Indian students aspiring to be- doctors or medical professionals must know about the NEET 2026 exam. It is an important national level test which is held once a year. The minimum age limit to register for the exam is 17 years while there is no upper age limit. As a result, NEET attempts have no limit either.Â
The exam is an important parameter for admission into medical courses. It is held under strict scrutiny to discourage cheating. Students have to undergo compulsory frisking and must avoid wearing fancy or heavy clothes. Traditional clothes are permissible for NEET in exceptional cases. Only those students with a valid NEET admit card original document will be allowed to enter the examination hall.
Students have to attempt all NEET exam questions in 3 hours and submit their completed OMR sheets to the respective invigilator. NEET format includes multiple choice questions from NCERT syllabus of class 11th and 12th. Important Physics topics which students must master are mechanics, laws of motion, and electrodynamics. Develop conceptual understanding of essential NEET topics with the help of trusted online NEET coaching platforms like iQuanta.
Essential chapters under the Biology and Chemistry segments are human physiology, genetics, evolution, plant physiology and hydrocarbons, equilibrium, coordination compounds, and p-Block elements, respectively. The NEET 2025 exam was moderately difficult. Likewise, students must be prepared for a difficult NEET 2026 exam. Effective preparation comes from practice and the use of quality study material and notes.
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Important Dates and Events for NEET 2026
NEET 2026 exam is expected to be held during May 2026. The exam date for NEET 2025 was May 4th, Sunday and the NEET 2024 exam was conducted on May 5th, 2024. Registration for the NEET exam begins in February and ends in March. All official notifications regarding registration are communicated through the official website of the NTA. Students must remain active during the February to March period to keep a careful watch on registration and related dates.
| Complete Details on All Important Dates for NEET 2026 | |
| Exam Events | Tentative Dates |
| Exam Date | May 3rd, 2026 |
| Registration Process Starts | February 2026 |
| Last Date for Application Fee Payment | 1st Week of March, 2026 |
| Correction Window for Application Form | March 2026 |
| Last Date to Apply | March 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | 2nd Week of April, 2026 |
| Provisional Answer Key Release | May 2026 |
| Final Answer Key Release | 1st Week of June, 2026 |
| NEET 20256 Result Date | 2nd Week of June, 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Initial Counselling | July 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Counselling Round 1 Starts | 3rd Week of July, 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Counselling Round 1 Ends | 4th Week of July to 1st Week of August, 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Counselling Round 2 Starts | 2nd Half of August, 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Counselling Mop-Up Round | September to October, 2026 |
| NEET 2026 Counselling Stray Vacancy (AIQ) Round | September to October, 2026 |
| NEET 2026 State Quota Counselling Round 1 Starts | August 2026 |
| NEET 2026 State Quota Counselling Remaining Rounds | September to October, 2026 |
| Seat Allotment Results | To Be Announced |
| Document Verification | To Be Announced |
| NEET 2026 Information Bulletin | To Be Released Soon |
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria
The detailed NEET 2026 eligibility criteria will be provided in the NEET 2026 information bulletin. NEET exam Information bulletin is an important document which will be released by the NTA soon. Eligibility requirements for NEET 2026 will remain the same as previous years unless NTA announces new reforms. It is crucial to know your eligibility for the NEET 2026 exam before proceeding with registration and fee payment.
Who can apply for NEET 2026?
- 5 types of candidates are eligible to apply for the NEET 2026 exam.
- Those belonging to India and fall under the Indian Nationals category may apply.
- NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and Foreign Nationals are also eligible to apply.
- Students appearing for their 10+2 or other qualifying exam in 2026 are also eligible to apply.
What is the Age Limit for NEET 2026?
- The minimum age limit for the NEET 2026 examination is 17 years by December 31st, 2026.
- There is no upper age limit.
- Due to no age limit, there is no limitation on the number of NEET UG attempts.
What educational qualification is required to be eligible for NEET 2026?
- To be eligible for the national level entrance exam, NEET 2026, you must have successfully completed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects.
What are the passing marks for NEET 2026?
