Introduction
The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG) is India’s premier and only national-level entrance examination for admission into undergraduate medical courses such as MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery), BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery), and AYUSH programs including BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, and BSMS, as well as B.Sc. Nursing in approved government and private institutions across the country.
It is conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and is mandatory for all medical aspirants, including those seeking admission to prestigious institutes like AIIMS and JIPMER. The exam is held in offline (pen and paper) mode and tests students primarily on their understanding of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology based on the NCERT curriculum of Classes 11 and 12. NEET is not just a test; it’s a gateway to fulfilling the dreams of lakhs of students aspiring to become doctors and healthcare professionals in India. It is considered one of the toughest entrance exams to qualify in India, where approximately 20 lakh students attempt it every year.
NEET 2026 Highlights
Let’s have a look at the Important details below –
Programmes Offered Through NEET UG 2026
NEET UG is the entrance exam for several medical and paramedical programmes mentioned below:
- Bachelor of Medicine and a Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS)
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS)
- Ayurvedic Medicine
- Homoeopathy Medicine
- Unani Medicine
- Siddha Medicine
- Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry
- B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing (included this year, 2023)
- 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 will acknowledge NEET results. There are a total of 15 AIIMS campuses and 2 JIPMER campuses that also accept this exam score for admission. This year, admission to the B.Sc. (Hons) Nursing programme will also happen through the NEET exam; however, the seat matrix has not yet been made public.
NEET UG 2026: Important Dates
In the below table we are providing all the important dates regarding NEET 2026 exam:
When will NEET 2026 be conducted?
The National Testing Agency (NTA) organizes the NEET‑UG exam annually, traditionally on the first Sunday of May. Since the NTA conducts NEET every year in the first week of May, it’s highly probable that NEET‑UG 2026 will fall on Sunday, May 3, 2026. This fixed schedule provides students with a clear preparation timeline. Following this consistent trend—NEET‑2023 on May 7, NEET‑2024 on May 5, and NEET‑2025 on May 4—the expected date for NEET‑2026 is Sunday, May 3, 2026, to be conducted in offline (pen & paper) mode
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has established specific eligibility criteria for candidates aspiring to appear for the NEET exam. It is essential for candidates to review the criteria below before completing the registration form:
- Nationality Criteria
- Academic Criteria
- Age limit
- Number of Attempts Criteria
- Qualification Exam Code Criteria
Students can refer to the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria to obtain detailed information about admission requirements, qualifying standards, age limits, and other essential guidelines.
NEET Application Form 2026
Registration is the first step to filling out the application form for appearing in the NEET exam, so keep yourself aware of the dates related to the application form for NEET UG Exam 2026. The organizing body allows students to appear in the exam after completing the online application process. ALLEN provides complete details about how to fill out the Online Application Form.
Students can visit NEET (UG) Application Form 2026 to know more about the NEET UG application form and its guidelines.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern
Before starting your preparation, it is important to know about the NEET Exam pattern and marking scheme. The complete details are given in the table below(as per last year trends).
NEET Syllabus 2026
To effectively start exam preparation, having a comprehensive understanding of the official syllabus is crucial. The NEET UG syllabus includes chapters from Class 11 and Class 12 in subjects such as Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. In 2023, the National Medical Commission (NMC) introduced changes to the syllabus. To help students navigate these updates, ALLEN has compiled detailed information about the subject-wise topics. You can find this latest comprehensive breakdown of the NEET UG 2026 syllabus.
NEET Admit Card 2026
Admit Cards for NEET UG 2026 Exam will be released by NTA a few days before the exam. It is a compulsory document for each aspirant to carry in the examination hall otherwise, they won’t be allowed to appear in the exam. Candidates must read the guidelines and instructions on the NEET 2026 admit card in addition to their personal information just after downloading the admit card. If they find any discrepancy in the information provided, immediately contact NEET support or the regional office of NEET.
Note : You will need to provide details of your Application number and date of birth to log in to the NTA official website and get your NEET admit card.
NEET 2026 Answer Key
After appearing in the NEET-UG exam, students eagerly wait for the answer key to get insights about their performance in the exam. NTA releases the official answer key along with scanned images of OMR answer sheets and recorded responses by the machine for all the students on its official website. Having both the answer key and scanned OMR Answer sheet, the students can challenge the answer key against the recorded and incorrect response. ALLEN also provides NEET Answer Key PDFs and LIVE video solution, which is a valuable resource for students to evaluate their performance.
NEET (UG) 2026 Results
The National Testing Agency (NTA) will release the NEET UG Result on its official website. Students can download their scorecards by following the step-by-step instructions:
- Visit the official NTA NEET website to check the results.
- On the screen, you will see a tab labeled ‘View NEET UG Result.’ Click on this tab.
- Provide the necessary information, including your Application Number, Date of Birth, Candidate Email or Candidate Mobile No. and the Security Pin available on the page.
