The NEET UG 2026 registration window opened on 8 February 2026 and shut at 9:00 PM on 11 March 2026 - after a brief extension from the original 8 March deadline. By the time the portal closed, 22,79,743 candidates had registered, making it one of the largest single-session entrance exams in the world. [s:gap_registered] The exam was held on 3 May 2026 across 551 cities in India and 14 international locations, with over 5,432 examination centres. A re-examination for a subset of candidates followed on 21 June 2026, pushing the result timeline deeper into the year. [s:gap_reexam]

If you are reading this as a future aspirant, treat the 2026 cycle as your blueprint. Registration windows are narrow. Document rejections are common. The correction window is your only safety net - and it closes fast. This guide captures every detail of how NEET UG 2026 registration worked so you know exactly what to expect in 2027.

NEET UG 2026: Complete Timeline (Registration to Counselling)

Dates are the backbone of the NEET process. Miss one, and you miss the exam. Here is the entire chain of events as they actually unfolded in 2026.

Some elements shifted due to the re-examination. The answer key for the original exam went live on 6 May with a challenge window of 6-10 May. The re-exam result and final answer key will now feed into the overall merit list, delaying the final result until late July or early August 2026. [s:gap_resultdelay] Counselling dates are accordingly tentative.

Who Can Register: NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

Before you open the registration portal, verify you meet these requirements. Even one unmet condition can lead to cancellation of candidature months later - during document verification at counselling.

Educational Qualification

You must have passed or be appearing for Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects. Candidates taking the Class 12 board exam in 2026 were eligible.

The qualifying exam must be from a recognised board: CBSE, ICSE, state boards, or equivalent. If you studied Biology as an additional subject beyond the core four, check the information bulletin carefully - NTA's rules on this have changed across cycles.

Minimum Marks in Qualifying Exam

The aggregate of Physics, Chemistry, and Biology determines your eligibility. The percentages are set by the National Medical Commission (NMC):

• General / EWS: 50%
• General-PwD: 45%
• SC / ST / OBC-NCL: 40%

These cutoffs apply to the theory and practical components combined. Candidates with exactly the qualifying marks are eligible. There is no rounding.

Age Limit

Minimum age: 17 years as on 31 December of the admission year. For 2026 admissions, this meant you must be born on or before 31 December 2009.

There is currently no upper age limit for NEET UG, following successive court rulings. The NTA information bulletin explicitly states this. However, always verify the latest bulletin - legal challenges to the age policy resurface periodically, and a single court order can reinstate an upper cap.

Nationality

Indian citizens, NRIs, OCIs, PIOs, and foreign nationals can all apply. Candidates choosing examination centres outside India pay a significantly higher fee: ₹9,500 irrespective of category.

Documents You Must Prepare Before Starting

You cannot pause the registration form midway to scan a certificate. The portal times out. Gather these before you click "New Registration."

Keep 6-8 physical passport-size and 4-6 postcard-size photographs identical to the uploaded image. You will need them at the exam centre, during document verification, and at the time of college reporting.

Photograph, Signature, and Thumb Impression Specifications

These are the most common rejection points in the NEET application. NTA's system automatically verifies dimensions, clarity, and background. A single misstep blocks your form.

Passport Photograph

• Must be recent (for 2026, taken after 1 January 2026)
• Colour photograph only, on a plain white background
• 80% of the frame must show your face, with both ears clearly visible
• No cap, hat, sunglasses, or tinted spectacles
• If you wear glasses regularly, remove them for the photo if they cause reflection
• The same photograph must be used on the admit card and for counselling
• Write your name and date below the photograph (as specified in the bulletin)

Postcard Photograph

• Same person, same background, same session as the passport photo
• Dimensions: 4" × 6"
• Carried physically to the exam centre, pasted on the pro forma

Signature

• Sign on plain white paper with a black ink pen
• Use running handwriting - not block letters, not all capitals
• Do not use digital or computer-generated signatures
• The signature captured on the attendance sheet at the exam centre must match this upload

Thumb Impressions

• Use a blue ink pad on white paper
• Left thumb and right thumb, separately
• Press evenly; ridges must be clearly visible
• No smudging, no overlapping lines
• Scan at a minimum resolution that preserves clarity

Hand-written Declaration

The exact text appears in the information bulletin each year. In 2026, candidates wrote a declaration in English on white paper with black ink, scanned it, and uploaded it as a JPG/JPEG file. The declaration text typically reads: "I, [Name], declare that all the information provided by me in this application is true and correct to the best of my knowledge..." followed by a signature.

