NEET 2026 Exam: Registration & Exam Dates (Soon), Exam Pattern, PYQs & Preparation Tips

Latest Updates

• NEET 2026 registration date latest news -The NEET 2026 registration process has begun from 8 February 2026 and will continue till 8 March 2026(upto PM).
• Last date of NEET registration fee payment will be 8 March 2026(upto 11.50 pm).
• NEET 2026 correction window will open from 10 March to 12 March 2026.
• The National Medical Commission (NMC) has added 11,000 new MBBS seats for the academic year 2026-27. Now, there are 1,29,600 MBBS seats in India.
• NEET UG admit card will be released in April 2026.
• NEET UT exam will be conducted on May 3, 2026
• Check the official NTA NEET notification

👉 Check more latest updates on NEET 2026

The NEET 2026 registration has started from 8 February 2026, and the last date for NEET registration is 8 March 2026. NEET 2026 Exam will be conducted on May 3, 2026. Following the exam, the provisional answer key and OMR response sheet objection window were closed in June 2026. And the NEET 2026 final answer key will be released in June.

The NEET 2026 result has also been declared along with the official cutoff marks and qualifying percentile in June 2026. Students can check and download their NEET result from the official website at neet.nta.nic.in.

As per the latest updates, the NEET UG exam syllabus has been updated by the NTA, eliminating optional questions from Section B and 180 questions compulsory to attempt (45 each in Physics & Chemistry, 90 in Biology), and the duration is 180 minutes (3 hours).

Click here to check the NEET UG 2026 revised syllabus

NEET Exam: Quick Highlights

The table below shows the NEET 2026 Exam quick highlights.

Read More: NEET UG 2026 Guidelines: Everything You Need to Know

What is the NEET Exam?

The National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NTA NEET) is a national-level examination that is conducted once a year to facilitate admission in MBBS courses in India and worldwide. The NEET Syllabus 2026 includes 3 sections, i.e., Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The NEET Exam Pattern includes 180 questions that are to be solved in 180 minutes for a total of 720 Marks. The NEET Exam is conducted in 13 languages, making it feasible for students in every part of India. 

As per records, more than 20 lakh candidates appear for the NEET Exam. NEET Exam courses include MBBS as the most preferred one, which is followed by BDS and BSc Nursing. 

NEET UG 2026: Courses Offered 

In India, a total of 706 Medical, 323 Dental, 941 AYUSH, and 47 BVSc & AH colleges accept NEET 2026 Scores. Various NEET UG courses are listed below.

• MBBS
• BDS
• Ayurvedic Medicine
• Homoeopathy Medicine
• Unani Medicine
• Siddha Medicine
• Veterinary Sciences and Animal Husbandry
• BSc (Hons) Nursing
• Bachelor of Physiotherapy
• Bachelor of Occupational Therapy
• Bachelor of Audiology, Speech and Language Pathology
• Bachelor of Prosthetics and Orthotics.

NEET 2026 Exam: Major Changes

The table below shows some of the key changes in the NEET exam in the year 2026.

NTA Issues Advisory on Updation of Aadhaar Card/ UDID Card/ Certificate

On January 5, 2026, the NTA published an advisory that required the candidates to make sure their Aadhaar card, UDID card (in case of Persons with Disabilities), and category certificates are up to date. All the documentation expected of the applicants is to be updated before the NEET UG 2026 application form is submitted. The Aadhaar card will have to consist of the following information:

• Name
• Date of Birth
• Gender
• Photograph
• Address
• Biometric Information (wherever applicable)

NEET Application Form 2026

The NEET 2026 Application Process begins from 8th February 2025. The official date of application forms by NTA on the official NEET exam website has been released. Candidates will need to fill out the NEET Application Form online through the official portal. The following is the step-by-step process of applying for the NEET 2026 examination.

1. Visit NEET 2026 Official Website: Go to the official NEET website.

2. Register Online: Click on “New Registration” and fill in basic details like name, contact info, and create a password.

3. Fill Application Form: Login with credentials and complete personal, academic, and exam center details.

4. Upload NEET 2026 Required Documents: Upload scanned images of passport-size photo, signature, left thumb impression, and other required documents in the specified format and size.

