As of October 2, 2025, the National Testing Agency (NTA) has not yet released the official notification for NEET (UG) 2026.
However, based on trends from previous years (e.g., NEET 2025 conducted on May 5), the exam will be tentatively conducted in the 1st week of May 2025. The NTA typically announces the full schedule, including registration and application details, in December 2025 or early January 2026 via the official website (neet.nta.nic.in).
The NEET 2026 application form will open sometime in February 2026.
Below is a comprehensive overview of expected details, drawing from reliable sources and historical patterns.
NEET 2026 Exam Schedule
These are tentative based on past schedules; official confirmation will come from NTA.
| Event | Expected Date/Timeline |
| Release of NEET 2026 Exam Notification & Information Bulletin | December 2025 |
| START of NEET 2026 Online Registration & Application Form | February 7, 2026 (approx. 1-month window) |
| NEET 2028 Application Correction Window | March 2026 (1-2 weeks post-registration) |
| Release of Advance Exam City Intimation Slip | April 2026 (2-3 weeks before exam) |
| Release of Admit Card | April 2026 (3-4 days before exam) |
| NEET 2026 Exam Date | 1st week of May 2026 (2 – 5 PM) |
| Provisional Answer Key | May 2026 (within 2-3 days post-exam) |
| Final Answer Key & Result Declaration | June 2026 |
| Counselling Rounds (via MCC) | July – August 2026 (4 rounds) |
Eligibility Criteria
- Age Limit: Minimum 17 years as of December 31, 2026. Upper age limit is 25 years for general category (relaxable by 5 years for SC/ST/OBC-NCL).
- Educational Qualification: Passed Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects. Minimum 50% aggregate in PCB for general (40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL).
- Attempts: No limit on attempts, but must meet age and qualification criteria.
- Nationality: Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreignationals are eligible.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern
The NEET 2026 pattern is expected to remain consistent with recent revisions (no optional questions, as updated in 2025). It will be a single-stage, offline (pen-and-paper) exam that will be conducted in 13 languages.
| Subject | No. of Questions | Marks per question | Total Marks |
| Physics | 45 | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect | 180 |
| Botany (Biology) | 45 | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect | 180 |
| Zoology (Biology) | 45 | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect | 180 |
| Total | 180 | 720 | 720 |
Other important features:
- Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes).
- Mode: OMR-based, single shift.
- Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answers, -1 for incorrect (no marks for unanswered).
- Will major changes be made to NEET 2026?: No major changes expected from 2025, but NTA may confirm any tweaks (e.g., bilingual question papers) in the notification.
NEET 2026 Application Process
- Register on neet.nta.nic.in using email/mobile, fill personal/academic details, upload photo/signature (10-200 KB), pay fee (₹1,700 general; ₹1,600 general-EWS/OBC; ₹1,000 SC/ST/PwD/third gender).
- Mode: Fully online; no offline submission.
- Tip: Use a valid email and phone; corrections allowed in a limited window.
Recent NEET 2026 Exam Updates & News (as of October 2025)
- No Official 2026 Announcement Yet: Expect NEET 2026 exam calendar in the NTA website likely in December.
- Preparation Focus: Emphasize NCERT revision, mock tests, and error analysis. Cutoff trends from 2025 (general: 720-164). Aim for 650+ for top colleges.
- Counselling: Post-results, Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) handles All India Quota (15%) and deemed/central universities; state quotas via respective authorities. Over 100,000 MBBS/BDS seats available.
- Other Notes: The NEET 2026 exam will be conducted in around 552 cities in India and 14 cities abroad.
- Stay vigilant for fraud alerts – NTA doesn’t ask for payments via unofficial channels.
For the most accurate info, monitor neet.nta.nic.in regularly.