NEET UG 2026

Sorry

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is the single-largest medical entrance examination in India. Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET is the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga & Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy), and other undergraduate medical courses in government and private institutions across India, as well as for students seeking primary medical qualifications abroad.

Following the “Common and Uniform Exam” policy, NEET has replaced all state-level medical entrance examinations, as well as the erstwhile AIIMS and JIPMER entrance exams. It is now the sole entrance test for undergraduate medical admissions in India.

NEET 2026 – Examination Overview

• Conducting Authority: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Exam Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper – OMR based)
• Duration: 3 hours (3 hours 20 minutes for PwD candidates)
• Total Questions: 180 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Subjects: Physics (45), Chemistry (45), Biology (90 – Botany 45, Zoology 45)
• Marking Scheme: +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect answer
• Language: 13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu)
• Exam Date (Expected): First Sunday of May 2026 (tentatively 3rd May 2026)
• Result Date (Expected): June/July 2026

NEET 2026 – Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must fulfil all eligibility criteria prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and NTA. Failure to meet any criterion will result in disqualification at any stage of admission.

Nationality

• Indian Nationals
• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs)
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs)
• Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs)
• Foreign Nationals (eligible for 15% NRI quota seats)

Age Criteria

• Minimum Age: Candidate must have completed 17 years as on 31st December 2026 (born on or before 31st December 2009).
• Maximum Age: There is no upper age limit for NEET 2026 as per NMC guidelines.

Academic Eligibility

• Appearing Candidates: Students appearing for Class XII examination in 2026 are eligible to apply, subject to submission of passing certificate at the time of counselling.
• Biology/Biotechnology: Candidates must have studied both Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology as main subjects. Biology and Biotechnology are considered equivalent.
• Additional Subject: Candidates may have an additional subject (Mathematics, Computer Science, etc.) without affecting eligibility.

Number of Attempts

• There is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET-UG.
• Candidates of any age can appear for NEET as many times as they wish, subject to meeting the academic eligibility criteria.

NEET 2026 – Application Process

The NEET application process is conducted entirely online through the official NTA NEET portal (neet.nta.nic.in). No offline applications are accepted.

Step-by-Step Application Procedure

1. Online Registration: Visit the official website and complete new registration using a valid email ID and mobile number.
2. Fill Application Form: Enter personal details, academic qualifications, category information, and preferred exam centre choices.
3. Upload Documents: Upload scanned photograph, signature, Class X mark sheet/certificate (date of birth proof), and category certificate (if applicable).
4. Pay Application Fee: Pay the examination fee online through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or Paytm.
5. Print Confirmation Page: After successful submission and fee payment, download and print the confirmation page for future reference.

Application Correction Window: NTA provides a limited correction window for candidates to edit certain fields in their submitted application forms. Candidates must verify all details before final submission.

NEET 2026 – Application Fee

The application fee varies based on category and gender. Candidates from outside India (NRI, PIO, OCI, Foreign Nationals) must pay the prescribed fee in Indian Rupees (INR) or as converted from their respective currencies.

Note: The above fee is indicative based on NEET 2025 fee structure. Actual fee for NEET 2026 will be announced with the official information brochure. Processing charges and GST are additional.

NEET 2026 – Admit Card

• The NEET 2026 admit card will be released on the official NTA website approximately 2-3 weeks before the examination.
• Candidates must download the admit card using their application number and date of birth.
• The admit card contains: Candidate’s name, roll number, photograph, signature, exam date, time, centre address, and important instructions.
• Mandatory: Candidates must carry a printed copy of the admit card along with a valid original photo ID proof (Aadhaar, Passport, Voter ID, PAN, Driving License, School ID, etc.).
• No candidate will be permitted entry without a valid admit card and photo ID.

NEET 2026 – Exam Centres Outside India

NTA conducts NEET-UG at multiple international centres to facilitate NRI, PIO, OCI, and Foreign National candidates. Below is the complete list of NEET 2026 exam centres outside India:

Note: The final list of international exam centres for NEET 2026 will be published with the official information brochure. Centres are subject to minimum candidate registration thresholds.

NEET 2026 – Syllabus

The NEET-UG syllabus is prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and is based on the NCERT curriculum for Class XI and Class XII. The subjects covered are:

• Physics: Class XI and XII NCERT Physics (Mechanics, Electrodynamics, Optics, Modern Physics, Thermodynamics, etc.)
• Chemistry: Class XI and XII NCERT Chemistry (Physical, Organic, and Inorganic Chemistry)
• Biology: Class XI and XII NCERT Biology (Botany and Zoology)

Download Complete NEET 2026 Syllabus (PDF)

NEET 2026 – Exam Pattern

• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with four options, single correct answer.
• Marking Scheme: +4 marks for each correct answer, -1 mark for each incorrect answer.
• Unattempted Questions: No marks deducted for questions not attempted.
• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes). PwD candidates get 1 hour compensatory time.

NRI / PIO / OCI / Foreign National Quota – NEET 2026

In addition to the 15% All India Quota and 85% State Quota, a 15% designated NRI Quota is reserved in private medical colleges and deemed universities for eligible candidates.