The Live Photo Capture: New Mandatory Step for 2026

Introduced as a direct anti-impersonation measure, the live photograph capture became compulsory in NEET UG 2026. During form filling, you must take a real-time photograph using your device's webcam or by scanning a QR code with your mobile phone. [s:gap_livephoto]

Key rules:

• The photo must be taken in good lighting against a light-coloured or white background
• No cap, hat, goggles, or spectacles - even if you wear glasses daily
• Face must cover approximately 80% of the frame, with ears visible
• The live photo is matched against the uploaded passport photograph and, where possible, against Aadhaar records
• If the live image and uploaded photograph do not match, the system blocks further progress

The live photo capture cannot be edited during the correction window if it is blurred or non-compliant. That makes it the single highest-stakes step in the application.

If your laptop does not have a webcam, you can scan the QR code displayed on the screen with your mobile phone's camera. The phone opens a capture page. Take the photo, and it syncs back to the application. Ensure your mobile camera is clean and you are in a well-lit room - natural daylight facing a white wall works best.

Aadhaar-Based eKYC

Aadhaar-based eKYC was another mandatory introduction in NEET UG 2026. [s:gap_ekyc] The system fetches your demographic details - name, date of birth, gender - from UIDAI through an OTP sent to your Aadhaar-linked mobile number.

Steps:

1. Enter your 12-digit Aadhaar number during registration.
2. An OTP is sent to the mobile number linked to your Aadhaar.
3. Enter the OTP. The system auto-populates name, DOB, and gender.
4. Any mismatch between Aadhaar data and your application entry blocks the form.

If your Aadhaar mobile number is inactive or has changed, update it at a nearby Aadhaar enrolment centre at least 7-10 days before registration. Without a verified mobile, you cannot complete eKYC.

Candidates who used alternate identity documents (passport, driving licence) instead of Aadhaar had to upload those documents and go through a separate verification route, but NTA strongly pushed Aadhaar eKYC as the primary method.

NEET 2026 Application Fee Structure

The fee depends on your category and whether you choose an Indian or international exam centre. All payments are online - no bank challans, no demand drafts.

Processing charges and GST are applied by the payment gateway and appear as separate line items at checkout. The registration fee is non-refundable under all circumstances - even if you decide not to appear for the exam. The only exception is a duplicate payment due to a gateway error, which NTA refunds within approximately 7 working days upon submission of transaction proof.

Payment modes: Debit card, Credit card, Net banking, UPI (Google Pay, PhonePe, Paytm). Do not refresh the page during payment. If money is debited but no confirmation appears, wait 2-3 hours and check the "Payment Status" link on your dashboard before attempting a second transaction.

Step-by-Step Registration Process

Step 1: Visit the Official Website

Use only neet.nta.nic.in or exams.nta.ac.in/neet. Bookmark these. Any other website offering NEET registration support and charging a fee is unauthorised. The real process costs nothing beyond the application fee.

Step 2: New Candidate Registration

Click "New Candidate Registration" or "Apply Online."

• Enter your full name exactly as it appears on your Class 10 certificate (match spelling, initials, spaces).
• Enter your date of birth as per Class 10 certificate.
• Provide an active mobile number and email address - all future communications, including the application number, admit card link, and results, will use these.
• Create a password that meets the portal's complexity rules (uppercase, lowercase, number, special character).
• Enter the security pin and submit.

You immediately receive an Application Number - a unique 15-digit identifier. Write it down. Screenshot it. Email it to yourself. You will use it for every subsequent login, from admit card download to result access.

Step 3: Aadhaar eKYC

Enter your Aadhaar number and complete the OTP verification. Details auto-populate. Verify that the name and date of birth fetched from Aadhaar match your Class 10 certificate. A mismatch here will lead to rejection at the document verification stage later.

