NEET UG Exam City 2026

NEET UG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Undergraduate) is a nationwide entrance examination conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH (Ayurveda, Yoga, Unani, Siddha, Homeopathy), and veterinary courses in government and private medical colleges across India. The exam serves as the single gateway for approximately 2 million aspiring medical students annually seeking admission to around 1 lakh medical seats nationwide. NEET UG 2026 will be conducted in designated exam cities across all states and union territories, enabling candidates to choose their preferred exam centre location during the application process. This exam is mandatory for all candidates, including those seeking admission through 15% All India Quota seats, state quota seats, deemed universities, central universities like AIIMS and JIPMER (now merged with NEET), private medical colleges, and ESIC/Armed Forces Medical Colleges. The exam tests candidates on Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany & Zoology) based on NCERT curriculum for Classes 11 and 12.

Important Dates (Indicative for NEET UG 2026)

Note: Dates are indicative based on previous year patterns. Official dates will be announced by NTA.

Seat Distribution (Typical / Indicative for All India Medical Seats)

Seats include MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and Veterinary courses across India. Actual vacancy varies yearly and differs by state quotas, deemed universities, and central institutions. 15% All India Quota seats are approximately 16,000 for MBBS.

Eligibility Criteria

Educational Qualification

• For MBBS/BDS: Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects from a recognized board.
• Minimum Marks Required:
• UR/EWS: 50% aggregate in PCB
• OBC-NCL/SC/ST: 40% aggregate in PCB
• PwBD candidates: 45% aggregate (UR), 40% (reserved categories)
• For AYUSH Courses: Same as above eligibility
• For Veterinary Courses: PCB with 50% marks (UR/EWS) and 40% (reserved categories)
• Candidates appearing in Class 12 qualifying examination can also apply provisionally

Age Limit

Note: Earlier, the upper age limit was 25 years (30 for reserved categories), but this has been removed by NTA from NEET UG 2024 onwards following Supreme Court directions.

Nationality

• Indian Nationals
• NRIs (Non-Resident Indians)
• OCIs (Overseas Citizens of India)
• PIOs (Persons of Indian Origin)
• Foreign Nationals

Different seat quotas and fee structures apply for NRI/OCI/Foreign nationals.

How to Apply for NEET UG 2026

1. Visit Official Website: Go to the official NTA NEET website at neet.nta.nic.in
2. New Registration: Click on 'New Registration' and enter basic details (name, date of birth, mobile number, email ID) to generate Application Number
3. Login with Credentials: Use the generated Application Number and password to login
4. Fill Application Form: Complete all sections including personal details, address, educational qualifications, category, exam city preference, language medium choice
5. Upload Documents: Scan and upload recent passport-size photograph (10-200 KB, JPG/JPEG), signature (4-30 KB), and left thumb impression as per specifications
6. Choose Exam Cities: Select up to 4 exam city choices in order of preference from the available list
7. Pay Application Fee: Complete payment through Debit/Credit Card, Net Banking, UPI, or Paytm
8. Submit Application: Review all details carefully and submit the form
9. Save Confirmation Page: Download and print the confirmation page for future reference
10. Correction Window: Make corrections (if needed) during the designated correction window period

Application Fees

Payment can be made online only. No offline payment mode available.

Selection Process

1. Single Stage Pen-Paper Examination: NEET UG is conducted as a single-stage offline examination (pen-paper mode) held on one day across multiple exam centres nationwide. Candidates must mark responses on OMR sheets using blue/black ballpoint pen only.

1. Merit List Preparation: NTA prepares an All India Merit List based on candidates' scores. Marks are calculated after considering negative marking, and percentile scores are computed. In case of tie, inter-se-merit criteria are applied based on Biology marks, then Chemistry, then Physics, and finally age (older candidates ranked higher).

1. Answer Key Challenge: Provisional answer keys are released online within 2-3 days. Candidates can challenge answers by paying ₹200 per question within the stipulated period. Final answer keys are released after expert review.

1. Result Declaration: Final NEET UG result with All India Rank (AIR) and category-wise ranks are declared on the official website. Scorecard with percentile and rank can be downloaded.

1. Counselling Process: Separate counselling is conducted by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) for 15% All India Quota, deemed universities, central universities, ESIC, and AFMC seats. State counselling is conducted by respective State Counselling Authorities for 85% state quota seats. Candidates must register separately for each counselling.

1. Document Verification: During counselling rounds, candidates must present original documents including Class 10 & 12 mark sheets, NEET scorecard, category certificate, ID proof, domicile certificate for verification.