Eligibility for NRI Quota

• Non-Resident Indians (NRIs): Indian citizens residing abroad for employment, business, or education, with valid NRI status.
• Persons of Indian Origin (PIOs) and Overseas Citizens of India (OCIs): Holders of valid PIO/OCI cards.
• Foreign Nationals: Citizens of countries other than India.
• Children of NRI/PIO/OCI: Even if the student is residing in India, they may be eligible under NRI quota if their parents hold NRI/PIO/OCI status.

Important: All candidates, irrespective of quota, must qualify NEET 2026 with valid scores to be eligible for admission under NRI quota. There is no separate entrance test for NRI quota admissions.

Documents Required for NRI Quota Candidates

• Valid passport (candidate and parent, if applicable).
• NRI status proof (employment certificate, visa, work permit, residency proof of parent).
• OCI / PIO card (if applicable).
• Class X and XII mark sheets and certificates.
• NEET 2026 scorecard.
• Financial support affidavit.

NEET 2026 – Preparation Tips

• NCERT is Non-Negotiable: Thoroughly study NCERT textbooks for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Class XI and XII). 80-85% of questions are directly or indirectly based on NCERT.
• Create a Realistic Timetable: Allocate dedicated time slots for each subject, with extra focus on weak areas.
• Conceptual Clarity: Build strong fundamentals. Avoid rote memorization, especially in Biology and Chemistry.
• Regular Practice: Solve numerical problems daily for Physics and Physical Chemistry.
• Mock Tests: Take full-length mock tests weekly under timed conditions. Analyze mistakes and improve.
• Previous Year Papers: Solve at least the last 10 years’ NEET question papers to understand pattern and difficulty level.
• Revision Notes: Create concise notes, flashcards, mind maps, and mnemonics for quick revision.
• Stay Consistent: Study daily in focused sessions with short breaks. Consistency beats intensity.
• Expert Guidance: Enroll in a trusted coaching institute like ALLEN Overseas for structured preparation and mentorship.

Download NEET Previous Years’ Question Papers

NEET 2026 – Sample Papers

Practicing sample papers helps candidates familiarize themselves with the exam pattern, difficulty level, and time management. ALLEN Overseas provides subject-wise and full-length NEET sample papers designed by expert faculty.

Benefits of solving sample papers:

• Understand question trends and important topics.
• Improve speed and accuracy.
• Identify strengths and weaknesses.
• Build confidence before the final exam.

NEET 2026 – Answer Key

• Provisional Answer Key: Released by NTA within a few days after the examination. Candidates can challenge answers by paying a non-refundable fee of ₹200 per question.
• OMR Sheet Display: Scanned images of OMR answer sheets and recorded responses are displayed on the official website for candidate verification.
• Final Answer Key: After reviewing challenges, NTA releases the final answer key, which is used to compute results.

NEET 2026 – Result and Scorecard

• Result Declaration: NEET 2026 results are expected in June/July 2026 on the official NTA website.
• Scorecard: Candidates must log in with their roll number and date of birth to download the official scorecard. No physical scorecards are dispatched.
• Percentile Score: Results are declared as percentile scores and All India Ranks (AIR) for each category.

NEET 2026 – Cut-off Marks

NEET cut-off is the minimum percentile/marks required to qualify for admission counselling. Cut-offs vary by category and are determined by factors such as:

• Difficulty level of the examination.
• Number of candidates appeared.
• Number of seats available.
• Candidate performance distribution.

Note: Actual cut-off marks (out of 720) vary each year based on difficulty level. Candidates are advised to target scores well above the previous years’ cut-offs.

NEET 2026 – Counselling and Admission

After result declaration, counselling is conducted by:

• 15% All India Quota: Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), DGHS.
• 85% State Quota: Respective State Counselling Authorities.
• NRI Quota / Private Colleges / Deemed Universities: Respective institutions or DGHS/MCC.
• AFMS (Armed Forces Medical Services): Separate counselling by AFMS.

Counselling involves online registration, choice filling, seat allotment (multiple rounds), document verification, and reporting to allotted institute.

NEET 2026 – Important Notes for Overseas Candidates

• NRI/PIO/OCI candidates are eligible to appear for NEET 2026 from exam centres in India or abroad.
• Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission under NRI quota seats in private medical colleges and deemed universities.
• GCC candidates can appear for NEET from centres in UAE, Saudi Arabia, Qatar, Kuwait, Oman, and Bahrain.
• Fee: Candidates appearing from outside India or holding NRI/PIO/OCI/Foreign National status pay a higher application fee (₹9,500).
• Documentation: Overseas candidates must ensure their name in the application form exactly matches their passport and other supporting documents.
• Eligibility: NRI candidates must have studied Class XI and XII abroad or in India with valid NRI status proof of parent(s).
• Quota: Admission under NRI quota is granted on the basis of NEET score/rank and institute-specific NRI fee structure.

This page is updated for NEET 2026. All dates, fees, eligibility criteria, and centre lists are indicative based on previous years’ official notifications and are subject to change. Candidates must refer to the official NTA NEET website (neet.nta.nic.in) for the latest information and updates.