The NTA has announced the exam dates for Re-NEET 2026; it is now set for 21 June 2026, following the cancellation of the original exam due to paper-leak issues. Over 22 lakh candidates are anticipated to participate in the exam. The re-examination is essential for all originally registered candidates to maintain fairness.
This information was shared on the “official X account of the National Testing Agency (NTA)” on May 15, 2026. New admit cards for the re-NEET 2026 will be made available on the official website 7-10 days prior to the exam.
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Source – x.com/NTA_Exams/status/2055137455981183411?s=20
Candidates now have 7 weeks from mid-May; they should concentrate on revising Physics, Chemistry, and Biology, utilizing NCERT textbooks, particularly for Biology and Chemistry, as their main resource and practice through 2–3 mock tests each week.
- According to the Re-NEET 2026 exam pattern, the exam will be conducted in offline mode (pen-and-paper) for 3 hours, featuring 180 MCQs totaling 720 marks.
- The paper will consist of 45 questions each from Physics and Chemistry (180 marks each) and 90 questions from Biology (360 marks).
- Candidates will earn +4 marks for each correct answer and -1 mark for each incorrect answer.
Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan stated that the “NEET 2027 exam will be held in CBT mode by the NTA starting next year”. This significant change in the exam format was revealed alongside the updated date for the NEET 2026 re-exam. However, the NEET 2026 exam will still be conducted in the traditional pen-and-paper format.
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Source – ANI on X (Twitter)
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| Table of Contents |
What is the NEET Exam 2026?
The NEET 2026 (National Eligibility Cum Entrance Test) is the national-level medical entrance examination in India, organized by the NTA for admissions into MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, and various other undergraduate medical programs.
- Over 2,300 institutions in India accept the NEET 2026 Score for various medical and health-related courses.
- This includes approximately 600-700 medical colleges, more than 300 dental colleges (BDS), along with numerous AYUSH and BVSc & AH colleges.
| Particulars | Details |
|---|---|
| Exam Name | NEET UG 2026 |
| Conducting Body | National Testing Agency (NTA) |
| Exam Level | National |
| Courses Offered | MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, BVSc & AH, BSc Nursing |
| Exam Date | May 3, 2026 |
| Mode of Exam | Offline (Pen-and-Paper) |
| Duration | 3 hours (2 PM – 5 PM) |
| Subjects | Physics, Chemistry, Biology |
| Total Questions | 180 |
| Total Marks | 720 |
| Expected Candidates | 25–26 lakh |
| MBBS Seats (Approx.) | 1.1 lakh |
| Official Website | neet.nta.nic.in |
NEET 2026 Important Dates
The NEET 2026 examination took place on May 3, 2026. Currently, approximately 22.8 lakh candidates are awaiting the release of the NEET UG 2026 Answer keys, which is anticipated on May 2, 2026.
Alongside the Provisional Answer key, the NTA will provide an objection window for 2-5 days to allow candidates to submit objections if they find any discrepancies.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| NEET 2026 Provisional Answer Key | 6 May 2026 (Out) |
| NEET 2026 Objection Window | May 2026 (within 2–3 days of answer key release, approx. 2–5 days window) |
| NEET Final Answer Key | May–June 2026 |
| Result Declaration | June 2026 (Tentative) |
| City Intimation Slip | 12 April 2026 (Out) |
| Admit Card Release | 26 April 2026 (Out) |
| NEET 2026 Exam Date | May 3, 2026 (Over) |
Source: NEET Information Bulletin
NEET 2026 Provisional Answer Key
The NTA has published the provisional answer key, allowing candidates to contest any answers they believe may be incorrect.
| NEET 2026 Code Wise Provisional Answer Keys | Download PDF |
|---|---|
| NEET 2026 Answer Key Code -11 | Download PDF |
| NEET 2026 Answer Key Code -12 | Download PDF |
| NEET 2026 Answer Key Code -13 | Download PDF |
| NEET 2026 Answer Key Code -14 | Download PDF |
NEET 2026 Answer Key Challenge Window
- The NTA will offer a window for challenging the answer key for approximately 3 days, expected in June 2026.
- Candidates can challenge the provisional answer key by paying a non-refundable fee of Rs. 200/-.
