NEET-UG — National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (Undergraduate)

Status checked: 15 Oct 2026. Official sites: neet.nta.nic.in and nta.ac.in

Quick Facts

What Happened in 2026 (background)

• The NEET-UG exam on 3 May 2026 was cancelled by NTA over an alleged paper leak.
• A re-exam was held on 21 June 2026 (pen-and-paper, 2:00–5:15 PM, about 5,440 centres in 551 Indian cities and 14 abroad).
• The result was declared on 16 July 2026: 11.21 lakh candidates qualified. The joint toppers scored 715/720.

Big Change for 2027: Computer-Based Test

• After the 2026 paper leak, the Union Education Minister announced on 15 May 2026 that NEET-UG will move from pen-and-paper to Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode from 2027.
• NTA has told the Supreme Court it is ready to hold NEET in CBT mode from 2027.
• Reported, not yet official: the exam may run over 5–6 days in multiple shifts, with normalisation like JEE Main, at about 1,000 centres in about 500 cities.
• The syllabus is unchanged (NCERT Class 11 & 12).
• The official 2027 Information Bulletin is not out yet.

2027 Dates (tentative)

Eligibility

• Age: at least 17 years by 31 December 2027. No upper age limit.
• Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English.
• Minimum PCB aggregate: 50% (General), 45% (General-PwD), 40% (SC/ST/OBC).
• Qualifying cutoff: 50th percentile (General) and 40th percentile (reserved categories).

Exam Pattern (current, expected to continue)

• Duration: 3 hours (180 minutes) per most sources. The 2026 re-exam slot was 2:00–5:15 PM, which suggests 3 hours 15 minutes. Check the 2027 bulletin.
• Marking: +4 / −1.
• Since 2025 there is no optional Section B. All 180 questions are compulsory.
• Available in 13 languages.

Syllabus — Topics (NMC-notified, NCERT-based)

Physics

Physics & Measurement · Kinematics · Laws of Motion · Work, Energy & Power · Rotational Motion · Gravitation · Properties of Solids & Liquids · Thermodynamics · Kinetic Theory · Oscillations & Waves · Electrostatics · Current Electricity · Magnetic Effects & Magnetism · EMI & AC · EM Waves · Optics · Dual Nature · Atoms & Nuclei · Electronic Devices · Experimental Skills

Chemistry

Some Basic Concepts · Atomic Structure · Chemical Bonding · Chemical Thermodynamics · Solutions · Equilibrium · Redox & Electrochemistry · Chemical Kinetics · Periodicity · p-Block · d- & f-Block · Coordination Compounds · Purification & Characterisation of Organic Compounds · Basic Principles of Organic Chemistry · Hydrocarbons · Haloalkanes & Haloarenes · Alcohols, Phenols & Ethers · Aldehydes, Ketones & Carboxylic Acids · Amines · Biomolecules · Practical Chemistry

Biology

• Class 11: Diversity in the Living World · Structural Organisation in Plants & Animals · Cell Structure & Function · Plant Physiology · Human Physiology
• Class 12: Reproduction · Genetics & Evolution · Biology & Human Welfare · Biotechnology & its Applications · Ecology & Environment

Highest-weightage areas: Genetics, Human Physiology, Plant Physiology, Cell Biology, Ecology, Biotechnology. Biology is 360/720 marks, half the paper.

When to Start Preparing

Strategy tips

• NCERT Biology is about 90% of the Biology section. Read it several times, including figures, tables and examples.
• Physics is usually the deciding subject. Practise numericals every day.
• Aim for at least 650/720 for government MBBS in the general category. Cutoffs vary each year.
• With CBT, get comfortable with on-screen reading and the mark-for-review strategy.

Recommended Books

• NCERT Class 11 & 12 (PCB). Also NCERT Exemplar.
• Physics: D.C. Pandey (Objective NEET), H.C. Verma (concepts)
• Chemistry: M.S. Chouhan (Organic), N. Awasthi (Physical)
• Biology: Trueman's (extra reading), MTG NCERT at your Fingertips
• MTG / Arihant 30+ years' NEET chapter-wise papers

After the Exam

• MCC counselling fills the 15% All-India Quota, AIIMS, JIPMER, central and deemed universities.
• State counselling fills the 85% state quota. In Maharashtra, the State CET Cell runs it.
• AYUSH counselling is run by AACCC.