Step 4: Fill Personal, Academic, and Exam Details

Log in with your Application Number and password. Fill in:

• Personal details: parents' names, gender, nationality, category, PwBD status
• Contact details: present and permanent address, alternate mobile number (if applicable)
• Academic details: Class 10 board, year of passing, marks; Class 12 board, year of passing/appearing, marks
• Exam city preferences: You can select up to 4 exam cities within your state of residence. Allotment is based on a combination of preference order and centre availability.
• Medium of question paper: Choose English, Hindi, or a regional language. Once submitted, this cannot be changed in most cycles. The language you pick determines the exam centre allocation, so choose carefully.

Step 5: Live Photo Capture

Enable your device camera or scan the QR code. Follow live photo guidelines: plain white/light background, no accessories, face clearly visible. The image is captured in real time and attached to your registration record.

Step 6: Upload Scanned Documents

Upload each document in the exact format and file size specified. The portal provides a preview of every upload. Examine the preview of each image before saving. If a photograph appears stretched, cropped, or blurred, re-upload. NTA does not guarantee that the correction window will allow image changes.

Documents to upload:

• Passport-size photograph (JPG, 10-200 kb)
• Postcard-size photograph (JPG, 10-200 kb) - if required in that cycle
• Signature (JPG, 10-50 kb)
• Left thumb impression (JPG, 20-50 kb)
• Right thumb impression (JPG, 20-50 kb)
• Hand-written declaration (JPG, 50-100 kb)
• Class 10 certificate (PDF, 50-300 kb)
• Category / PwBD certificate if applicable (PDF, 50-300 kb)

Step 7: Pay the Application Fee

Select your payment method and complete the transaction. Wait for the confirmation screen. Do not navigate away during processing. Once payment succeeds, the portal generates a confirmation page.

Step 8: Download and Print the Confirmation Page

Download the confirmation page as a PDF. Print at least two copies. This is the only proof of successful registration. If any issue arises with admit card generation, NTA's helpline will ask for your application number and may request this confirmation page.

The Correction Window (12-14 March 2026)

NTA opened a 72-hour correction window after the registration deadline. For NEET 2026, this fell on 12-14 March 2026. [s:gap_correctionwindow] This is your only shot at fixing errors. Once the window closes, no further edits are accepted through any channel.

What you could edit:

• Candidate name, father's name, mother's name (minor spelling errors)
• Date of birth
• Gender
• Category and sub-category (requires valid certificate)
• Exam city preference
• Medium of question paper
• Educational qualification details
• Photograph, signature, thumb impressions, and declaration (if incorrect or unclear)

What you could not edit:

• Registered mobile number
• Registered email address
• Application number
• Nationality

Corrections that increased the application fee (e.g., changing from SC to General) required payment of the differential amount online before the edit was saved.

A subtle but costly trap: many candidates made changes, clicked "Save," but forgot to complete the final submission. A revised confirmation page must appear. If your dashboard still shows the old details after the window closes, your corrections were not registered. Always download the updated confirmation page and compare it against your original.

Common Registration Mistakes That Lead to Rejection

Name mismatch. Your name on the NEET application must mirror your Class 10 certificate and Aadhaar - down to every dot, space, and initial. Even a single-letter difference can trigger a rejection during counselling document verification. Cross-check all three documents simultaneously while typing.

Wrong category selection. Claiming SC/ST/OBC/EWS reservation with an expired or invalid certificate reclassifies you as General. If your General-category marks then fall short of the cutoff, you lose your seat. Verify your certificate's issuance date and validity - OBC-NCL and EWS certificates must typically be issued in the current financial year.

Blurry or incorrect photographs. The portal's preview function is not decoration - use it. A photo with a coloured background, shadows, or less than 80% face coverage will be flagged. A rejected photograph can block your entire application.

Uploading the wrong thumb impression. Left thumb goes in the left thumb slot. Right goes in right. Thousands of candidates swap them every year. Preview before submitting.

Submitting multiple applications. Creating more than one application for the same candidate is treated as Unfair Means (UFM) and results in outright cancellation. Even if you discover a major error after submission, do not create a second account. Use the correction window.

Waiting until the last day. On 11 March 2026, the portal slowed to a crawl under heavy load. Payment gateways timed out. Uploads failed. Several candidates missed the 9:00 PM deadline at the final hour. Apply 5-7 days before the deadline. The extended window exists for edge cases, not for procrastination.

