How Many Students Registered for NEET 2026: The NEET 2026 registration process closed, marking the final opportunity for candidates to submit their application forms. The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2026 is scheduled to be conducted on 3 May 2026 for admission to medical courses such as MBBS, BDS, and other allied health programmes across India.
Since the registration window has just closed, the exact NEET 2026 registration numbers have not yet been officially released. However, early estimates suggest that around 25 lakh students are expected to appear for NEET 2026, making it one of the largest medical entrance examinations in the country.
The number of registrations for NEET 2026 is expected to cross the record set in 2025, when more than 22.7 lakh students applied for the exam. With more courses being included and several medical entrance exams merged into NEET, the number of applicants has increased significantly.
This means NEET 2026 is likely to become one of the biggest medical entrance exams ever, with very high competition among students.
Stay tuned for more updates on NEET 2026 registrations and what these record numbers could mean for medical aspirants.
These figures will provide a clear picture of the total number of aspirants who applied for the exam this year.
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.
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 |
To be Updated |
|
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 |
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 |