- Your NEET Score Card will be displayed on the screen.
- To download the NEET Exam Result, click on the ‘Print’ tab, and save the file.
- Candidates must retain a copy of their NEET results until the admission process is complete.
- There is also an option to obtain your result using a Name Wise search. In this case, you should click on the ‘NEET Result Name Wise’ link.
Note: A scorecard will be required further in the counselling process.
NEET Cutoff Marks
NEET-UG exam cut-off is announced by the NTA (National Testing Agency) following the declaration of the NEET result. The cut-off score is the minimum mark required to qualify for the exam.
The NEET cut-off is divided into two categories:
- Admission cut-off
- Qualifying cut-off
The admission cut-off is the last rank at which a student will be admitted, whereas the Qualifying cut-off is the minimum marks that a student must score to pass the exam.
The cut-off is determined by several factors, including the difficulty level of the exam, the number of students, their performance, the number of seats available, and so on.
Previous Year’s NEET-UG Cut-offs
Category-wise NEET-UG 2024 cut-offs are given below –
Students should check the previous year’s category-wise NEET cutoff and marks to better understand the exam’s level of difficulty. This will help them set realistic goals, strategize their preparation effectively, and understand the score range required for admission to their desired medical colleges.
NEET Counseling Process
After the announcement of results, the subsequent critical phase involves the counselling process, during which students are assigned seats according to their ranks. If you are an aspirant for NEET UG, it is essential to stay well-informed about the counselling procedure and to have the necessary documents ready. Students can visit – NEET Counseling Process to know more about the counselling process and a thorough checklist of the documents essential for the NEET UG exam counselling process.
The NEET counselling process will be held within a month of the results being announced. 15% of the All India Quota (AIQ) seats and 85% of the State Quota seats will be selected for counselling. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will carry out the AIQ counselling process, while the relevant state agencies will carry out the State Counselling for NEET(UG).
There will be four counselling rounds/sessions: Rounds 1, 2, and 3, as well as a Round for stray vacancies. Qualified candidates must register by filling out the form, attaching the required documents, and paying the registration fee after the NEET counselling notification is released. The choice filling and process of claiming the seats will come next.
To claim a seat, candidates must download the seat allocation order, show up at the institute, and meet the admission requirements. They might decline the seat allotted in the first round and can compete in the second round to upgrade. If they are not given a seat in the first two rounds, candidates will be qualified to take part in the mop-up and stray-vacancy rounds.
NEET Exam Analysis
The NEET exam analysis offers a detailed overview of question patterns, subject-wise distribution, and overall difficulty. In 2025, the exam was moderately challenging- Biology was the easiest, Chemistry had a balanced level, while Physics relatively tougher. Such analysis helps students refine their preparation strategies.
NEET Mock Tests
Exam preparation remains incomplete without the practical application of the studied topics. Many students take the NEET exam every year, but only a few succeed. Practicing with mock tests is a key factor in identifying the exam pattern and succeeding in the exam. Students can analyze their performance level by attempting NEET Mock Tests which allow them to identify and rectify mistakes, ensuring they will not repeat them in the actual exam which will help build self-analytical skills and boost student’s confidence.
NEET Preparation Tips 2026
Preparation tips play a crucial role in any exam success. It provides a structured, efficient, and confidence-boosting approach to studying. Some preparation tips are given below which will help to boost your preparations by adding value to your learning process. Students can also learn in-depth preparation tips by visiting this page NEET Preparation Tips.
- Understand the syllabus of the exam.
- Carefully understand the paper pattern and marking scheme.
- Create a realistic study schedule.
- Arrange the best study materials.
- Learn to manage your time effectively.
- Always be curious to learn.
- Revise as much as you can.
- Keep a positive attitude throughout the preparation.
NEET Question Paper
Practicing the NEET previous year papers gives an idea to make an effective strategy for any competitive exam. It helps students in numerous ways like
- Familiarity with Exam Pattern
- Understanding Question Trends
- Time Management
- Self-Assessment, and
- Identifying Weak Areas.
NEET Exam Day Guidelines for 2026
To help students relax and have a stress-free exam day, NTA offers exam day instructions. The following general instructions for the NEET UG 2026 exam day are available to candidates:
- Candidates should arrive at the testing location at least one hour prior to the reporting time, so they can properly go through the security checks and frisking routine.
- Candidates must occupy the designated seat. On the NEET Admit card, they must attach a passport-size photo of themselves.
- Candidates had to consent to the conducting authority videotaping the exam. To allow for a clear identification of who they are, they must maintain an upright posture and face the camera.
Due to the high number of candidates, the NTA adheres to strict rules to uphold the fairness and discipline of NEET.
If you are looking for the leading NEET coaching institute, get enrolled at ALLEN and pave the way for your success. ALLEN is one of the top institutes with years of experience in guiding students to the path of cracking NEET UG and IIT JEE exams.