NEET 2026 New Exam City Selection Rules, Check Details Below
NEET UG 2026 exam city selection rules have been updated by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Candidates' present and permanent addresses will now determine their exam city. Applicants must choose up to three cities close to these verified addresses. Aadhaar-based eKYC and live photograph capture are now mandatory to prevent address misuse and ensure closer exam centre allocations.
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NEET UG 2026 Exam City Selection Rules have been updated by the National Testing Agency (NTA . These updates, effective from February 9, 2026, will now determine exam cities based on candidates' present and permanent addresses. This change impacts approximately 24–26 lakh students expected to take the NEET UG exam this year. The aim is to streamline the allocation process and enhance security.
NEET 2026 New Exam City Selection Rules
As per the new NEET 2026 exam city selection rules, the chosen exam city will align with the candidate's present and permanent address. These addresses must be accurately stated in the application form. NTA has implemented Aadhaar-based eKYC and live photograph capture for identity verification. These measures aim to prevent the use of fake addresses. They also ensure students receive exam centres closer to their verified locations. This update addresses concerns regarding exam city discrepancies.
NEET Exam City Selection: Previous vs New Rules (2025 vs 2026)
Significant changes have been made to the NEET UG exam city selection process. The table below highlights the key differences between the NEET 2025 and NEET 2026 rules. These revisions affect how candidates indicate their preferred exam locations.
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NEET Exam City Selection: Previous vs New Rules (2025 vs 2026) |
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|---|---|---|
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Criteria |
NEET 2025 (Previous Rules) |
NEET 2026 (New Rules)
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Basis of Exam City Selection |
Candidates could choose up to 4 preferred cities freely, irrespective of address. |
Applicants can only select exam cities close to their present and permanent address entered in the application form. |
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Address Validation |
Manual entry with minimal cross-verification. |
System auto-verifies address through Aadhaar linkage. |
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City Preference Flexibility |
High flexibility; candidates could pick any available city. |
Restricted to nearby cities matching verified addresses. |
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Purpose of Change |
Convenience-based selection. |
To ensure fair, location-based, and verified center allocation. |
NEET 2026 Exam City Selection Process
The process for selecting NEET 2026 exam cities is now more structured. Candidates must follow these steps to ensure their preferences are accurately registered and verified.
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Go to the official website, neet.nta.nic.in.
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Open the NEET 2026 registration window and complete Aadhaar-based eKYC.
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Fill in the present and permanent address correctly.
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The system will auto-generate a list of nearby NEET 2026 exam cities based on the provided addresses.
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Select any three preferred exam cities.
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Preview and submit the application form.
Documents Required for NEET 2026 Exam City Selection
For the NEET 2026 exam city selection, candidates primarily need their Aadhaar card. This is essential for the verification of the permanent address. No specific document is required as proof for the present address. Candidates must enter their present address carefully, as the NEET 2026 exam center will be allotted based on this information.