NEET UG 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the NEET UG 2026 notification on February 8, 2026, marking the commencement of the application process for one of India’s most competitive medical entrance examinations. The exam serves as the single gateway for admission to undergraduate medical courses across the country.
The National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Undergraduate courses (NEET UG) 2026 is set to be conducted on 3rd May 2026, serving as the gateway for aspiring medical students across India to secure admission into prestigious undergraduate medical programs. Organized by the National Testing Agency (NTA), this comprehensive entrance examination determines admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, BHMS), and B.Sc. Nursing courses across the nation.
Eligibility Criteria for NEET UG 2026
Check National Testing Agency NEET(UG)-2026 eligibility below:
Age Requirements
Following the Graduate Medical Education Regulation-2023 amendments:
- Minimum Age: Candidates must complete 17 years of age on or before December 31, 2026 (applicable to all categories including General, EWS, SC, ST, OBC-NCL, and PwBD)
- Upper Age Limit: No upper age limit as per NMC guidelines
Educational Qualification
Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class XII (or equivalent) with:
Mandatory Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English
Minimum Marks:
- General/EWS: 50th percentile
- SC/ST/OBC-NCL: 40th percentile
- PwBD candidates (General/EWS): 45th percentile
- PwBD candidates (SC/ST/OBC-NCL): 40th percentile
Nationality
Indian Nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Foreign Nationals are eligible to appear, subject to specific documentation requirements and admission norms.
NEET UG 2026 Examination Pattern and Structure
The examination follows a standardized format designed to assess candidates across three core science subjects:
Test Structure
| Subject | Type of Questions | Number of Questions | Total Marks | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | MCQ (4 options, 1 correct) | 45 | 180 | 3 hours |
| Chemistry | MCQ (4 options, 1 correct) | 45 | 180 | (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM) |
| Biology (Botany + Zoology) | MCQ (4 options, 1 correct) | 90 | 360 | |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
Marking Scheme
- Correct Answer: +4 marks
- Incorrect Answer: -1 mark
- Unanswered: 0 marks
Compensatory Time
Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) with physical limitations to write will receive one additional hour (total 4 hours) whether they use a scribe or not.
Language Options for NEET UG 2026
Understanding the diversity of India’s educational landscape, NEET UG 2026 will be conducted in 13 languages:
- English
- Hindi
- Assamese
- Bengali
- Gujarati
- Kannada
- Malayalam
- Marathi
- Odia
- Punjabi
- Tamil
- Telugu
- Urdu
Important Notes:
- Candidates choosing English will receive the test booklet in English only
- Candidates choosing Hindi or any regional language will receive a bilingual booklet (English + chosen language)
- The medium selected during application cannot be changed later
- In case of any translation ambiguity, the English version will be considered final
NEET UG 2026: Course Coverage and Scope
NEET UG 2026 serves as the gateway examination for admission to multiple undergraduate medical programs across India. As per Section 14 of the National Medical Commission Act 2019, NEET is the mandatory uniform entrance test for:
- MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery)
- BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery)
- BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery)
- BUMS (Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery)
- BSMS (Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery)
- BHMS (Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery)
- BVSc & AH (Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry – for 15% All India Quota)
- B.Sc. Nursing (for select institutions including Military Nursing Service)
This comprehensive examination replaces all previous institution-specific tests, including those conducted by AIIMS and JIPMER, making it the single point of entry for medical education in India.
NEET UG 2026 Application Fee Structure
The examination fee varies based on the candidate’s category and examination center location:
| Category | Fee for Centres in India | Fee for Centres Outside India |
|---|---|---|
| General | ₹1,700 | ₹9,500 |
| General-EWS/OBC-NCL | ₹1,600 | ₹9,500 |
| SC/ST/PwBD/PwD/Third Gender | ₹1,000 | ₹9,500 |
Note: Processing charges and GST (18%) are additional and will be borne by the candidate through their chosen payment gateway.
NEET UG 2026: Application Timeline and Important Dates
The registration process for NEET UG 2026 has commenced on February 8, 2026, giving candidates approximately one month to complete their applications. Here’s a complete breakdown of the critical dates:
- Application Submission Period: February 8 to March 8, 2026 (until 9:00 PM)
- Last Date for Fee Payment: March 8, 2026 (until 11:50 PM via Credit/Debit Card/Net Banking/UPI)
- Correction Window: March 10 to March 12, 2026
- Examination Date: May 3, 2026 (Sunday)
- Examination Duration: 180 minutes (3 hours)
- Examination Timing: 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (IST)
How to Apply for NEET UG 2026: Step-by-Step Process
The entire application process is online and must be completed through the official website neet.nta.nic.in. Here’s how to apply:
Step 1: Registration
- Visit the official NEET UG 2026 portal
- Provide basic details (name, date of birth, parent’s details)
- Create a secure password and select security questions
- Note down the system-generated application number
Step 2: Fill Application Form
- Log in using your application number and password
- Complete personal details, contact information, and correspondence address
- Select examination cities (choose three cities in order of preference)
- Choose question paper medium
- Provide educational qualification details (Class X and XII)
- Select appropriate category (General/EWS/SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD)
Step 3: Upload Documents
Upload scanned copies of the following documents in specified formats:
- Recent passport-size photograph (taken after January 1, 2026, JPG/JPEG, 10-200 KB)
- Signature (JPG/JPEG, 10-100 KB)
- Left and Right hand fingers and thumb impressions (JPG/JPEG, 10-200 KB)
- Identity proof (Aadhaar recommended to avoid additional documentation)
- Class X certificate and mark sheet (PDF, 50-300 KB)
- Category certificate if applicable (PDF, 50-300 KB)
- PwBD/UDID certificate if applicable (PDF, 50-300 KB)
- Live photograph captured during application process
Step 4: Fee Payment
- Pay the examination fee through Credit/Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI
- Verify the payment status shows “Success”
- Download and save the confirmation page
Critical Reminder: The application is incomplete without successful fee payment and generation of the confirmation page.
Syllabus and Preparation
The syllabus follows the NMC-prescribed curriculum based on Class 11 and 12 NCERT textbooks. Detailed syllabus is available on the official NTA and NMC websites.
Important Links
| EVENT | LINKS |
|---|---|
| NEET UG Notification | DOWNLOAD NOW |
| NTA NEET UG Timelines | DOWNLOAD NOW |
| Direct Online Apply Link | APPLY NOW |
