Overview — NEET UG 2026
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially released the NEET UG 2026 Information Bulletin along with a public notice dated 8 February 2026. The exam is scheduled for 4 May 2026 (Sunday) across all exam centres in India and abroad.
NEET UG is the single national entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, BHMS and other undergraduate medical courses in India. It is mandatory for all students — including those applying to central, state, private, and deemed universities.
⚡ Exam Date Confirmed: NEET UG 2026 will be held on 4 May 2026 (Sunday), 2:00 PM – 5:00 PM IST. This is a single-day, single-shift exam across all centres.
Conducting Body
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Name
NEET UG 2026
Exam Date
4 May 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Time
2:00 PM – 5:00 PM IST
Mode
Pen & Paper (Offline)
Total Marks
720 Marks
NEET UG 2026 — Important Dates
All official dates are sourced from the NTA Public Notice (08 Feb 2026), Extension Notice (08 March 2026), and Correction Notice (11 March 2026).
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online Application Opens | 8 February 2026 | Done |
| Application Deadline (Extended) | 11 March 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) | Done |
| Application Fee Payment Deadline | 11 March 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) | Done |
| Application Correction Window | 12 March – 14 March 2026 (up to 23:50 hrs) | Done |
| Admit Card Release | To be announced | Upcoming |
| NEET UG 2026 Exam | 4 May 2026 (Sunday) | Exam Day |
| Result Declaration | To be announced | Upcoming |
| Counselling (MCC — AIQ) | To be announced after result | Upcoming |
⚠️ Note: Admit card and result dates have not yet been officially announced. Check the NTA official website (nta.ac.in / neet.nta.nic.in) for updates. Dates are subject to change.
Exam Day Schedule & Reporting Time
All candidates must follow the official reporting schedule strictly. Latecomers will NOT be allowed entry after the gate closing time.
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Entry to Exam Centre Opens | 11:00 AM |
| Last Entry (Gate Closes) | 1:30 PM |
| Instructions & OMR Sheet Distribution | 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM |
| Exam Starts | 2:00 PM |
| Exam Ends | 5:00 PM |
🚫 Important: Gate closes at 1:30 PM sharp. Candidates arriving after 1:30 PM will not be permitted to enter the exam hall under any circumstances.
✅ Tip: Reach your exam centre at least 1 hour before gate opening (i.e., by 10:00 AM) to avoid last-minute rush and complete frisking/verification without stress.
Mode of Examination & Duration
Mode of Examination
NEET UG 2026 is a Pen and Paper (Offline) based test. The exam is conducted in a single day and single shift across all exam centres. Candidates will use a ball-point pen to mark answers on an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheet.
📝 OMR Sheet: Answers must be darkened on the OMR sheet using a blue or black ball-point pen only. Use of pencil, whitener, or correction fluid is strictly prohibited.
Duration of the Test
The total duration of the NEET UG 2026 exam is 3 hours (180 minutes) — from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM.
Standard Duration
3 Hours (180 minutes)
2:00 PM – 5:00 PMPwBD Candidates
4 Hours (240 minutes)
+1 hour compensatory time⚠️ Candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) who require a scribe are entitled to 1 hour of extra time as compensatory time, as per government guidelines.
Pattern of the Test
NEET UG 2026 consists of 180 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany + Zoology). All questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with 4 options and 1 correct answer. All 180 questions are compulsory — there is no internal choice or optional section.
| Subject | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 45 (All compulsory) | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 45 (All compulsory) | 180 |
| Biology (Botany + Zoology) | 90 | 90 (All compulsory) | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 180 | 720 |
📌 Note: Unlike 2021–2023 pattern (200 questions, attempt 180), the current pattern has exactly 180 questions — all compulsory. There is no optional Section B with internal choices. This pattern has been in place since 2024 and continues for 2026.
Marking Scheme
NEET UG 2026 follows a +4 / −1 marking scheme. There is no negative marking for unanswered questions.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Unanswered / Skipped
⚠️ Multiple answers marked for a single question will be treated as a wrong answer and will attract a penalty of −1 mark. Mark only ONE answer per question.
Score Calculation
Total Score = (No. of correct answers × 4) − (No. of wrong answers × 1)
Maximum possible score: 720 | Minimum possible score: −180 (if all wrong)
Medium of Question Paper
NEET UG 2026 question papers will be available in 13 languages. Candidates must select their preferred medium at the time of application — this cannot be changed later.
📌 Bilingual Paper: Candidates who opt for any regional language will receive a bilingual question paper — in their chosen language AND in English. In case of any discrepancy between the two versions, the English version will be treated as final.
⚠️ The choice of medium made at the time of application is final and cannot be changed in any subsequent stage, including the correction window.
Application Fee
The application fee varies by category. Payment is accepted online only — through debit card, credit card, or net banking.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | ₹1,700 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹1,600 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹1,000 |
| Candidates from Outside India | ₹9,500 |
⚠️ Application fee once submitted is non-refundable under any circumstances. Ensure all details are correct before payment.
Key Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Age
17 years by 31 December 2026
Upper Age Limit
No upper age limit
As per Supreme Court orderMinimum Qualification
Class 12 passed / appearing
Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotech, EnglishMinimum Marks (PCB)
50% — General | 40% — SC/ST/OBC | 45% — PwBD
Attempt Limit
No limit on number of attempts
Nationality
Indian / NRI / OCI / PIO / Foreign nationals
📌 Syllabus: No change in NEET UG 2026 syllabus. NMC has confirmed that the revised syllabus introduced in 2024 remains unchanged for 2026. Refer to the NEET UG 2026 Syllabus page for the complete chapter-wise list.
Key Takeaways for NEET UG 2026
✅ Exam on 4 May 2026 — Mark the date. Your preparation timeline should work backwards from this date. With ~5 weeks remaining from March end, focus on revision and full-length mock tests.
📊 All 180 Questions Compulsory — There is no optional section. You must attempt all 180 questions or face 0 / −1 on unanswered / wrong ones. Time management (1 min/question) is critical.
⚠️ Negative Marking — Every wrong answer costs −1. Do not guess blindly. If you can eliminate 2 options, attempt; otherwise skip.
🚫 Reach by 10:00 AM — Gate closes at 1:30 PM. Late entry is not allowed. Carry your admit card, one valid photo ID, and two passport-size photographs.