NEET, short for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, is the single entrance examination for admission to undergraduate medical courses in India, including MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH programmes. It is a mandatory qualifying test, and Indian students who wish to study medicine abroad must also clear NEET.
Earlier, the All India Pre-Medical Test (AIPMT), conducted by the CBSE, was used to select students for MBBS and BDS courses across the country. NEET replaced AIPMT and is now conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), once a year, in offline pen-and-paper mode.
- NEET UG 2026 was originally held on 3 May 2026 but was cancelled by the National Testing Agency; the re-examination was conducted on 21 June 2026
- The exam has 180 compulsory questions for 720 marks over three hours, with plus four for a correct answer and minus one for a wrong one
- It is offered in 13 languages, and there is no upper age limit for candidates.
What Is NEET and Who Conducts It?
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is India's single entrance exam for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and allied medical courses. The National Testing Agency (NTA) conducts it once a year in offline pen-and-paper mode. Since 2020 it also covers AIIMS and JIPMER, replacing the earlier AIPMT.
Since 2020, NEET has been the common qualifying exam for admission to all undergraduate medical seats in the country, including the AIIMS and JIPMER institutes that earlier held their own entrance tests. Every medical aspirant in India must now appear for NEET.
Medical Council of India (now NMC)Read →What Are the NEET Eligibility Criteria?
Candidates must have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Biotechnology plus English. The minimum aggregate in PCB is 50% for General and EWS, 45% for General-PwD, and 40% for SC, ST, and OBC. Applicants must be at least 17 years old; there is no upper age limit.
Before you fill in the application form, make sure you meet the eligibility criteria set by the NTA and the National Medical Commission (NMC).
You must have taken Physics, Chemistry, and Biology or Biotechnology as compulsory subjects in Class 12, along with English, and passed them. Only the marks in these subjects count towards NEET eligibility; the score in Mathematics is not considered.
A minimum qualifying percentage in the aggregate of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology is also required, and it varies by category. The details are shown in the table below.
| Category (NEET 2026) | Minimum PCB aggregate |
|---|---|
| General / General-EWS | 50% |
| General-PwD | 45% |
| SC / ST / OBC | 40% |
Candidates must be Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, or foreign nationals as specified in the information bulletin. The minimum age is 17 years as on 31 December of the year of admission, and there is currently no upper age limit for appearing in NEET.
What Is the NEET 2026 Exam Pattern?
NEET UG 2026 is an offline exam of three hours (2:00 to 5:00 PM). It has 180 compulsory multiple-choice questions worth 720 marks, split equally across Physics, Chemistry, Botany, and Zoology. Each correct answer earns four marks, each wrong answer loses one, and unattempted questions are not penalised.
The exam is held in offline mode, and each candidate receives an OMR sheet with a unique code along with the question paper. All questions are objective-type multiple-choice questions with four options each.
The subjects are Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, with Biology split into Botany and Zoology. There are 180 compulsory questions in total, 45 from each of the four sections, and all of them must be attempted within the three-hour window.
| Feature (NEET UG 2026) | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | Offline (pen and paper, OMR) |
| Duration | 3 hours (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM) |
| Total questions | 180 compulsory MCQs |
| Total marks | 720 |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology (45 each) |
| Marking | +4 correct, -1 wrong, 0 unattempted |
| Languages | 13 mediums |
Each question carries four marks, so the paper totals 720 marks. For every correct answer, four marks are awarded, and for every incorrect answer, one mark is deducted. There is no negative marking for questions that are left unattempted.
What is the full form of MBBS?Read →How Should You Prepare for NEET?
A smart strategy matters more than long hours. Master the NCERT Class 11 and 12 syllabus for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, keep a realistic timetable, and revise regularly. Solve previous years' papers and take timed mock tests to find weak areas, and protect your physical and mental health throughout.
Cover the basics of the entire syllabus thoroughly, and do not neglect your strong areas while working on the weaker ones. Maintain a realistic timetable and follow it consistently.
Take care of both your physical and mental health. Always do your best, set aside dedicated time for revision, and take regular mock tests, which are available both online and offline.
Mock tests are the best way to gauge your strengths and weaknesses, and they clearly show where you need to improve before the actual exam.
Keep yourself updated on any changes to the exam pattern, and solve previous years' question papers, as this practice goes a long way. The NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks should remain your core study material.
MBBS admission guideRead →What Else Should You Know About NEET?
NEET UG 2026 is offered in 13 languages: English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu. There is no limit on the number of attempts. Candidates must follow the official dress code and reporting instructions on exam day at their allotted centre.
Here are some other useful facts to keep in mind about NEET:
- NEET is offered in 13 languages, so you can choose a regional medium along with English or Hindi.
- There is no limit on the number of attempts, and there is currently no upper age limit.
- A strict dress code applies on exam day, and you should follow the reporting time and instructions given in the admit card.
- NEET UG 2026 was held on 3 May 2026, cancelled by the NTA, and re-conducted on 21 June 2026.