Inactive mobile number. Every critical alert - application number, admit card link, result notification, counselling schedule - goes to the registered mobile number and email. If you lose access to that number later, you lose the entire communication chain. Use a number that will remain active for at least 18 months.

Exam Pattern at a Glance

Understanding the format helps you contextualise why certain application choices - exam language, city - matter so much on test day.

• Mode: Pen-and-paper (offline), OMR-based
• Duration: 3 hours (2:00 PM to 5:00 PM); PwD candidates get an extra hour till 6:00 PM
• Subjects: Physics (50 questions), Chemistry (50 questions), Biology - Botany and Zoology combined (100 questions)
• Total questions: 200, of which 180 must be attempted
• Total marks: 720 (each correct answer: +4; each incorrect answer: -1; unattempted: 0)
• Languages: 13 - English, Hindi, Assamese, Bengali, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, Urdu

The paper language you choose during registration determines which version of the bilingual/trilingual question booklet you receive at the centre. You cannot change it after the correction window closes.

NEET 2026 Exam Centres: Scale and Logistics

The 2026 exam was conducted across 551 cities in India and 14 international locations (including Dubai, Abu Dhabi, Sharjah, Kuwait City, Doha, Riyadh, Muscat, Manama, Kathmandu, Colombo, Kuala Lumpur, Bangkok, Singapore, and Lagos). Over 5,432 examination centres were set up. The entire operation mobilised more than 2 lakh personnel, including 674 city coordinators, over 6,000 observers, and centre superintendents supported by district administration and police. [s:gap_ntapress]

State-wise registration data from the 2026 cycle shows the geographic concentration of medical aspirants. Uttar Pradesh alone accounted for approximately 3.6 lakh candidates, followed by Maharashtra (~2.2 lakh), Rajasthan (~2 lakh), and Bihar (~1.5 lakh). These four states together contributed over 41% of total registrations. [s:gap_statedata] Karnataka and Bihar each crossed 1.5 lakh candidates, while Tamil Nadu contributed about 1.4 lakh. Madhya Pradesh, Kerala, and West Bengal added another 3.3 lakh between them. Attendance across India was 96.9%, with Gujarat recording the highest state-level attendance at 98.1%.

Admit Card and Exam Day Protocols

The NEET UG 2026 admit card was released on 26 April 2026 on neet.nta.nic.in. With 22.79 lakh candidates attempting simultaneous downloads, the portal experienced heavy traffic. NTA issued an advisory with troubleshooting steps: clear browser cache, use incognito/private mode, switch browsers (Chrome or Firefox recommended), and retry during off-peak hours. [s:gap_admitissues]

The admit card carried the candidate's roll number, photograph, exam centre address, reporting time, and a QR code. Candidates who found discrepancies were advised to contact the NTA helpline immediately at 011-40759000 / 011-69227700 or email [email protected].

What to carry to the exam centre:

• Printed admit card with affixed passport-size photograph
• A signed self-declaration / undertaking form (downloaded with the admit card)
• One original valid government photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, driving licence, PAN, or voter ID)
• One additional passport-size photograph (identical to the uploaded one)
• One postcard-size photograph
• A transparent water bottle
• For diabetic candidates: sugar tablets and fruits (banana, apple, orange) in a transparent bag
• For PwD candidates: disability certificate and scribe-related documents, if applicable

Strictly prohibited: mobile phones, smart watches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, wallets, jewellery, metallic accessories, food packets, and any study material.

Reporting time: Centres opened at 11:00 AM. Entry gates closed sharply at 1:30 PM. Candidates wearing customary/religious attire or full-sleeve clothing were advised to arrive well before 11:30 AM to allow extra time for thorough frisking. The biometric verification involved Aadhaar-based authentication. If biometric capture failed due to technical issues or poor fingerprint quality, candidates signed an undertaking and were admitted through manual identity verification. [s:gap_ntapress]

Security was multi-layered: CCTV surveillance at every centre with feeds linked to centralised control rooms, GPS-enabled vehicles with police escort transporting confidential materials, high-sensitivity metal detectors at entry, and active monitoring of social media. NTA blocked over 65 Telegram channels that were circulating fake question papers. [s:gap_ntapress]

Answer Key Process: Provisional, Objection, and Final

NTA released the NEET UG 2026 provisional answer key on 6 May 2026, three days after the exam. [s:gap_answerkey] Candidates could log in with their application number and password to view the answer keys for all paper codes - Code 11, 12, 13, and 14 - along with their recorded OMR responses.

