NEET eligibility criteria 2026 are important guidelines for students preparing for the NEET exam next year. National medical entrance exam NEET is open to Indians and foreign nationals both. Students over or at par with 17 years of age are eligible to write the NEET 2026 examination. An upper age limit has not been set for NEET 2026.
At 10+2 level, candidates must either appear or must have previously appeared for Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology. They must also have English as a core subject. The minimum marks required in the last qualifying examination for the general category students is 50%, 40% for OBC/SC/ST and 45% for PwD general category.
In accordance with the rules of the NTA, there is no bar on the limit of NEET 2026 attempts. Students having passed or appearing for the class 12 examination must be under the State or Central government recognized boards such as CBSE, ICSE, NIOS, etc. The reservation criteria in the All India Quota seats for SC category is 15% and 7.5% for the ST students. Read below to know important points regarding NEET eligibility criteria 2026.
Join the free NEET whatsapp group for latest NEET updates and other important information
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 Highlights
NTA NEET eligibility criteria 2026 includes important components such as age limit, number of attempts, nationality and so on. Check highlights on NEET eligibility criteria 2026 below.
| Particulars | Details |
| Nationality | Indian CitizenNRIsOCIsPersons of Indian Origin, andForeign Nationals |
| Minimum Age Limit | 17 years |
| Education Requirements | 10+2 with PCB/Biotechnology and English |
| Number of Attempts | Unlimited |
| Reservation for AIQ Seats | Yes |
Academic Eligibility Criteria 2026
Compulsory Subjects for fulfilling the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria are listed below.
- Physics
- Chemistry
- Biology or Biotechnology
- English
Required Aggregate Marks for NEET 2026
At least 50% aggregate marks are required under the general category for NEET 2026 eligibility conditions fulfillment. The minimum marks criteria for each student category for the NEET 2026 exam is provided below.
| Marks Percentage for NEET 2026 | |
| Student Category | Minimum Aggregate Percentage |
| General | 50% |
| OBC | 40% |
| SC | 40% |
| ST | 40% |
| PwD | 45% |
Age Eligibility for NEET 2026
17 years is the minimum mandatory age limit as per the NEET eligibility criteria. For taking the NEET exam in 2026, the upper age limit is non-existent. Check the table below for eligibility criteria related to age of a candidate for taking the NEET exam next year.
| Age Eligibility Criteria for NEET 2026 | |
| Particulars | Age Limitations |
| Maximum Age Limit | No Limit |
| Minimum Age Limit | 17 Years |
Join the free NEET whatsapp group for latest NEET updates and other important information
NEET 2026 Eligibility Based on Nationality
NEET eligibility criteria specifies the conditions for eligibility based on a candidate’s nationality. As per the NEET eligibility criteria 2026, there are 5 categories of eligible candidates including Indian and foreign citizens. All 5 nationality governed categories are as mentioned under.
- Indian Citizens
- Foreign Nationals
- Non-Resident Indians
- Persons with Indian Origin
- Overseas Citizens of India
NEET 2026 Score Validity
Students who are taking the NEET 2026 exam next year may actively apply for admissions as the validity of the NEET 2026 score is only for 1 year. Whereas for MBBS abroad, the validity period is longer for a candidate’s NEET 2026 score.
| Validity of NEET 2026 Score | |
| Parameter | Validity Period |
| MBBS India (Domestic) | 1 Year |
| MBBS Abroad (International) | 3 Years |
Number of Permissible Attempts
You can write the NEET exam as many times as you want. You can re-attempt the NEET exam in 2027 or 2028 to achieve the desired marks. Here is the answer to how many times can I take the NEET exam or what are the number of permissible NEET attempts?
| Attempts for NEET | |
| Examination | Number of Attempts |
| NEET | Unlimited |
Qualifying Exam Board for NEET 2026
For NEET 2026, students must have qualified or must be in the process of qualifying from Central or State government recognized education boards only. Here is a list of class 12 board exam boards which are recognized under the NEET eligibility criteria 2026.
- State Boards
- CBSE
- ICSE
- NIOS or State Open School Boards
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Nationals
Students who have completed their 10+2 from abroad must submit a Certificate of Equivalence and must have completed their graduation in Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English.
| NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Foreign Nationals | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Certificate of Equivalence | Association of Indian Universities |
| Graduation Degree | Recognized International Education Board |
| NEET Qualification Time | In the admission year |
| Marks Criteria | Must be the same as Indian medical college standards |
Join the free NEET whatsapp group for latest NEET updates and other important information
Domicile Eligibility Criteria for NEET 2026
To avail the benefits of domicile reservation criteria for the NEET 2026 exam, candidates belonging to a particular State must fulfil the state-specific eligibility criteria. The table below summarizes the eligibility for domicile candidates for NEET 2026.
| Domicile Eligibility Criteria for NEET 2026 | |
| Seat Quota | Eligibility |
| 85% State Quota Seats | Fulfillment of domicile requirements of the State is a must. |
| 15% All India Quota Seats | Open to All Indian citizens |
15% AIQ Seats Reservation Criteria for NEET 2026
Tabulated below is a quick glimpse of the important reservation percentages of the 15% AIQ seats for the NEET 2026 exam.
| 15% AIQ Seats Reservation Criteria for NEET 2026 | |
| Category | Reservation Percentage |
| General EWS | 10% |
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| PwD Horizontal Reservation for All Categories | 5% |
FAQs
For NEET 2026, students having an Indian citizenship proof are eligible. Foreign students or NRIs are also eligible. Indian students travelling overseas, and those having an Indian origin residing elsewhere are also eligible for MBBS/BDS admissions.
40% marks in 10+2 PCB subjects is the NEET eligibility criteria for OBC category students.
17 years is the minimum age limit while maximum limit does not exist.