- Challenges will be assessed by a panel of subject experts, and if valid, the answer key will be amended.
| Feature | OMR Challenge | Answer Key Challenge |
| What You Challenge | Your recorded response | Official answer provided by NTA |
| Related To | Personal OMR sheet | Provisional answer key |
| Purpose | Accurate response capture | Correct official answer |
| Affects | Your individual score | All candidates' scores |
Here are the NEET 2026 unofficial answer keys that can assist you in estimating your score and understanding your anticipated rank.
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "English" | NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Hindi" |
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Urdu" | NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Punjabi" |
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Gujarati" | NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Marathi" |
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Bengali" | NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Assamese" |
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Odia" | NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Telugu" |
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Tamil" | NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Kannada" |
| NEET 2026 Question Paper with Answer Key and Solution in "Malayalam" | |
NEET UG 2026: Answer Key
Following the examination, the NTA will release the OMR answer sheets, the recorded response sheet, and the provisional answer key. The specific date for this will be announced on their official site.
OMR Answer Sheets
The NTA will publish the OMR answer sheets and the recorded responses of all candidates on its official platforms after the exam is completed.
- Candidates will have the opportunity to challenge the OMR grading by paying a non-refundable fee of Rs. 200/-.
- The NTA will review the challenges against the actual records, and updates will be made if the challenges are validated.
- No notifications will be sent to individual candidates regarding this process.
NEET UG 2026: Result
The NTA is set to announce the NEET UG 2026 results on its official platform, anticipated for June 2026 following the trend of previous years.
- The NEET UG results will also present statistics regarding the number of registered and appeared candidates.
- The qualifying cutoff marks will be published alongside the NEET UG results for all categories.
- Candidates will have the opportunity to access their scorecards from the official website to check their All India rank and qualifying status for the NEET counselling process.
Below are the top 10 candidates from NEET 2025 according to the official results.
Source: NEET 2025 Official Result
What Sets NEET 2026 Apart from Other Entrance Exams?
The NEET 2026 examination is not aimed at college selection; rather, it serves as a national medical eligibility and ranking assessment for securing admission into medical institutions across India.
- It is governed by UGC Admission Policies, which guarantee consistent eligibility criteria, centralized counseling, and the evaluation of merit lists for medical admissions throughout India, irrespective of the board, state, or institution.
Comparing NEET 2026 with Other Prominent Entrance Exams
NEET UG 2026: Cutoff
The cutoff for NEET UG 2026 will be announced alongside the NEET results, which are anticipated in June 2026. The NTA is set to publish the qualifying cutoff for NEET UG 2026 across all categories.
| Category | Qualifying Score | Cutoff Score |
|---|---|---|
| UR/EWS | 50th Percentile | 710 - 145 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 142 - 115 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 142 - 115 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 142 - 115 |
| UR/EWS - PwBD | 45th Percentile | 142 - 128 |
| OBC PwD | 40th Percentile | 125 - 113 |
| SC PwD | 40th Percentile | 125 - 113 |
| ST PwD | 40th Percentile | 125 - 113 |
Below is the official NEET UG qualifying cutoff from the last three years:
Source: NEET UG 2025 Result
NEET 2026: AIIMS Anticipated Cutoff for Leading 10 Colleges
| College | Expected Closing Rank | Expected Cutoff Marks |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | 50 | 700-710 |
| AIIMS Jodhpur | 395 | 680-690 |
| AIIMS Bhopal | 635 | 670-680 |
| AIIMS Bhubaneswar | 790 | 665-675 |
| AIIMS Rishikesh | 1200 | 655-665 |
| AIIMS Nagpur | 1225 | 655-665 |
| AIIMS Raipur | 1225 | 655-665 |
| AIIMS Patna | Below 5500 | 630-640 |
| AIIMS Bathinda | Below 5500 | 630-640 |
| AIIMS Kalyani | Below 5500 | 630-640 |
Source: Reddit
NEET UG 2026: Marks Vs Ranks
The analysis of NEET UG 2026 marks versus percentile presented below is derived from trends observed in previous years along with expert evaluations for the upcoming year.
- A score ranging from 700 to 720 is anticipated to achieve a rank within the top 50 for candidates.
- A rank between 51 and 500 can be attained with scores around 680 to 699 marks in NEET UG 2026.
