The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is a national-level medical entrance exam conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to undergraduate medical programs including MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, BSMS, and BSc Nursing across over 612 medical colleges in India (government, private, and deemed universities). It serves as the single gateway for medical admissions, replacing multiple state-level exams, and is mandatory for Indian students seeking MBBS/BDS abroad.
NEET 2026 aligns with the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines, emphasizing NCERT-based preparation and fair access to seats under All India Quota (AIQ) and state quotas. Over 22 lakh candidates appeared in 2025, with 12.36 lakh qualifying, highlighting its competitiveness.
NEET 2026 Highlights
Particulars
Details
Exam Name
National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG)
Conducting Body
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Level
National Level
Exam Frequency
Once a year
Mode of Exam
Pen-and-Paper (Offline)
Courses Offered
MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, BSMS, BSc Nursing
Exam Duration
180 minutes (3 hours)
Total Questions
180 (Compulsory)
Total Marks
720
Negative Marking
Yes (-1 for wrong answer)
Participating Colleges
612+ (Approx. 1,09,000 MBBS seats)
Official Website
neet.nta.nic.in
NEET 2026 Important Dates
Event
Date
Notification Release
February 2026
Application Start Date
February 2026
Last Date to Apply
March 2026
Correction Window
March 2026
Admit Card Release
April 2026
Exam Date
May 2026
Provisional Answer Key
May / June 2026
Final Answer Key
June 2026
Result Declaration
June 2026
Counselling Start
July 2026
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
Nationality: Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals are eligible
Age Limit: Minimum 17 years; no upper age limit
Educational Qualification:
Passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English
Minimum 50% aggregate in PCB (40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL; 45% for General-PwD)
Appearing students are eligible but must pass before counselling
Attempts: No limit
Reservation: As per Government of India norms
NEET 2026 Application Form: Step-by-Step Guide
Visit neet.nta.nic.in
Click on “New Registration – NEET (UG) 2026”
Fill personal details and generate Application Number and Password
Log in and complete the form:
Personal and academic details
Choose 4 exam city preferences
Select question paper language (13 languages)
Upload required documents
Pay the application fee online
Download and save the confirmation page
NEET 2026 Application Fees
Category
Fee in India (₹)
Fee Outside India (₹)
General
1,700
9,500
General-EWS / OBC-NCL
1,600
—
SC / ST / PwD / Third Gender
1,000
—
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern
Subject
Section
Total Questions
Questions to Attempt
Marks
Physics
Section A
35
35
140
Section B
15
10
40
Chemistry
Section A
35
35
140
Section B
15
10
40
Biology
Section A
70
70
280
Section B
30
20
80
Total
200
180
720
Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answers, –1 for incorrect answers, 0 for unattempted questions.
NEET 2026: Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, Indian students need to qualify NEET for MBBS/BDS in foreign medical colleges recognized by NMC.
Yes, Class 12 appearing students are eligible if they pass before counseling.
No, only a minimum age of 17 years is required.
There is no limit on the number of attempts.
50% aggregate marks in Class 12 PCB are required.
₹1,700 for candidates choosing India exam centres.
Yes, usually for 2–3 days in March 2026.
Yes, one mark is deducted for each incorrect answer.
NEET is conducted in 13 languages including English and Hindi.
The total marks for NEET are 720.
The result is expected on June 14, 2026.
50th percentile, expected between 720–164 marks.
Four rounds: AIQ, State, Deemed, and Stray Vacancy.
₹10,000 for General category and ₹5,000 for reserved categories.
Yes, document verification is mandatory at the time of reporting.
It is reserved for domicile candidates in government medical colleges of a state.
Yes, it is required for claiming state quota seats.
States like Karnataka and Tamil Nadu allow non-domicile candidates in private colleges.
There are over 1,09,000 MBBS seats expected in 2026.
States like Nagaland and Arunachal Pradesh have cutoffs around 400–500 marks.
Yes, nearly 90% of questions are based on NCERT Class 11 and 12 syllabus.
Ideally from Class 11; droppers should plan at least one year of intensive preparation.
NTA may conduct a re-exam in case of issues like OMR discrepancies.
Yes, the same NEET exam is used for dental admissions.
Yes, courses like BAMS, BHMS, and BUMS use NEET scores.
They can participate in spot rounds or appear again next year.
Fees generally range between ₹10–25 lakh per year.
Yes, many states like UP and Bihar have a 1–2 year service bond after MBBS.
It is usually lower, around 200–300 marks.
No, the state quota is fixed based on domicile.
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