How Many Students Registered for NEET 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed that a total of 22,79,743 candidates registered for NEET UG 2026, making it one of the largest entrance examinations in the country. The registration figures reflect the continued popularity of medical education and the intense competition for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other allied health science programmes across India.
As candidates prepare for Re-NEET UG 2026 scheduled on 21 June 2026, the registration data provides valuable insight into the scale of competition. Of the total registered candidates, 13,32,928 are female candidates, while 9,46,815 are male candidates, indicating a significant participation of female aspirants in the examination.
The National Testing Agency (NTA) has confirmed that 22,79,743 candidates registered for NEET UG 2026. The registration figures reflect the continued demand for medical education and the intense competition for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and other allied health science courses across India.
Despite the cancellation of the original examination and the scheduling of Re-NEET UG 2026 on 21 June 2026, the registration data highlights the scale of participation in one of the country's largest entrance examinations. With registrations remaining above 22 lakh for consecutive years, NEET continues to attract a vast number of aspirants competing for a limited number of medical seats.
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The NEET 2026 registration process has witnessed a rapid rise in applications within a short period. As the deadline approaches, the number of candidates registering for the exam continues to grow steadily. Based on available estimates, the total registrations have already crossed 23 lakh, indicating intense competition for medical seats across India.
Below is a clearer breakdown of the estimated NEET 2026 registrations by time period:
| Time Period | Estimated Registrations |
|---|---|
| Feb 9 – Feb 15, 2026 | ~2 Lakh |
| Feb 16 – Feb 22, 2026 | ~6 Lakh |
| Feb 23 – Mar 1, 2026 | ~11 Lakh |
| Mar 2 – Mar 6, 2026 | ~16 Lakh |
| Mar 7 – Mar 9, 2026 | ~21 Lakh |
| Mar 10 – Mar 11, 2026 | ~23 – 26 Lakh |
Key Insight:
The registration trend shows a sharp spike in the final weeks, which is common for national-level exams like NEET. Experts expect the final number of applicants to cross 26 lakh, making NEET 2026 one of the most competitive medical entrance exams in India.
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The number of students appearing for NEET UG has consistently grown over the years. This shows the increasing popularity and competition for medical seats in India. The year-wise NEET registration trend provides a clear picture of this growth. Here is a look at the total NEET registrations from previous years:
|
Year-wise NEET Registration Trend |
|
|---|---|
|
Year |
Total NEET Registrations
|
|
2026 |
22,79,743 |
|
2025 |
22,76,069 |
|
2024 |
24,06,079 |
|
2023 |
20,87,462 |
|
2022 |
18,72,343 |
|
2021 |
16,14,777 |
The NTA also releases category-wise data for registered candidates. While the full breakdown for NEET 2026 registration statistics is awaited, we can observe patterns from past years. This data helps understand the distribution of total NEET aspirants 2026 across different reservation categories.
|
NEET 2026 exam registration data |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Category |
2025 Registrations |
2024 Registrations
|
|
OBC |
9,48,507 |
10,54,277 |
|
SC |
3,33,646 |
3,56,727 |
|
ST |
1,50,224 |
1,57,115 |
|
General |
6,89,366 |
6,47,260 |
|
EWS |
1,54,326 |
1,90,700 |
|
Total |
22,76,069 |
24,06,079 |
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Beyond categories, the NEET 2026 applicant count in India also includes gender and nationality details. This helps in understanding the diverse pool of candidates. For NEET 2025, a significant number of female candidates registered, often outnumbering males. Most applicants are Indian nationals.
|
NEET 2026 registration statistics |
||
|---|---|---|
|
Gender/Nationality |
Registered (2025) |
Appeared (2025)
|
|
Male |
9,65,996 |
9,37,411 |
|
Female |
13,10,062 |
12,71,896 |
|
Third Gender |
11 |
11 |
|
Indian |
22,73,528 |
22,06,968 |
|
Foreign Nationals |
939 |
870 |
|
NRI |
741 |
694 |
|
OCI |
61 |
786 |