• Passport-sized photograph
• Postcard-sized photograph
• Left and right-hand fingers and thumb impression
• Signature
• Category Certificate (in case it is applicable)
• Person With Benchmark Disability (PwBD) Certificate (if applicable)
• Citizenship certificate (applicable for NRI/OCI/Foreign citizen candidates)

5. Pay NEET 2026 Application Fee: Choose a payment method (online/net banking/UPI) and pay the category-wise application fee.

6. Print Confirmation Page: Download and print the confirmation page for future reference.

7. Check for NEET 2026 Updates: Regularly visit the NEET website for any notifications or corrections window announcements.

NEET 2026 Application Fee

The table below shows the NEET 2026 category-wise application fees details.

Read More: NEET Application

NEET Registered vs Appeared Candidates (Last 4 Years)

As seen from the past NEET UG trends, more than 23 lakhs students are being registered to give the NEET exam. The hike is seen in the past of 29% from 2022 to 2024 for NEET registration.

The NEET 2026 registration form will be released soon(expected today). The table below shows some of the ongoing and upcoming key dates concerning the NEET Exam 2026.

NEET Exam Centres

Over 550 cities in India with approximately 552 centers covered in NEET 2025. This trend is expected to continue in 2026.

Click on the link to check NEET exam centres

The table below shows the NEET 2026 Exam Eligibility Criteria.

Read More: NEET Eligibility Criteria : Age Limit & Qualification

NEET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Nationality

NEET UG 2026 eligibility includes Nationality pf the candidate, Indian citizens, as well as overseas categories who meet NMC and admission authority requirements are eligible to give the NEET UG 2026 exam.

NEET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Age Limit

The age criteria for NEET UG 2026 are defined by the National Medical Commission (NMC).Refer to the table for age eligibility.

NEET UG 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Courses

NEET UG 2026 is conducted for admission into undergraduate medical and allied health science programs across India.

NEET 2026 vs Other Major Entrance Exams

NEET 2026 is different from other exams, as it is a ranking exam that gives ranking to medical students to get into medical colleges. Other exams are like the entrance exams to get admission in colleges.

The NEET 2026 syllabus will include 3 sections: Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. The NEET Exam paper 2026 will include 180 questions for 720 marks for a total duration of 180 minutes (3 hours). The table below shows a detailed overview of the NEET Exam 2026. The exam syllabus has been changed by NTA recently to reduce the burden of taking coachings.

NEET 2026 Section-Wise Exam Pattern

The NEET 2026 includes biology, physics, and chemistry, of which biology covers 360 Marks, scoring 85 to 90% which helps students to achieve a rank by 20-25%. Students having marks between 550 to 650 Score Range can lose their rank by a single negative mark.

NEET 2026 Admit Card

The NEET admit card 2026 is the document that is required to be taken to the examination center. The admit card for the NEET 2026 exam is now available on the official website for registered candidates.

Candidates will be able to obtain it by logging into the website that hosts the exam details. The detailed process to download the NEET UG Admit Card is listed below.

1. Go to https://neet.nta.nic.in.

2. Find and click the “Download NEET 2026 Admit Card” link on the homepage.

3. Enter your application number, date of birth, and security pin.

4. After logging in, your admit card will appear on the screen.

5. Click on the download button and save the admit card as a PDF.

6. Take 2-3 printouts for safety and future use.

7. Make sure all the information, like name, exam date, center, and instructions, is correct.

NEET 2026 Answer Key

The NEET 2026 Final Answer Key will be officially released by June 2026, by the National Testing Agency (NTA) on its official website. This final answer key allows students to evaluate their exact scores in the NEET UG 2025 examination based on the officially revised solutions.

Earlier, NTA had released the NEET 2026 provisional answer key, and students were allowed to raise objections with valid documents. After reviewing all objections, NTA has now uploaded the revised and final NEET 2026 answer key, which is not open to any further challenge.

Download NEET 2025 Final Answer Key PDF here: NEET 2025 Final Answer Key 

How to Challenge NEET 2026 Answer Key?

