NEET Exam 2026: Dates, Syllabus, Eligibility, Pattern
NEET (UG) 2026 is a pre-medical entrance test for students aspiring to secure admission in undergraduate medical programs at government, private colleges, and international institutions. NEET (UG) stands for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate). It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) every year. It is considered one of the toughest entrance exams in India, where approximately 15 lakh students attempt it every year.
Latest Notifications
- NEET 2026 correction window was open between 12 March to 14 March 2026.
- NEET 2026 Registration has started. Application form submission window: 08 February 2026 to 11 March 2026 (Revised).
NEET 2026 Highlights
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Examination Name | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate) |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Official Websites | nta.ac.in and neet.nta.nic.in |
| Qualification Eligibility | Class 12 passed with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology |
| Minimum Age Criteria | 17 years |
| Exam Date | 03 May 2026 |
| Exam Mode | Pen and Paper (OMR-based), single day |
| Frequency | Once a year |
| Languages | 13 languages — Hindi, English, Punjabi, Assamese, Bengali, Odia, Gujarati, Marathi, Telugu, Malayalam, Kannada, Tamil, and Urdu |
| Courses | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BHMS, BSMS, and other medical courses |
Programmes Offered Through NEET UG 2026
NEET UG is the entrance exam for the following medical and paramedical programmes:
- Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
- Ayurvedic Medicine (BAMS)
- Homoeopathy Medicine (BHMS)
- Unani Medicine (BUMS)
- Siddha Medicine (BSMS)
- Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH)
- B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing
- Bachelor of Physiotherapy
- Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
- Bachelor of Speech, Audiology, and Language Pathology
- Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics
There are a total of 542 medical colleges, 313 dental colleges, 914 AYUSH colleges, and 47 BVSc & AH colleges in India that accept NEET results. Additionally, 15 AIIMS campuses and 2 JIPMER campuses also accept this exam score for admission.
NEET UG 2026 Important Dates
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Submission of Application Forms | 08 February 2026 |
| Last Date to Fill Application Form and Pay Fee | 11 March 2026 |
| Application Form Correction Window | 12 March 2026 – 14 March 2026 |
| Admit Card Display | April 2026 |
| Exam Date | 03 May 2026 |
| Display of Provisional Answer Key with OMR & Responses | June 2026 |
| Display of Final Answer Key | June 2026 |
| Result Declaration (Cut-off & Scorecard) | June 2026 |
| Counselling Process | July 2026 |
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has established specific eligibility criteria for candidates appearing for NEET. Candidates must review the following criteria carefully before completing the registration form:
- Nationality Criteria
- Academic Criteria
- Age Limit
- Number of Attempts
- Qualification Exam Code Criteria
Refer to the detailed NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria page for complete information on admission requirements, qualifying standards, age limits, and other essential guidelines.
NEET Application Form 2026
Registration is the first step to appearing in the NEET exam. The organizing body, NTA, allows students to appear in the exam after completing the online application process. Candidates must complete and submit their application form within the stipulated dates on the official website: neet.nta.nic.in.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern
The complete exam pattern and marking scheme are as follows (based on previous year trends):
| Subject | Number of Questions | Total Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Biology | 90 | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
NEET Syllabus 2026
The NEET UG syllabus includes chapters from Class 11 and Class 12 across three subjects — Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. In 2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced changes to the syllabus. Candidates are advised to refer to the latest official syllabus before beginning their preparation.
Subjects covered:
- Physics (Class 11 and Class 12 topics)
- Chemistry (Class 11 and Class 12 topics)
- Biology — Botany and Zoology (Class 11 and Class 12 topics)
Refer to the detailed NEET Syllabus 2026 page for a complete subject-wise and chapter-wise breakdown.
NEET Admit Card 2026
The NEET UG 2026 Admit Card will be released by NTA in April 2026, a few days before the exam. It is a compulsory document that every candidate must carry to the examination hall.
Important points:
- Candidates must read all guidelines and instructions printed on the admit card immediately after downloading.
- If any discrepancy is found in the information, candidates must immediately contact NEET support or the regional NTA office.
- To download the admit card, candidates will need their Application Number and Date of Birth to log in to the official NTA website.
NEET 2026 Answer Key
After the exam, NTA releases the official answer key along with scanned images of OMR answer sheets and recorded machine responses on its official website. Using the answer key and scanned OMR sheet, students can challenge any incorrect or disputed response within the stipulated window.
NEET UG 2026 Results
The NTA will release the NEET UG Result on its official website. Candidates can download their scorecards by following the steps below:
- Visit the official NTA NEET website.
- Click on the ‘View NEET UG Result’ tab.
- Enter your Application Number, Date of Birth, registered Email ID or Mobile Number, and the Security Pin.
- Your NEET Score Card will be displayed on the screen.
- Click on ‘Print’ to download and save a copy.
- Retain a copy of the result until the admission process is fully complete.
A Name-Wise search option is also available via the ‘NEET Result Name Wise’ link.
Note: The scorecard is mandatory for participation in the counselling process.
NEET Cutoff Marks
The NEET UG cutoff is announced by NTA following the declaration of results. The cutoff score is the minimum mark required to qualify for the exam.
The NEET cutoff is divided into two categories:
- Qualifying Cut-off — Minimum marks required to pass the exam.
- Admission Cut-off — The last rank at which a candidate is admitted to a college.
The cutoff is determined by factors including the exam’s difficulty level, total number of candidates, performance distribution, and available seats.
Previous Year NEET UG Cutoff — 2024
| Category | Qualifying Criteria (Percentile) | NEET Cut-Off Marks 2024 |
|---|---|---|
| UR / EWS | 50th Percentile | 720 – 164 |
| OBC, SC, ST | 40th Percentile | 163 – 129 |
| UR / EWS & PH | 45th Percentile | 163 – 146 |
| OBC & PH | 40th Percentile | 145 – 129 |
| ST & PH | 40th Percentile | 141 – 129 |
NEET Counselling Process
Following the result announcement, candidates are assigned seats through the counselling process based on their ranks. The NEET counselling process is held within a month of the results being declared.
Key points:
- 15% All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 85% State Quota seats are filled through counselling.
- The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) conducts AIQ counselling.
- Relevant State Agencies conduct State Quota counselling for NEET UG.
- There will be four rounds of counselling: Round 1, Round 2, Round 3, and a Stray Vacancy Round.
Process:
- Register by filling out the counselling form and paying the registration fee.
- Fill in choices of colleges and courses in order of preference.
- Seat allocation is done based on rank and preferences.
- Download the seat allocation
