NEET UG 2026 : Exam Essentials
NEET is the sole entrance exam for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and Veterinary courses in India. Unlike JEE, it is an offline (Pen-and-Paper) test.
Quick Facts for Aspirants :
| Feature |
Details for NEET 2026 |
| Exam Date |
May 3, 2026 (Sunday) |
| Mode |
Offline (OMR Based) |
| Duration |
3 Hours |
| Total Marks |
720 Marks |
| Subjects |
Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology |
Eligibility Criteria 2026 :
- Minimum Age : Must be at least 17 years old by December 31, 2026.
- Upper Age Limit : Currently, there is no upper age limit for NEET UG.
- Qualifying Marks : 50% aggregate in PCB (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) for General category; 40% for SC/ST/OBC.
- Number of Attempts : No restriction on the number of attempts.
NEET 2026 Exam Pattern & Marking :
The paper consists of 180 Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs), out of which 180 must be attempted.
- Physics : 45 Questions.
- Chemistry : 45 Questions.
- Biology : 90 Questions.
- Marking : +4 for a correct answer; -1 for an incorrect answer; 0 for unattempted questions.
High-Weightage Chapters :
Biology (50% Weightage) :
Biology is the rank-maker. Focus on these high-yield units :
- Genetics & Evolution : ~18% weightage.
- Human Physiology : ~20% weightage.
- Ecology & Environment : ~12-15% weightage.
- Cell Structure & Function : ~10% weightage.
Physics & Chemistry :
- Physics : Modern Physics, Current Electricity, and Thermodynamics are the most scoring.
- Chemistry : Organic Chemistry (GOC, Hydrocarbons) and Chemical Bonding carry the highest weight.
NEET 2026 FAQs :
No, the National Testing Agency (NTA) continues to conduct NEET UG in offline (pen-and-paper) mode using OMR sheets.
NCERT is the "Bible" for NEET. Approximately 90-95% of Biology questions and a significant portion of Chemistry are derived directly from NCERT textbooks. However, Physics requires extra practice from reference books for numericals.
Qualifying marks (percentile) vary each year based on difficulty, but generally, the 50th percentile is required for General category and 40th for reserved categories.
