Are you aspiring to become a doctor, dentist, or pursue a career in AYUSH disciplines? The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the much-awaited Information Bulletin for the National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG) - NEET (UG) 2026! This is your golden opportunity to secure admission into top undergraduate medical, dental, and AYUSH courses across India. Prepare to embark on a challenging yet rewarding journey to serve the nation's healthcare sector. Read on for a complete, meticulously detailed guide to NEET UG 2026!
NEET (UG) is the single gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, and BHMS courses, as well as B.Sc. Nursing (H) and BVSc & AH courses in various government and private institutions. With a transparent and standardized examination process, NTA aims to assess the competency of candidates fairly. Make sure to mark your calendars for the important dates and prepare diligently to ace this crucial exam. Letβs dive into every essential detail you need to know!
The National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test (UG), popularly known as NEET (UG), is an all-India pre-medical entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). This examination serves as the sole entrance test for admission to undergraduate medical courses (MBBS), dental courses (BDS), and various AYUSH courses (BAMS, BUMS, BSMS, BHMS) across India. It also serves as a qualifying exam for B.Sc. (H) Nursing and BVSc & AH courses in selected institutions.
The NEET (UG) - 2026 will be conducted in a single session, offline (Pen & Paper mode), ensuring uniformity and fairness. The NTA is responsible for inviting online applications, conducting the exam, declaring results, and providing the All India Rank (AIR) to various counselling authorities. Please note that no specific 'vacancies' are announced for the NEET exam itself, as it is a qualifying test for a multitude of seats available across different medical and dental colleges and universities.
Keep track of these crucial dates for NEET UG 2026 to ensure you don't miss any deadlines:
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online Submission of Application Form | 08 February 2026 to 08 March 2026 (upto 09:00 P.M.) |
| Last Date for Successful Fee Transaction | 08 March 2026 (upto 11:50 P.M.) |
| Correction in Particulars | 10 March 2026 to 12 March 2026 |
| Announcement of City Intimation | To be announced later on the website |
| Downloading of Admit Cards | To be announced later on the website |
| Date of Examination | 03 May 2026 (Sunday) |
| Duration of Examination | 180 minutes (03 hours) |
| Timing of Examination | 02:00 PM to 05:00 PM (Indian Standard Time) |
| Declaration of Result | To be announced later on the website |
Before applying, candidates must carefully review the detailed eligibility criteria to ensure their candidature is valid:
Candidates must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English as core subjects from a recognized Board. Key qualifying codes are:
For complete details on qualifying examination codes and specific conditions, candidates are strongly advised to refer to Chapter 6 of the official NEET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin.
Indian Citizens/OCI intending to pursue Undergraduate Medical Courses in foreign medical/dental institutes also need to qualify for NEET (UG).
Candidates with benchmark disabilities (as defined by the Rights of Persons with Disabilities Act, 2016) are eligible for a 5% horizontal reservation in each category (GEN, GEN-EWS, OBC-NCL, SC, and ST). These candidates may also be eligible for a scribe and compensatory time during the examination, subject to producing a valid UDID card and a certificate from a designated medical authority. Detailed guidelines are available in the Information Bulletin (Chapter 5, Annexures II-V).
The application fee for NEET (UG) 2026 varies by category. Please check the table below:
| Category of Candidate | Fee in India (βΉ) | Fee Outside India (βΉ) |
|---|---|---|
| General | βΉ 1700/- | βΉ 9500/- |
| General-EWS/ OBC-NCL* | βΉ 1600/- | - |
| SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender | βΉ 1000/- | - |
*OBC-NCL (Other Backward Classes - Non-Creamy Layer) as per the Central List of Other Backward Classes. Processing charges and GST are applicable in addition to the examination fee.
Familiarize yourself with the exam structure to strategize your preparation effectively:
| Subject | Number of Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Biology (Botany & Zoology) | 90 | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
The detailed syllabus for NEET (UG) - 2026 has been notified by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Candidates are advised to refer to the official websites of NTA and NMC for the comprehensive syllabus. Understanding the syllabus thoroughly is critical for your preparation.
You can access the detailed syllabus directly from the following link: NMC Official Syllabus Link or on the NTA NEET website.
The admission process to Undergraduate Medical/Dental/AYUSH courses through NEET (UG) 2026 involves several key stages:
The Government of Indiaβs reservation policy applies to NEET (UG) for admissions to Central Institutes/Universities (15% AIQ) as follows:
Reservation for State Quota seats will follow the policies of the concerned State Governments.
Follow these simple steps to successfully submit your NEET UG 2026 application online:
Important: Ensure all details are correct before final submission as changes are permitted only during a specific correction window. Multiple applications will lead to cancellation.
| Apply Online for NEET UG 2026 | π Apply Now |
| Official Notification (Information Bulletin) | Click Here β |
| NEET UG 2026 Syllabus | Click Here β |
| NTA Official Website | Click Here β |
The last date for online submission of the NEET UG 2026 application form is 08 March 2026 (until 09:00 P.M.). The last date for successful transaction of the fee is also 08 March 2026 (until 11:50 P.M.).
NEET UG is an entrance examination for admission to various undergraduate medical, dental, and AYUSH courses. It does not offer a direct salary or job; rather, it's a qualifying test to enter professional medical programs.
Candidates must be a minimum of 17 years old as of 31st December 2026. There is no upper age limit for NEET UG 2026, as per the latest regulations from the National Medical Commission (NMC).
The selection process involves: 1. Online application, 2. Appearing for the NEET UG 2026 examination, 3. Declaration of NEET UG result and All India Rank by NTA, and 4. Subsequent counselling conducted by various authorities (MCC for AIQ MBBS/BDS, AACCC for AIQ AYUSH, and State Authorities for State Quota seats) for admission to respective courses.
Yes, there is an application fee. For General category, it's βΉ1700/- (in India) and βΉ9500/- (outside India). For General-EWS/OBC-NCL, it's βΉ1600/-, and for SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender, it's βΉ1000/-. Processing charges and GST are extra.
You need to upload a recent passport-size photograph (taken after Jan 01, 2026, with white background), signature, left and right-hand thumb impressions, and relevant certificates (category, Class X/XII mark sheets, Identity Proof, PwBD certificate if applicable). A live photograph capture is also mandatory.
NTA provides a specific correction window (10 March 2026 to 12 March 2026) during which you can edit certain particulars. After this period, no requests for changes will be entertained. It's crucial to fill the form carefully.
The NEET UG 2026 exam is a 3-hour offline (Pen & Paper) test with 180 MCQs. It consists of 45 questions each from Physics and Chemistry, and 90 questions from Biology (Botany & Zoology), totaling 720 marks. The marking scheme is +4 for correct answers and -1 for incorrect answers.
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