Objection window: 6 May to 10 May 2026. Candidates could challenge any answer they believed was incorrect by:

1. Logging in to the portal and navigating to the "Challenge Answer Key" section.
2. Selecting the specific question ID.
3. Uploading supporting academic proof - typically references from standard NCERT textbooks.
4. Paying a non-refundable fee of ₹200 per question challenged.

After the window closed, a panel of subject experts reviewed all objections. The final answer key, reflecting approved changes, forms the basis of the official result. Scores are calculated using the final answer key. The provisional key is a preview; the final key is the one that counts.

Result Timeline and the Re-Examination

The re-examination held on 21 June 2026 affected the overall result calendar. [s:gap_reexam] Following the re-exam, NTA must process OMR sheets, open an objection window, finalise the answer key, and merge the two datasets into a single merit list. Historical patterns suggest results are declared 25-45 days after the main exam, but the 2026 timeline is closer to 5-6 weeks after the re-exam. This places the final result in late July or early August 2026.

The scorecard reports subject-wise marks, total marks out of 720, all-India rank (AIR), category rank, percentile, and qualifying status. Your NEET score is valid only for the admission year in which you took the exam.

NEET UG 2026 Cutoff (Expected)

While the official cutoff is yet to be declared, the qualifying threshold - the minimum marks required to participate in counselling - is percentile-based. For 2026, based on paper difficulty (rated easy-to-moderate by most coaching institutions) and the number of test-takers, the expected qualifying marks are:

Qualifying does not mean you get a seat. It only makes you eligible for counselling. Actual admission cutoffs for government MBBS seats - especially under the All India Quota - sit far higher. For a government medical college through AIQ, general category candidates typically need 580-620+ marks. For top institutions like AIIMS Delhi, the closing rank has historically been within the top 50 AIR, requiring scores above 700.

State quota cutoffs are more accessible than AIQ. A general category candidate in Uttar Pradesh may secure a government MBBS seat at a lower rank than the same candidate competing in Delhi or Maharashtra, purely because of seat-to-applicant ratios.

Counselling Process and Seat Matrix

Medical admissions through NEET are split into two channels:

15% All India Quota (AIQ): Managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Covers government medical colleges across India, all AIIMS campuses, JIPMER Puducherry and Karaikal, central universities (BHU, AMU, DU), ESIC institutions, and all deemed universities. MCC counselling runs in four rounds: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and Stray Vacancy Round. Registration for Round 1 is expected to open in late July 2026.

85% State Quota: Managed individually by each state's counselling authority. Seats are reserved for domicile candidates of that state. State counselling timelines run in parallel with MCC rounds and vary by state. Missing state counselling registration means losing access to 85% of all government seats - never rely on AIQ alone.

Seat matrix 2026: India has approximately 1,20,430 MBBS seats across government and private colleges. Of these, government seats (including AIIMS) account for roughly 60,000+, while private colleges and deemed universities provide the remainder. [s:gap_seatmatrix] Major contributors include Uttar Pradesh (~13,425 total seats), Tamil Nadu (~13,050), Karnataka (~14,094), Maharashtra (~12,034), and Telangana (~8,540). The overall seat count increases marginally each year as new medical colleges are approved by NMC.

Reservation in AIQ seats:

State quota reservations follow respective state policies. Deemed universities do not follow SC/ST/OBC reservation; all seats are filled on open merit.

Frequently Asked Questions

Q: When will NEET UG 2027 registration start?

Based on the pattern from 2025 and 2026, the NEET UG 2027 notification is expected in early February 2027, with registration opening in the first or second week of February and closing in early March. The exam is likely to be held on the first Sunday of May 2027 - tentatively 2 May 2027. Monitor neet.nta.nic.in from January 2027 onwards.

Q: Is NEET conducted twice a year?

