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Mar 26, 2026
NEET UG 2026 Registration Deadline Extended as NTA Addresses Technical Glitches
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Ananya Iyer
Mar 26, 2026
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The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially announced an extension for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET UG 2026 registration process. Originally scheduled to conclude on March 25, the deadline has now been pushed to April 10, 2026, providing a significant relief to thousands of medical aspirants across the country. This decision comes after a week of persistent technical issues on the official NTA portal, where students reported difficulties in uploading documents and completing the fee payment process.
According to an official notification released late last night, the NTA acknowledged that heavy traffic on the website led to intermittent downtime. 'We have observed that a large number of candidates were unable to complete their registration due to server-side bottlenecks. To ensure that no student is left behind, the competent authority has decided to extend the window for submission of online application forms,' stated a senior NTA official. The extension applies to the submission of the application form, the successful transaction of the registration fee, and the correction window, which will now open from April 12 to April 15.
Educational consultants and student unions had been lobbying for this extension for several days. Many students from rural areas, particularly in Bihar and Odisha, had reported that the OTP verification system was failing to send codes to their registered mobile numbers. With the new deadline, the NTA has also upgraded its server capacity to handle the expected surge in last-minute registrations. Candidates are advised to not wait until the final day to avoid similar technical hurdles.
In addition to the date change, the NTA has clarified the requirements for the 'Permanent Address' proof. Following confusion regarding the documents required for students living in rented accommodations, the agency has now allowed a notarized rent agreement to be uploaded as valid proof. This clarification is expected to streamline the process for migrant students studying in coaching hubs like Kota and Namakkal.
As of March 2026, over 22 lakh students have already registered for the exam, which is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2026. The NEET UG remains the sole entrance gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and Nursing courses in all recognized medical colleges in India. Students are encouraged to double-check their category certificates and photograph specifications before the final submission, as the correction window will have limited scope for changes in core personal data.
According to an official notification released late last night, the NTA acknowledged that heavy traffic on the website led to intermittent downtime. 'We have observed that a large number of candidates were unable to complete their registration due to server-side bottlenecks. To ensure that no student is left behind, the competent authority has decided to extend the window for submission of online application forms,' stated a senior NTA official. The extension applies to the submission of the application form, the successful transaction of the registration fee, and the correction window, which will now open from April 12 to April 15.
Educational consultants and student unions had been lobbying for this extension for several days. Many students from rural areas, particularly in Bihar and Odisha, had reported that the OTP verification system was failing to send codes to their registered mobile numbers. With the new deadline, the NTA has also upgraded its server capacity to handle the expected surge in last-minute registrations. Candidates are advised to not wait until the final day to avoid similar technical hurdles.
In addition to the date change, the NTA has clarified the requirements for the 'Permanent Address' proof. Following confusion regarding the documents required for students living in rented accommodations, the agency has now allowed a notarized rent agreement to be uploaded as valid proof. This clarification is expected to streamline the process for migrant students studying in coaching hubs like Kota and Namakkal.
As of March 2026, over 22 lakh students have already registered for the exam, which is scheduled to be held on May 3, 2026. The NEET UG remains the sole entrance gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and Nursing courses in all recognized medical colleges in India. Students are encouraged to double-check their category certificates and photograph specifications before the final submission, as the correction window will have limited scope for changes in core personal data.