The process of challenging the NEET 2026 Answer key is shown below.

1. Go to the NEET 2026 official website.

2. Use your NEET application number and date of birth to access your account.

3. Click on the “Challenge Answer Key” link.

4. Choose the question(s) you believe have incorrect answers.

5. Upload supporting documents or explanations for your challenge.

6. Pay charges as per the question challenged (non-refundable).

7. Submit your challenge and download the confirmation receipt for future reference.

After reviewing all challenges, NTA will release the final answer key. If your challenge is accepted, the answer key will be updated accordingly.

NEET 2026 Sample Papers

The NEET 2026 Sample papers provide exam-like conditions with a similar difficulty level and exam pattern of the NEET 2026 final examination.

Solving NEET mock tests facilitates students with a number of benefits, including understanding the NEET Syllabus, Time Management, analysing their weak areas, simulating exams like pressure, etc.

The NEET sample papers can be downloaded from a number of sources online. Apart from online sources, a number of coaching institutes and books also feature NEET Exam Sample Papers.

NEET Result 2026

The NEET 2026 result has been released on the official website neet.nta.nic.in. The NEET Result features NEET 2026 Scores and NEET 2026 Ranks that will be considered in the NEET 2026 counselling process. The step-by-step process to download the NEET Result 2026 is shown below in points.

• Visit the official website: neet.nta.nic.in.
• Click on the “NEET 2026 Result” link.
• Enter your application number, DOB, and security pin.
• Submit the details to view your result.
• Download and print the scorecard for future use.

NEET 2026 Safe Score by Category 

NEET safe score refers to the minimum score required to secure an MBBS seat. The table below shows the NEET 2026 Safe Score by Category.

What is a Good Score in NEET UG 2026?

The table below shows the category-wise ideal NEET UG 2026 Scores.

NEET 2026 Expected & Previous Years Cutoff Marks

The NEET UG exam cut-off will be released by the NTA after the NEET result is out. It will feature the NEET UG mark, which is the basis on which one qualifies for the exam.

The NEET 2026 cut-off is divided into two categories: NEET UG Admission cut-off and NEET UG Qualifying cut-off. The admission cut-off is the lowest character into which a student is admitted, while the Qualifying cut-off is the minimum score that a student must attain in the exam.

Dont'Miss:

NEET 2026 Qualifying Marks

The NEET 2026 qualifying cutoff has increased for each category. This simply signifies that the cutoff scores for the government MBBS colleges will also be higher. The table below shows the category-wise NEET qualifying marks which has been anticipated from the past year cutoffs.

NEET Counselling 2026

Candidates who have cleared the cutoff requirements will have to go through the counseling to get a medical seat, depending on the scores and ranks they got. The detailed steps in the NEET UG counselling process are discussed below.

• Registration: Firstly, students have to register themselves for NEET UG Counselling. 
• Choice filling and locking: After registering, students have to fill in their choices of courses and institutions. 
• Seat allotment result: Based on the NEET scores, ranks, and choices, medical seats will be allotted to students.
• Institute reporting: After completing the process and paying the required fees, candidates then have to report to their college.

The NEET 2026 syllabus has been released and is almost similar to every years. Candidates should be well aware of the number of questions likely to come from which topic on the particular subject or the NEET subject-wise distribution.

As for the NEET 2026 syllabus, it would consist of only three subjects, namely Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. A large number of questions are set from Biology, again, which will consist of Zoology and Botany.

In Physics, some of the important fields have higher weightage, like Optics, Electrostatics, Thermodynamics, etc. In Biology too, some subjects such as Genetics and Evolution and Human Physiology carry higher weightage.

Also check: NEET 2026 Syllabus by NTA OUT

NEET UG 2026: Physics Syllabus

The syllabus of Physics has been mentioned below, divided into 20 units. Check the detailed syllabus in the link given. Click here to check the NEET UG Physics 2026 syllabus.

Check Here: NEET UG Physics Syllabus 2026

NEET UG 2026: Chemistry Syllabus

The syllabus of Chemistry has been mentioned below, divided into 20 units. Check the detailed syllabus in the link given. Click here to check the NEET UG Chemistry 2026 syllabus.