1. Seat Allotment: Based on rank, choice filling, and seat availability, seats are allotted through multiple counselling rounds (typically 3-4 rounds plus mop-up rounds).

1. Admission & Reporting: Candidates must report to the allotted college within the specified timeline, pay admission fees, and complete joining formalities to secure admission.

NEET UG 2026 Exam Pattern

Single Paper (Offline Mode)

Key Points:

• Each subject divided into Section A (compulsory) and Section B (optional - attempt any 10 out of 15)
• Each correct answer: +4 marks
• Each incorrect answer: -1 mark (Negative Marking)
• Unanswered questions: 0 marks
• Medium of Exam: Available in 13 languages (English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu)
• Mode: Offline (OMR-based pen-paper test)
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with 4 options each

Negative Marking: Yes, 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer. No negative marking for unattempted questions.

NEET UG 2026 Syllabus (Based on NCERT Class 11 & 12)

Physics

Class 11 Topics:

• Physical World and Measurement
• Kinematics (Motion in straight line, motion in plane)
• Laws of Motion
• Work, Energy and Power
• Motion of System of Particles and Rigid Body
• Gravitation
• Properties of Bulk Matter (Mechanical properties of solids, fluids)
• Thermodynamics
• Behaviour of Perfect Gas and Kinetic Theory
• Oscillations and Waves

Class 12 Topics:

• Electrostatics (Electric charges, fields, potential, capacitance)
• Current Electricity (Ohm's law, circuits, Kirchhoff's laws)
• Magnetic Effects of Current and Magnetism
• Electromagnetic Induction and Alternating Currents
• Electromagnetic Waves
• Optics (Ray optics, wave optics)
• Dual Nature of Matter and Radiation
• Atoms and Nuclei
• Electronic Devices (Semiconductors, diodes, transistors)

Chemistry

Class 11 Topics:

• Some Basic Concepts of Chemistry (Mole concept, stoichiometry)
• Structure of Atom
• Classification of Elements and Periodicity in Properties
• Chemical Bonding and Molecular Structure
• States of Matter: Gases and Liquids
• Thermodynamics
• Equilibrium
• Redox Reactions
• Hydrogen
• s-Block Elements (Alkali and Alkaline earth metals)
• Some p-Block Elements
• Organic Chemistry: Basic Principles and Techniques
• Hydrocarbons
• Environmental Chemistry

Class 12 Topics:

• Solid State
• Solutions
• Electrochemistry
• Chemical Kinetics
• Surface Chemistry
• General Principles and Processes of Isolation of Elements
• p-Block Elements
• d and f Block Elements
• Coordination Compounds
• Haloalkanes and Haloarenes
• Alcohols, Phenols and Ethers
• Aldehydes, Ketones and Carboxylic Acids
• Organic Compounds containing Nitrogen
• Biomolecules (Carbohydrates, proteins, vitamins, nucleic acids)
• Polymers
• Chemistry in Everyday Life

Biology (Botany)

Class 11 Topics:

• Diversity in Living World (Classification, taxonomy, plant kingdom)
• Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
• Cell Structure and Function
• Plant Physiology (Transport, photosynthesis, respiration, growth)
• Human Physiology

Class 12 Topics:

• Reproduction (Sexual reproduction in flowering plants)
• Genetics and Evolution (Heredity, molecular basis, evolution)
• Biology and Human Welfare (Health, microbes, agriculture)
• Biotechnology and Its Applications
• Ecology and Environment

Biology (Zoology)

Class 11 Topics:

• Diversity in Living World (Animal kingdom, biodiversity)
• Structural Organisation in Animals
• Cell Structure and Function
• Human Physiology (Digestion, breathing, circulation, excretion, locomotion, neural control, chemical coordination)

Class 12 Topics:

• Reproduction (Human reproduction, reproductive health)
• Genetics and Evolution (Principles of inheritance, molecular basis)
• Biology and Human Welfare (Human health and disease, microbes)
• Biotechnology: Principles and Processes
• Ecology and Environment (Organisms and populations, ecosystem, biodiversity, environmental issues)

Syllabus strictly follows NCERT curriculum for Class 11 and 12. Focus on conceptual understanding rather than rote learning.

Salary & Stipend Structure

NEET UG is an entrance examination for admission to medical courses, not a direct recruitment exam. Salary structure applies after completion of MBBS/BDS and joining as a medical professional.

