NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026, Qualification, Age Limit, Attempts and Marks Required
The NEET 2026 eligibility criteria require candidates to have passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology and a minimum of 50% marks (40% for SC/ST/OBC), with no upper age or attempt limit. Students must be 17 years old by 31st December 2026, and both Indian and NRI/OCI students meeting these qualifications can apply for NEET 2026.
Krati Saraswat1 Nov, 2025
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NEET eligibility criteria 2026 provide the required guidelines that each student needs to follow to appear for the NEET exam. This involves age, subjects of class 12th, and marks in Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and attempts. The NEET exam eligibility helps you know if you can appear for NEET 2026 or not. It also ensures that only the deserving candidates can pursue medicine in India or abroad. Let’s understand the NEET eligibility criteria 2026 in a simple and clear way.
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria Overview
The following table shows the complete overview of NEET eligibility criteria 2026 including age, qualification, category, and attempts. The table makes it easier to understand who is eligible for the NEET 2026 exam and what qualifications are needed.
| NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria | |
| Criteria | Details |
| Qualification Required | Must have passed Class 12 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology |
| Minimum Age Limit | 17 years on or before 31st December 2026 |
| Maximum Age Limit | No upper age limit (as per NMC rule, 2022) |
| Attempts Allowed | No limit on the number of NEET attempts |
| Category Relaxation | Marks and age relaxations for SC, ST, OBC, and PwD candidates |
| Subjects Required | Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, English |
|
Exam Conducting Body |
National Testing Agency (NTA) |
NEET Qualification Requirement 2026
Students are required to fulfill the educational qualification criteria prescribed by NTA for appearing in NEET 2026. This will ensure that all students who are going to take the NEET exam have studied the basic science subjects required for a medical course.
Minimum 12th Marks Required for NEET
To appear in NEET 2026, every student is required to clear the Class 12th or equivalent exam, where Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English must be their core Essentially, only those students who have studied Physics, Chemistry and Biology as their core subjects will be eligible to apply for the exam. As these subjects are the NEET syllabus essentials, your score in these subjects will determine your eligibility. Let’s look at the NEET eligibility marks in 12th category-wise in a simple table below.
|
NEET Eligibility Marks in 12th |
||
|
Category |
Subjects Considered (PCB) |
Minimum Percentage Required |
|
General / Unreserved (UR) |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
50% marks in total of PCB subjects |
|
OBC / SC / ST |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
40% marks in total of PCB subjects |
|
PwD (Persons with Disabilities) |
Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
45% marks in total of PCB subjects |
Also Check: NEET Previous Year Question Papers
Is Maths Required for NEET?
No, Maths is not a compulsory subject for NEET. The only 3 subjects needed are Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB). NEET is a medical entrance exam; it tests you on life sciences, not mathematics. Students must have passed all their subjects in the 12th board, though, to be eligible. So even if you had Maths as an additional subject, it will not come in the way of your eligibility for the NEET exam.
NEET 2026 Age Limit
Age is another important part of the NEET eligibility criteria 2026. Students must reach the minimum age by the end of the year in which they appear for the exam.subjects. The cut-off percentage for NEET 2026 for the 12th standard will depend on the category of the student. This could be General, OBC, SC, ST or PwD category.
Minimum and Maximum Age Limit
The student must be at least 17 years old on or before 31st December 2026 to apply for NEET 2026. For example, if you will complete 17 years on or before 31 December 2026, you are eligible for NEET 2026.
There is no upper age limit for the NEET exam age limit. The National Medical Commission (NMC) had removed the upper age limit from the NEET eligibility criteria in 2022. So, from this year, students of all ages are eligible for the NEET exam.
Previously, only student below a certain age was allowed to appear, but now there is no age bar. Any student can now give the exam as many times as they want. This has been a relief for many students to pursue their dream of becoming a doctor.
| Minimum and Maximum Age Limit | |
| Age Limit Type | Requirement |
| Minimum Age | Must be 17 years old by 31st December 2026 |
| Maximum Age | No upper age limit (as per NMC notification 2022) |
This means even if you are above 25 years, you can still appear for the NEET exam. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has removed the age cap, giving every student a fair chance to become a doctor.
Category-Wise Age Relaxation (OBC, SC, ST, Girls)
There is now a uniform NEET age limit for all categories for the NEET 2026 exam as the National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to do away with the upper age limit. However, it will be helpful to first understand the old NEET age limit criteria (NEET age limit for general, NEET age limit for obc, and NEET age limit for SC/ST) to help you better appreciate the revision in age limit.
A student must have attained 17 years as on 31 December 2026, to be eligible to take the NEET 2026 exam. This will be the same for all students irrespective of the category to which they belong.
