (for NRI/OCI)
- Must provide valid passport or citizenship proof (for Foreign Nationals)
- Admission subject to state/institutional regulations and seat availability
- NEET qualification mandatory for studying MBBS abroad (as per Supreme Court ruling)
NEET-UG 2026 Score Validity
The NEET-UG 2026 score will be valid only for the academic year 2026-2027. This means:
- Candidates who qualify NEET-UG 2026 can use their score for admission in the 2026-27 academic session only
- The score cannot be carried forward to the next year
- A valid NEET score does NOT guarantee admission - candidates must participate in counselling
- Candidates must meet specific eligibility criteria of individual colleges/universities
- For studying MBBS abroad, NEET qualification is mandatory (valid for the same academic year)
For detailed information, registration, and official updates about NEET-UG 2026, please visit the NTA official website:
Visit NEET-UG Official Website