Crack
NEET
2026
India's single gateway to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and Veterinary programmes — conducted by the National Testing Agency. Over 24 lakh aspirants compete for seats across 700+ medical colleges. Everything you need to know, in one place.
What is NEET 2026?
NEET (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test) is India's single national-level entrance examination for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS), and Veterinary undergraduate programmes across all government and private medical colleges.
Conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA), NEET-UG is held once a year as a pen-and-paper, OMR-based test. It replaced all state and institutional-level medical entrance exams, making it the mandatory gateway for medical admission in India — including AIIMS, JIPMER, and all deemed universities.
With over 24 lakh registered candidates competing annually for approximately 1.08 lakh MBBS seats across 706+ medical colleges, NEET is among the most competitive examinations in the world. A high score is essential not only for admission to government colleges but also to avail of scholarship opportunities and NRI/management quota seats.
The exam tests candidates on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany + Zoology) at the Class 11 and 12 level. Students must have scored at least 50% aggregate in PCB at 10+2 (40% for reserved categories) to be eligible. There is no upper limit on the number of attempts.
Yes — as of 2020, NEET is the sole entrance exam for all undergraduate medical admissions in India, including AIIMS New Delhi and JIPMER Puducherry, which previously held their own exams. No state-level or institutional medical entrance test is permitted.
The 3 Test Subjects
NEET-UG contains 200 questions across Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany + Zoology). Each subject is divided into Section A (35 Qs, all compulsory) and Section B (15 Qs, attempt any 10). Correct answers earn +4; wrong answers lose –1.
Total duration is 3 hours 20 minutes (200 minutes). The exam is conducted in offline/pen-paper mode at designated NTA exam centres across India. Medium options include English, Hindi, and 11 regional languages. No calculator or electronic device is permitted.
Understanding Score Ranges
NEET scores range from –200 to 720. Your rank and category determine which college and course you qualify for. Here's what different score brackets typically mean for your admission prospects.
| Score Range | Likely Rank | Admission Prospects | Example Colleges |
|---|---|---|---|
| 650–720 | Top 1,000 | Government MBBS — top institutes guaranteed | AIIMS Delhi, MAMC, KGMU, top state colleges |
| 580–649 | 1,000–10,000 | Government MBBS in major states highly likely | State government medical colleges (General cat.) |
| 500–579 | 10,000–50,000 | Government MBBS possible (OBC/SC/ST or state quota) | State quota seats, deemed university with scholarship |
| 400–499 | 50,000–1,50,000 | Private MBBS (management/NRI quota) or AYUSH | Private medical colleges, BAMS, BHMS |
| 300–399 | 1,50,000–4,50,000 | BDS, AYUSH, or abroad (Kazakhstan, Russia, etc.) | Dental colleges, AYUSH institutes |
| Below 300 | Below cut-off | Below qualifying cut-off for most categories | Re-attempt recommended |
In NEET 2025, the general category qualifying percentile was the 50th percentile, corresponding to approximately 164 marks. However, to secure a government MBBS seat, candidates typically needed 500+ marks. OBC/SC/ST cut-offs are lower — always verify the latest NTA notifications.
Expert Prep Tips
Cracking NEET requires a disciplined, NCERT-first approach combined with consistent mock testing. Here are the top strategies from our NEET faculty with 10+ years of experience.
How to Register for NEET
NEET registration is done entirely online via the NTA portal. The form is released typically in December–January for a May exam date. Missing the form deadline means waiting a full year — plan ahead.
NTA allocates exam centres based on your city preferences. With 24+ lakh students, popular cities like Mumbai, Delhi, and Bangalore often get multiple centres. You cannot change your centre after admit card issuance — choose your preferred city carefully during registration.
NEET Application Fees 2026
NEET application fees are set by NTA and vary by category. Fees for 2026 are tentative and based on previous year patterns — always verify on the official NTA notification before applying.
NTA opens a correction window for a few days after registration closes — allowing limited changes to personal, academic, and city details. Application fees are non-refundable under all circumstances. Candidates who miss the exam date must re-register and pay fresh fees the following year.