Proof Documents for Date of Birth (DOB)
Students must provide valid proof of their date of birth when filling the NEET form. The accepted DOB documents include:
-
Class 10th mark sheet
-
Aadhaar card
-
Birth certificate
-
Passport
NEET 2026 Attempt Limit
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has eliminated the upper age boundary so all NEET 2026 exam candidates will follow the same age limit regardless of their category. However, it will be helpful to first understand the old NEET age limit criteria (NEET age limit for general, NEET age limit for obc, and NEET age limit for SC/ST) to help you better appreciate the revision in age limit.
A student must have attained 17 years as on 31 December 2026, to be eligible to take the NEET 2026 exam. This will be the same for all students irrespective of the category to which they belong.
| NEET 2026 Attempt Limit | |||
| Year/Rule | Number of Attempts for NEET | Current Status | Remarks |
| Before 2018 | Limited to 3 attempts | Old Rule | Attempt restriction applied earlier |
| After 2018 (NTA Update) | Unlimited attempts | Active Rule | Students can appear any number of times |
| NEET 2026 | Unlimited | Final Rule | No restriction on NEET attempts |
Also Check: NEET Biology Chapter wise Weightage
NEET Exam Date and Registration 2026
The NEET 2026 exam will likely be conducted by NTA (National Testing Agency) in May 2026. The NEET exam is the only medical entrance test that students can take for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other medical courses in India.
The registration for NEET 2026 will likely be open in January or February 2026, and the admit card will be released a few weeks before the exam. Students can apply online and fill out the form for the NEET 2026 exam. They can also upload all required documents and make the payment for the exam fee before the last date for applying for the NEET exam. In case the student misses the last date, the application may be rejected.
Aspirants are advised to visit the NEET 2026 Exam Date page for detailed information about the NEET 2026 registration, admit card, and exam date confirmation. The page has the complete NEET 2026 exam schedule, a step-by-step registration process, and other updates.
Also Check:
- NEET Exam Pattern 2026
- NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026
- NEET 2026 Exam Centres
- NEET Candidate Login 2026
NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria for Foreign/NRI Students
Foreign nationals, Overseas Citizen of India (OCI), and Non-Resident Indians (NRI) may also appear for the NEET 2026 exam in case they fulfill the basic educational and subject-wise eligibility criteria. The following are the eligibility requirements for foreign and NRI students:
| NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 For NRIs/ OCI/Foreign Students | ||
| Eligibility Criteria | NRIs | OCI/Foreign Students |
| Educational Qualifications | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English from a recognized board | 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English |
| Age Limit | Same as Indian nationals | Same as Indian nationals |
| NEET Qualification | Mandatory to qualify for the NEET exam | Mandatory to qualify for the NEET exam |
Important NEET 2026 Guidelines
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released several important instructions that all students must follow before, during, and after the NEET 2026 exam. These NTA guidelines for NEET 2026 ensure the smooth conduct of the examination and help candidates avoid disqualification or errors during document verification. Here are the key NTA new rules for NEET 2026 that every aspirant must know:
| Important NEET 2026 Guidelines | |
| Particulars | Details |
| Mode of Exam | NEET 2026 will be held in offline (pen and paper) mode. Candidates must mark answers on an OMR sheet using a black or blue ballpoint pen provided at the center. |
| Removal of Section B | Section B, which had few optional questions has been scrapped from NEET 2026. Candidates will now have to answer all 180 questions. There are no choices or flexibility. |
| Exam time | Exam time is now 3 hours, each subject has single compulsory section like the old pre-COVID pattern. |
| Admit Card Requirements | Students must carry a printed copy of the NEET 2026 Admit Card, a passport-size photograph, and a valid photo ID (like Aadhaar, PAN, or Passport). |
| Reporting Time | Candidates must reach the centre at least 2 hours before the exam begins. Late entry is strictly prohibited. |
| Dress Code | As per the NTA guidelines for NEET 2026, candidates should wear light clothes without big buttons, jewellery, or metallic items. Shoes are not allowed; only slippers or sandals are permitted. |
| Prohibited Items | Electronic gadgets like mobile phones, calculators, smart watches, notes, and stationery other than the pen provided by the centre are strictly banned. |
|
Language of Paper |
The exam will be conducted in 13 languages, including English, Hindi, and regional languages. |
Also Check: NEET Physics Chapter wise Weightage
NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs
Q1. What is the age limit for NEET 2026?
Q2. What % is required in 12th for NEET?
Q3. Can I give NEET after 12th?
Q4. How many attempts can we give in NEET?
Q5. Is there any age relaxation for OBC, SC or ST?
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