- The passing marks in the form of percentage for NEET 2026 is 50% for the General category students.
- 40% for OBC/SC/ST
- 45% for PwD candidates
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern
Each year, students taking the NEET exam must compulsorily familiarize themselves with the exam pattern. It is crucial to know the pattern of the NEET 2026 examination to prepare accordingly. Having mis-information or less information regarding the NEET 2026 exam pattern created hurdles during the exam day. To avoid losing marks and improve your chances of success, check the NEET 2026 exam pattern details in the table given below.
| NEET 2026 Exam Pattern | |
| Aspects | Details |
| Examination Mode | Offline (Pen and Paper) |
| Question Type | MCQs |
| Total Questions | 180 |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Time Duration | 3 Hours |
| Marking Scheme | +4 marks for each correct answer -1 for an incorrect answer |
| Languages | 13 |
| Syllabus | Focused on NCERT Class 11 and 12 |
| Weightage | Biology has the most weightage at 50% |
| Updates | Via NTA’s official website |
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern Changes
As per NTA’s website, no new changes or modifications have been announced on the NEET 2026 exam pattern. It may be said that the examination format of NEET 2026 is largely the same. Although there have been a few changes made to the NEET exam pattern in the past, currently no new changes are announced.
- Use of pre-COVID format
- Mode is Offline
- Duration reduced by 20 minutes
- 180 questions in total
- No section B with optional questions
NEET 2026 Exam Difficulty Level
The NEET 2025 exam was moderately difficult. Students expected an easy paper but few Physics and Chemistry questions were JEE level difficult. As a result, scoring marks in NEET 2025 was as difficult as solving the paper. Based on the difficulty level of the NEET 2025 exam, it may be said that the NEET 2026 exam will also be moderate to difficult.
NEET 2026 Expected Cutoffs
The minimum marks needed to clear the NEET 2026 exam is also known as cutoff. General category students who secure marks between 160-720 are expected to clear the NEET 2026 exam. Cutoff is the minimum score to target so as to fall within the applicant pool of top medical colleges in India.
Below is the expected NEET 2026 cutoff based on past cutoffs and the general expected difficulty level of the exam.
| NEET 2026 Expected Cutoffs | ||
| Category | Cutoff | Qualifying Percentile |
| General | 160-720 | 50th |
| General-PwD | 142-160 | 45th |
| OBC/SC/ST | 125-160 | 40th |
| OBC/SC/ST-PwD | 125-141 | 40th |
NEET 2026 Cutoff Trends
In the past, the NEET exam cutoffs have varied from year to year. This variation is created due to the number of students appearing for the exam, the difficulty level of the exam and more such reasons. Compiled below are a few important observations from the NEET 2026 cutoff trends over the years.
- General category students may have noticed an upward trend in the expected cutoff.
- The highest cutoff in the past was during the NEET 2024 exam.
- Difficulty level of the NEET paper is an important factor that influences the cutoffs.
- The NEET 2025 paper was not easy. As a result, the cutoffs dropped significantly.
- NEET 2025 also saw less number of students appearing for the exam.
- The number of candidates appearing is also an important factor influencing the cutoff.
Top Government Medical Colleges for NEET 2026
Admission into the best medical colleges in India requires students to show good performance on the NEET 2026 exam. The NEET 2026 performance of a candidate is evaluated based on their scores and the AIR. A high score corresponds to a good rank. Colleges accepting NEET 2026 scores are of 2 types. Government medical colleges accept good NEET 2026 scores but have a limited number of seats and a higher competition.
On the other hand, private medical colleges have less competition and accept even low NEET 2026 scores. Here is a list of all the top government colleges in India accepting the NEET 2026 marks for admission to medical courses as per NIRF rankings.
