NEET UG Exam 2026

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET UG is the primary entrance examination for students aspiring to pursue medical and dental courses in India. Below are the key highlights for the 2026 session:

• Exam Name: NEET UG 2026
• Conducting Body: National Testing Agency (NTA)
• Exam Level: National Level
• Frequency: Once a year
• Mode of Exam: Offline (Pen and Paper-based)
• Total Marks: 720
• Duration: 3 hours and 20 minutes
• Courses Offered: MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BHMS, and BSc Nursing

While the official notification is usually released in late 2025, the tentative schedule for NEET UG 2026 is as follows:

• Notification Release: December 2025
• Registration Period: February to March 2026
• Correction Window: April 2026
• Admit Card Release: Last week of April 2026
• Exam Date: First Sunday of May 2026
• Answer Key Release: Late May 2026
• Result Declaration: June 2026
• Counselling Start: July 2026

NEET UG is an all-India pre-medical entrance test for students who wish to pursue undergraduate medical (MBBS), dental (BDS), and AYUSH courses in government and private institutions in India and abroad. Since 2020, NEET has become the single entrance examination for admission to all medical colleges, including AIIMS and JIPMER.

The full form of NEET UG is the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate). It is regulated by the National Testing Agency (NTA) under the guidance of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

The landscape of medical entrance exams in India has evolved significantly:

• Pre-2013: Multiple exams like AIPMT and various state-level CETs.
• 2013: NEET was introduced for the first time.
• 2016: NEET became the mandatory unified exam following Supreme Court orders.
• 2020: AIIMS and JIPMER exams were scrapped, making NEET the sole entry point for all medical seats in India.
• 2024-2026: Focus has shifted towards a more streamlined NCERT-based syllabus and enhanced security measures during the examination.

Candidates must meet the following eligibility criteria for NEET UG 2026:

• Age Limit: Must have completed 17 years at the time of admission or will complete that age on or before 31 December of the year of admission. There is currently no upper age limit.
• Nationality: Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and Foreign Nationals are eligible.
• Educational Qualification: Candidates must have passed or be appearing for Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.
• Minimum Marks: 50% for General, 45% for Gen-PH, and 40% for SC/ST/OBC in PCB subjects combined.

The application process for NEET UG 2026 is entirely online. Follow these steps:

1. Visit the official NTA NEET website (neet.nta.nic.in).
2. Register using a valid email ID and mobile number.
3. Fill out the personal and educational details in the application form.
4. Upload scanned documents: Passport photo, Postcard photo, Signature, Left and Right-hand fingers/thumb impressions, and Category certificate.
5. Pay the application fee via online payment gateways (Net Banking/Credit Card/Debit Card/UPI).
6. Download and save the Confirmation Page for future reference.

The NEET UG exam comprises four major subjects, each divided into two sections (Section A and Section B):

• Physics: 45 Questions
• Chemistry: 45 Questions
• Botany: 45 Questions
• Zoology: 45 Questions

The syllabus is based on the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. Major topics include:

• Physics: Mechanics, Thermodynamics, Optics, Electrostatics, and Nuclear Physics.
• Chemistry: Organic, Inorganic, and Physical Chemistry (Structure of Atom, Chemical Bonding, Equilibrium, etc.).
• Biology: Diversity in Living Organisms, Human Physiology, Genetics and Evolution, Ecology and Environment, and Biotechnology.

The NEET UG 2026 exam follows a specific pattern:

• Mode: Pen and Paper (OMR sheet).
• Total Questions: 200 (Candidates must attempt 180).
• Structure: Each subject has Section A (35 mandatory questions) and Section B (15 questions, attempt any 10).
• Marking Scheme: +4 for each correct answer; -1 for each incorrect answer; 0 for unattempted questions.
• Total Marks: 720 marks.
• Languages: Available in 13 languages including English, Hindi, and regional languages.

The admission process involves the following stages:

1. Entrance Exam: Appearing for and qualifying NEET UG.
2. Result Declaration: Checking the All India Rank (AIR).
3. Counselling Registration: Registering for AIQ or State Quota counselling.
4. Choice Filling: Selecting preferred colleges and courses.
5. Seat Allotment: Based on rank, category, and availability.
6. Reporting: Verification of documents and fee payment at the allotted college.

Thousands of institutions accept NEET UG scores, including:

• Central Universities: AIIMS (all branches), JIPMER (Puducherry & Karaikal), BHU, AMU.
• Armed Forces: AFMC (Pune).
• State Government Colleges: All state-run medical and dental colleges.
• Deemed & Private Universities: Various private medical colleges across India.

The NEET UG 2026 result will be declared in the form of a Scorecard. It contains the candidate's total marks, subject-wise marks, percentile score, and All India Rank (AIR). Results are typically valid for one academic year for admission in India and three years for admission to foreign universities.

Once the results are announced, candidates should:

• Download and print the scorecard.
• Calculate their chances for AIQ vs State Quota.
• Keep all original documents ready for verification.
• Stay updated with the MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) and respective state medical authority websites for counselling schedules.

Counselling is divided into two main categories:

• 15% All India Quota (AIQ): Conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for seats in government colleges, Deemed Universities, and Central Universities.
• 85% State Quota: Conducted by the respective state medical authorities for seats within the candidate's domicile state.
• Stages: Usually consists of Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round.

The cut-off is the minimum percentile required to qualify for the exam. While it varies every year based on difficulty and performance, the standard qualifying criteria are:

• General/EWS: 50th Percentile
• OBC/SC/ST: 40th Percentile
• UR-PH: 45th Percentile

For queries regarding the exam, candidates can contact the NTA through:

• Official Website: neet.nta.nic.in
• Helpline Number: 011-40759000
• Email: neet@nta.ac.in
• Address: NSIC-MDBP Building, First Floor, Okhla Industrial Estate, New Delhi-110020