NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 requires candidates to have completed 17 years of age as on or before 31 December 2026. There is no upper age limit. Candidates must have passed or be appearing in Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English, securing minimum 50% marks for General category (40% for SC/ST/OBC and 45% for PwD) in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology taken together.
There is no restriction on the number of attempts. This comprehensive guide covers all aspects including age limit, educational qualification, category-wise requirements, and more to help aspirants understand their eligibility clearly.
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Overview Table
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Minimum Age | 17 years as on or before 31.12.2026 |
| Maximum Age | No upper age limit |
| Educational Qualification | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology & English |
| Minimum Marks (PCB) | 50% (General), 40% (SC/ST/OBC), 45% (PwD) |
| Number of Attempts | No Limit |
| Nationality | Indian, NRI, OCI, PIO, Foreign Nationals |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Official Website | neet.nta.nic.in |
NEET 2026 Age Limit (Table)
| Category | Minimum Age Requirement | Maximum Age Limit |
|---|---|---|
| All Categories | 17 years as on or before 31 December 2026 | No upper age limit |
Important Note: Candidates must be born on or before 31.12.2009 to satisfy the minimum age criteria.
Category-Wise Age Relaxation (OBC, SC, ST, Girls)
There is no category-wise age relaxation in NEET 2026. The minimum age of 17 years is uniform for all categories (General, OBC, SC, ST, EWS, PwD, Girls). The removal of upper age limit (earlier 25 years for General) applies to all candidates since 2019-20. Girls also have the same age criteria with no additional relaxation.
NEET Educational Qualification 2026
Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects from a recognized board. Students appearing for Class 12 in 2026 are also eligible provisionally, but they must pass the qualifying examination before the counselling process.
The qualifying exam must be equivalent to the 10+2 system of Indian education. For candidates who have completed their Class 12 from abroad, the qualification must be equivalent as certified by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). B.Sc. graduates with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology can also apply if they meet the percentage criteria. Proper documentation of educational certificates is mandatory during counselling.
NEET 2026 Eligibility: Minimum Marks Required in Class 12 (Table)
| Category | Minimum Percentage in PCB (Physics + Chemistry + Biology) |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50% |
| OBC / SC / ST | 40% |
| PwD (General) | 45% |
| PwD (OBC / SC / ST) | 40% |
Place official NEET Notification link here.
Eligibility for NEET 2026: Number of Attempts
There is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET 2026. Candidates can appear as many times as they wish, provided they meet the age and educational qualification criteria.
Who is Eligible for NEET 2026 Counselling?
Candidates who qualify NEET 2026 by scoring equal to or more than the cutoff marks are eligible for counselling. This includes All India Quota (15%), State Quota (85%), Deemed Universities, Central Universities, AIIMS, JIPMER, and other participating institutes. Qualified candidates must register on the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) portal for All India seats and respective state counselling authorities for state quota seats. Document verification is mandatory.
NEET Exam Pattern 2026
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen & Paper) |
| Duration | 3 Hours 20 Minutes |
| Number of Questions | 200 (Need to attempt 180) |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Marking Scheme | +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect |
| Total Marks | 720 |