- AIIMS New Delhi
- PGIMER Chandigarh
- JIPMER Puducherry
- Maulana Azad Medical College
- King George’s Medical University
- Madras Medical College
- Institute of Medical Sciences
- BHU
- Armed Forces Medical College
- Grant Medical College
- Bangalore Medical College and Research Institute
NEET 2026 Top Private Medical Colleges
For admission to top private medical colleges in India, medical aspirants need to clear the NEET 2026 exam. After clearing the cutoffs, the 2nd step is to participate in the state level counselling rounds. The average fees for private medical colleges range between ₹10 to ₹25 lakhs per year. While most private medical colleges have NMC recognition, it is not necessary for all of them to be recognized.
- Christian Medical College, Vellore
- Kasturba Medical College, Manipal
- Amrita School of Medicine
- Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences
- SRM Medical College
- St. John’s National Academy of Health Sciences, Bangalore
- Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai
- PSG Institute of Medical Sciences and Research
- JSS Medical College, Mysore
- Dr. D.Y. Patil Vidyapeeth, Pune
NEET 2026 Reservation Criteria
In India, students are allotted seats in medical colleges based on their marks, corresponding rank and their category. While a majority of students fall within the general category, other candidates belonging to the reserved category enjoy reservation benefits. Students entitled to reservation in the allotment of medical seats may check the table below to know the category-wise and overall NEET 2026 reservations criteria.
| NEET 2026 Reservation Criteria (AIQ and State Quota) | |
| Reservation Category | Percentage of Reservation |
| AIQ | 15% |
| State Quota | 85% |
| SC | 15% |
| ST | 7.5% |
| OBC-NCL | 27% |
| EWS | 10% |
| PwD | 5% (horizontal) |
NEET 2026 Counselling Process
After the NEET 2026 result declaration, the most important stage is the NEET 2026 counseling round. The counselling for NEET 2026 will be held in multiple rounds. It is conducted by the MCC for 15% AIQ seats in government colleges and 100% seats in Central Universities. Below is a short summary of the NEET 2026 counselling process comprising crucial stages.
| Step-by-step NEET 2026 Counselling Process | |
| Stages | Details |
| Registration | It is important to register on the official website of MCC. |
| Choice Filling | Select your preferred colleges and courses. Seat allocation depends on your choice. |
| Seat Allotment | Seats are allotted based on ranks, availability, category of the students etc. |
| Seat Upgrade | Candidates may choose to upgrade their seats in AIQ Mop-up round and stray vacancy round. |
| Mop-Up Round | Conducted after the initial rounds for remaining seats. |
| Stray Vacancy Round | Conducted after the Mop-up round for vacant seats. |
NEET 2026 Successful Preparation Strategy
To be successful in your NEET 2026 attempt, you must have a solid plan. It is crucial to combine hard work with smart techniques to achieve your dream college. The first and foremost step in your NEET 2026 preparation is to acquaint yourself with the NEET exam format. The 2nd step is to create a plan for study. Subsequently, students must keep following the below steps to achieve a good preparation strategy.
- Step 1 – Know the NEET 2026 exam pattern
- Step 2 – Create a practical study schedule
- Step 3 – Learn from quality study material or enroll in an online course such as iQuanta NEET 2026 full course.
- Step 4 – Build conceptual clarity through practice and doubt clearing sessions.
- Step 5 – Develop the habit of daily practice to improve accuracy and speed.
- Step 6 – Practice through mock tests and analyze performance.
- Step 7- Train yourself to attempt questions in a fixed time slot to improve time management skills.
- Step 8 – Maintain consistency, practice regularly, revise in intervals and keep notes for important topics.
- Step 9 – Ensure a positive attitude to stay motivated and dedicated
- Step 10 – NCERT topics to be learnt deeply for a quick recall on your fingertips.
FAQs
As of now, no changes have been announced to the NEET 2026 exam pattern. It will remain the same as NEET 2025. Time duration 3 hours for 180 questions.
The NEET 2026 exam is expected to be held on May 3rd, 2026. NEET 2026 registration process is expected to take place between February 2026 to 1st Week of March, 2026.
The NEET 2026 expected cutoff for the general category students is between 160-720. For General PwD it is 142-160, 125-160 for OBC/SC/ST and 125-141 for OBC/SC/ST-PwD.