No. NEET UG is conducted once a year. There has been no official announcement about conducting it twice. The exam remains a single-session, pen-and-paper test.

Q: What is the application fee for NEET?

For Indian centres: General ₹1,700, General-EWS / OBC-NCL ₹1,600, SC/ST/PwBD/Third Gender ₹1,000. For centres outside India, all categories pay ₹9,500. Processing charges and GST are additional.

Q: Is the application fee refundable?

No. The fee is non-refundable under any circumstances, including withdrawal, non-appearance, or duplicate submission. The only exception is an accidental double payment due to a gateway glitch - NTA refunds the excess amount upon submission of proof.

Q: Can I change my photograph after submitting the form?

In most cycles, yes - but only during the correction window and only if NTA enables the photograph field for editing. This is not guaranteed. If the photograph field is locked during the correction window, you cannot change it. Upload the correct photograph the first time.

Q: What is the minimum age for NEET?

17 years as on 31 December of the admission year. For 2026 admissions, this meant being born on or before 31 December 2009.

Q: Is there an upper age limit?

Currently, no. Court orders have removed the upper age cap. However, this has changed multiple times over the years due to legal challenges. Always read the latest information bulletin to confirm.

Q: What documents do I need for NEET registration?

Passport-size photograph, postcard-size photograph, signature, left and right thumb impressions, hand-written declaration, Class 10 marksheet, Class 12 marksheet, category certificate (if applicable), PwBD certificate (if applicable), valid government ID, and an active mobile number linked to Aadhaar for eKYC. All documents must be scanned in the exact sizes and formats specified in the bulletin.

Q: What is the live photo capture, and why is it mandatory?

Introduced in 2026, live photo capture requires you to take a real-time photograph during the application process using your device's webcam or by scanning a QR code with your mobile. This photo is matched against your uploaded passport photograph and your Aadhaar records to prevent impersonation. Caps, glasses, and accessories must be removed. The photo cannot be retouched or replaced later.

Q: What happens if I submit more than one application?

Your candidature is cancelled outright. NTA treats multiple applications as Unfair Means. Even if you discover a serious error after submission, do not create a new account. Use the correction window.

Q: How do I check my allotted exam city?

NTA releases an advance city intimation slip a few weeks before the admit card. It tells you the city where your centre is located. The exact address appears later on the admit card. You can download the city slip from neet.nta.nic.in using your application number and date of birth.

Q: Can I change my exam city?

Yes, during the correction window, if the field is enabled. The change is subject to centre availability in the new city. You may need to pay an additional fee if the change involves a shift in fee structure.

Q: What is the dress code for NEET?

Wear simple, light-coloured clothing. Avoid heavy embroidery, pockets, metallic buttons, belts, large jewellery, and shoes with thick soles. Candidates wearing customary/religious attire should report early for thorough frisking. The detailed dress code is published in the information bulletin and on the admit card.

Q: Can I carry a watch to the exam centre?

No. Watches of any kind - analogue, digital, or smart - are prohibited. The centre has a wall clock for time reference.

Q: What if my biometric verification fails at the exam centre?

As per NTA's advisory, candidates whose biometric capture fails due to technical issues, poor fingerprint quality, or physical inability are not denied entry. They sign a written undertaking and are admitted after manual identity verification against valid documents. [s:gap_ntapress]

Q: How do I challenge a question in the answer key?

After the provisional answer key is released, log in to neet.nta.nic.in, navigate to "Challenge Answer Key," select the question ID you want to dispute, upload supporting proof (preferably NCERT references), and pay ₹200 per questioned question. Challenges submitted after the deadline or without payment are not considered.

Q: I missed the 2026 registration window. Can I still register?

No. NTA does not accept late applications. Your next opportunity is NEET UG 2027. Use the intervening year to prepare thoroughly.

Q: When does counselling start?

MCC AIQ Round 1 counselling registration is tentatively scheduled to open on 21 July 2026. State counselling will begin around the same time in most states. Check mcc.nic.in and your respective state counselling authority's website for exact dates.

Q: How many MBBS seats are available through NEET?

India has approximately 1.20 lakh MBBS seats, of which around 60,000+ are in government medical colleges (including AIIMS). The remaining seats are in private medical colleges and deemed universities.