NEET UG 2026: Biology Syllabus

The syllabus of Biology has been mentioned below, divided into 10 units. Check the detailed syllabus in the link given. Click here to check the NEET UG Biology 2026 syllabus.

Also Check:

• NEET UG Physics Syllabus 2025
• NEET Chemistry Syllabus 2025
• NEET Biology Syllabus 2025

NEET 2026 Best Books

Selecting the best books for NEET preparation 2026 is very important. However, the NCERT is considered to be the best book for the NEET exam, but there are a number of books in the market featuring NEET exam content in a structured way. Some of the best books for NEET preparation are listed in the table below.

NEET 2026 Exam Biology Important Topics

The table below shows the key topics included in the NEET Exam Biology Syllabus.

NEET 2026 Exam Chemistry Important Topics

The table below shows the key topics included in the NEET Exam Chemistry Syllabus.

NEET 2026 Exam Physics Important Topics

The table below shows the key topics included in the NEET Exam Physics Syllabus.

NEET Preparation Tips 2026

The NEET 2026 exam is the biggest UG medical examination in India. The scores in the NEET exam are considered for admissions to various medical colleges in India and beyond. With intense competition and a lengthy structure, it becomes difficult for students to get a decent NEET Score.

However, with the right NEET preparation and guidance, one can get a decent rank and score in the NEET 2026 Examination. Here are some of the expert-curated NEET preparation tips.

1. Know the Syllabus: Focus on NCERT books for Physics, Chemistry, and Biology. Once the syllabus is covered from the NCERT books, you can head to the NEET 2026 Best Books.

2. Make a SMART Study Plan: Set daily and weekly goals with balanced time for each subject. Make sure you make a feasible and followable study plan.

3. Revise Regularly: Revision is the key to scoring in the NEET Examination. Keep revising topics to strengthen memory.

4. Practice NEET PYQs: Solve NEET previous year papers and NEET 2026 mock tests daily.

5. Clear Doubts Early: Don’t collect uncleared concepts—ask teachers or use online help.

Don't Miss: How to Prepare for NEET Exam 2026? (Tips & Tricks)

NEET question papers with answer keys are a helpful resource for students to prepare for the examination. The NEET 2026 question paper and answer key will help students to analyze their weak areas and allow them to understand the real exam pattern. Below are the links to the available NEET 2025 question papers and answer keys.

Also Check:

• NEET Question Paper 2024
• NEET Question Paper 2023
• NEET Question Paper 2022
• NEET Question Paper 2021
• NEET Question Paper 2020

This table shows the list of top NEET 2026 Accepting Colleges in India along with their NIRF 2024 rankings in the Medical category.

NEET 2026: FAQs

Ques. When does NEET 2026 registration start?

Ans. NEET 2026 registration has started from 8th February 2026 till 8th March 2026.

Ques. Has the NEET 2026 registration started?

Ans. No, NEET registration form 2026 will be out soon on neet.nta.nic.in

Ques. Can I start now for NEET 2026?

Ans. Yes, you can start now as the NEET 2026 exams will be conducted on 3rd May 2026.

Ques. How many applications for NEET 2026?

Ans. More than 20-24 lakh applications are expected in NEET 2026.

Ques. How is NEET 2026 Different from Other Entrance Exams?

Ans. As it is not a selection exam of any college, NEET is a ranking exam and a national medical eligibility exam.

Ques. How many students appear for NEET Every Year?

Ans. As seen from the past NEET UG trends, more than 23 lakhs students are being registered to give the NEET exam. 

Ques. Which Books are important for NEET Preparation?

Ans. For NEET preparation, the most important books are NCERT (Class 11 & 12) for all the subjects, and for Physics H.C. Verma and DC Pandey Series, for Biology Trueman’s Biology and for Chemistry, Physical Chemistry – O.P. Tandon, and Organic Chemistry – M.S. Chouhan.

Ques. What Happens After the NEET Result?

Ans. Candidates who are qualified in NEET 2026 should now focus on NEET counselling to secure admission in courses like MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical seats.