MBBS Internship Stipend (During Study)

Starting Salary After MBBS (Government Sector)

Additional Benefits: NPA (Non-Practicing Allowance) of 20-25% of basic pay for government doctors, free accommodation or HRA, medical benefits, pension benefits under NPS, leave travel allowance, and professional development opportunities.

Salary increases significantly with specialization (MD/MS), experience, and promotions. Private sector salaries vary widely from ₹60,000 to several lakhs per month depending on hospital and location.

After clearing NEET UG and completing MBBS (5.5 years including internship), graduates can pursue MD/MS specializations (3 years) through NEET PG, leading to specialist positions with significantly higher salaries (₹1.5-3 lakhs per month in government, more in private). Career progression in government service follows Assistant Surgeon → Senior Medical Officer → Chief Medical Officer → Civil Surgeon → Director Health Services, with promotions based on experience and additional qualifications. Private practice, teaching positions in medical colleges, research, and administrative roles in health departments offer diverse career paths with earning potential reaching ₹5-50 lakhs per month for established specialists and consultants.

NEET UG 2026 admit cards will be released approximately 10-15 days before the exam date on the official NTA NEET website (neet.nta.nic.in). Candidates must login using their Application Number and password/date of birth to download the admit card. The admit card contains crucial details including candidate's name, photograph, exam centre address, reporting time, exam date and timings, and important instructions. Candidates must verify all printed details and carry the admit card along with a valid photo ID proof (Aadhaar card, PAN card, Driving License, or Passport) to the examination centre; entry without admit card is strictly prohibited.

NEET UG 2026 results are expected to be declared in the third week of June 2026, approximately 4-6 weeks after the examination. NTA will publish results on the official website where candidates can check their All India Rank (AIR), category rank, percentile score, and subject-wise marks by logging in with their credentials. The result will include a downloadable scorecard showing total marks obtained out of 720, with separate Physics, Chemistry, and Biology scores. Candidates qualifying with minimum percentile (50th for UR, 40th for UR-PwD, 45th for OBC/SC/ST, 40th for OBC/SC/ST-PwD) will be eligible for counselling, and rank lists will be prepared for All India Merit, state merit, and category-wise merit for seat allocation purposes.

NEET UG cutoff percentiles are determined by NTA based on difficulty level and total candidates appearing. Typical/Indicative cutoffs: General category candidates usually need 50th percentile (approximately 650-720 marks in normal difficulty years, 600-650 in tough years), while OBC/SC/ST candidates require 40th-45th percentile (approximately 550-600 marks, 500-550, and 450-500 respectively). Actual qualifying marks vary yearly; in 2024, General category cutoff was 720-164 marks (50th percentile), SC/ST/OBC was 163-129 marks (40th percentile). For admission to government medical colleges, category-wise AIR ranks typically range from AIR 1-50,000 for General (top colleges), AIR 50,000-1,50,000 for state government colleges, with reserved categories having relaxed rank requirements up to AIR 6-7 lakhs for state quota seats depending on state and college.

NEET UG 2026 Exam Centres (City-wise)

NEET UG is conducted in approximately 500+ cities across India and abroad. Candidates can choose up to 4 exam city preferences during application.

North: Delhi NCR (Delhi, Noida, Gurgaon, Faridabad, Ghaziabad), Chandigarh, Jaipur, Lucknow, Kanpur, Agra, Dehradun, Shimla, Jammu, Srinagar, Amritsar, Ludhiana, Patiala, Meerut, Allahabad (Prayagraj), Varanasi, Rohtak, Karnal, Hisar

South: Bangalore, Chennai, Hyderabad, Visakhapatnam, Vijayawada, Kochi, Thiruvananthapuram, Coimbatore, Madurai, Trichy, Mysore, Mangalore, Hubli, Guntur, Tirupati, Nellore, Warangal, Karimnagar

East: Kolkata, Bhubaneswar, Cuttack, Patna, Ranchi, Jamshedpur, Dhanbad, Rourkela, Berhampur, Sambalpur, Siliguri, Durgapur, Asansol

West: Mumbai, Pune, Nagpur, Nashik, Aurangabad, Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara, Rajkot, Bhavnagar, Indore, Bhopal, Jabalpur, Gwalior, Ujjain, Raipur, Bilaspur

Northeast: Guwahati, Dibrugarh, Silchar, Shillong, Imphal, Agartala, Aizawl, Itanagar, Gangtok

International Centres: Kuwait City, Muscat, Riyadh, Doha, Dubai, Sharjah (for NRI candidates)

Exact exam centre address is mentioned on the admit card. NTA attempts to allot centre as per candidate's preference subject to availability.