NEET UG 2026

NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Before applying, candidates must ensure they meet the following criteria:

1. Nationality

• Indian Citizens, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), Persons of Indian Origin (PIO), and Foreign Nationals are eligible.

2. Age Limit

• Minimum Age: The candidate must have completed 17 years of age on or before 31st December 2026 (or as per NTA norms).

• Maximum Age: There is no upper age limit as per a recent Supreme Court ruling. However, candidates should check specific state counseling rules.

3. Educational Qualification

• Qualifying Exam: Must have passed the 12th standard or equivalent from a recognized board.

• Subjects: Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.

• Marks Requirement (in Qualifying Exam):

  • General: 50% aggregate in PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology).

  • OBC/SC/ST: 40% aggregate in PCB.

  • PwBD: 45% aggregate in PCB (for General category).

 Age Limit

• Minimum Age: The candidate must have completed 17 years of age on or before 31st December 2026 (or as per NTA norms).

• Maximum Age: There is no upper age limit as per a recent Supreme Court ruling. However, candidates should check specific state counseling rules.

Important Points Regarding the Fee:

1. Transaction Charges: The fees mentioned above are the base application fees. Candidates should keep an additional ₹ 50 to ₹ 100 handy to cover the online transaction charges (Processing fees & GST) levied by the bank or payment gateway.

2. Mode of Payment: The fee must be paid online through the official NTA website (neet.nta.nic.in). Accepted methods include:

   • Debit Card

   • Credit Card

   • Net Banking

   • UPI (BHIM, Google Pay, PhonePe, etc.)

3. Correction Window Fee: If the NTA opens a correction window (to edit mistakes in the application form), there is usually a correction fee (approx. ₹ 200 to ₹ 500) that must be paid per change made (e.g., changing category, exam city, or correcting a photo).

4. No Refund: The application fee is non-refundable under any circumstances.

5. Fee for Centres Outside India: The fee for candidates wishing to take the exam from centres outside India (like Dubai, Riyadh, Kathmandu, etc.) is a flat ₹ 9500 for all categories.

• Registration Start: February 8, 2026
• Last Date to Apply: March 8, 2026 (up to 9:00 PM)
• Application Correction Window: 10/03/2026 to 12/03/2026
• Admit Card Release: April 2026 (Expected)
• Exam Date: May 3, 2026 (Sunday)
• Exam Duration: 3 hours and 20 minutes (2:00 PM - 5:20 PM)
• Result Declaration: Mid-June 2026 (Expected)

Exam Pattern: Marking Scheme & Structure

Understanding the exam pattern is crucial for strategy.

• Mode: Offline (Pen and Paper)

• Duration: 3 hours 20 minutes (200 Minutes)

• Type of Questions: Objective Type (Multiple Choice Questions - MCQs)

• Total Marks: 720

• Sections: 3 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology)

• Language: Bilingual (English and Regional language)

Subject-wise Distribution:

Marking Scheme:

• +4 marks for every correct answer.

• -1 mark for every incorrect answer.

• 0 marks for unanswered questions.

NEET 2026 Syllabus

The syllabus is primarily based on the NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12. The subject-wise breakdown is as follows:

• Physics: Mechanics, Electrostatics, Current Electricity, Optics, Modern Physics, Thermodynamics, etc.

• Chemistry: Organic Chemistry (Basic principles, Hydrocarbons), Inorganic Chemistry (Periodic table, p-block, d-block elements), Physical Chemistry (Mole Concept, Atomic Structure, Chemical Kinetics).

• Biology (Botany & Zoology): Diversity in Living World, Cell Structure, Plant/Animal Physiology, Genetics, Evolution, Biology in Human Welfare, Biotechnology, Ecology.