- Scores below 500 are likely to result in ranks of approximately 1,00,000 or higher.
| NEET Marks | Expected AIR Range |
|---|---|
| 700–720 | 1 – 50 |
| 680–699 | 51 – 500 |
| 650–679 | 501 – 2,000 |
| 620–649 | 2,001 – 7,000 |
| 600–619 | 7,001 – 15,000 |
| 580–599 | 15,001 – 25,000 |
| 550–579 | 25,001 – 45,000 |
| 520–549 | 45,001 – 75,000 |
| 500–519 | 75,001 – 1,10,000 |
| 450–499 | 1,10,001 – 1,90,000 |
| 400–449 | 1,90,001 – 2,90,000 |
| 350–399 | 2,90,001 – 4,20,000 |
| 300–349 | 4,20,001 – 6,00,000 |
| Below 300 | 6,00,000+ |
NEET 2025 Marks vs Rank | Previous Year’s Ranks
| Marks Range | Rank |
|---|---|
| 686 | 1 |
| 685-651 | 2-71 |
| 650-600 | 72-1,259 |
| 600-551 | 1,260-10,658 |
| 550-501 | 10,659-39,521 |
| 500-451 | 39,522-69,503 |
| 450-401 | 69,504-88,239 |
| 400-351 | 88,240-1,05,578 |
| 350-301 | 1,05,579-1,26,935 |
| 300-251 | 1,26,936-1,57,952 |
| 250-201 | 1,57,953-1,98,346 |
| 200-144 | 1,98,347-3,03,040 |
NEET UG 2026: Counselling
Candidates who meet the qualifying criteria set by the NTA for NEET UG 2026 will be eligible to participate in the NEET counselling process.
- The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will oversee the counselling for All India Quota seats (15%).
- State counselling authorities will manage the counselling for state quota seats (85%).
The NTA will announce the qualifying cutoff, while the admission cutoff will be provided by the MCC or the respective state counselling authorities following each counselling round.
Colleges Accepting NEET 2026 Score
NEET Scores are essential for securing admission into medical, dental, AYUSH, and veterinary programs in India. Based on the NEET Rank, candidates can obtain seats through AIQ, State Quota, Deemed Universities, and central institutes.
| College/Institute Name | Type | Courses Offered | Admission Quota |
|---|---|---|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi | Central Institute | MBBS | AIQ (MCC) |
| Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research (JIPMER), Puducherry | |||
| Banaras Hindu University (IMS-BHU), Varanasi | Central University | ||
| Aligarh Muslim University (JNMCH), Aligarh | AIQ + Institutional Quota | ||
| Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi | Government Medical College | State + AIQ | |
| King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow | |||
| Grant Medical College, Mumbai | |||
| Madras Medical College, Chennai | |||
| Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore | Private (Minority) | State + Institutional Process | |
| Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal | Deemed University | AIQ (MCC) | |
| Sri Ramachandra Medical College, Chennai | |||
| Manipal College of Dental Sciences, Manipal | BDS | ||
| Government Dental College, Mumbai | Government Dental College | State + AIQ | |
| National Institute of Ayurveda, Jaipur | Government AYUSH | BAMS | AACCC |
| Government Homoeopathic Medical College, Bengaluru | BHMS | State / AACCC | |
| College of Veterinary Science, Hyderabad | Government Veterinary | BVSc & AH | State Counselling |
FAQs
Ques. Is NEET 2026 going to be tough?
Ans. The difficulty level of NEET is typically moderate yet competitive; over 20 lakh candidates vie for 1.1 lakh MBBS seats.
- The NEET exam is primarily based on NCERT, but the pressure of ranks and cutoff scores often makes it more challenging than the questions themselves.
- Biology tends to be the most scoring subject, while physics plays a crucial role in determining the top ranks.
- The cutoff is influenced more by competition than by the exam's difficulty level.
- A score ranging from 620 to 650 or higher is generally required for securing top government MBBS seats.
Ques. What is the age requirement for NEET 2026?
Ans. To be eligible for NEET 2026, candidates must be at least 17 years old by 31st December 2026. There is no upper age limit according to the latest eligibility guidelines.
Ques. Can I pass NEET in 2026?
Ans. Yes, success in NEET is achievable, but it relies on effective revision, practicing previous years' questions, and accuracy in mock tests rather than just the number of study hours.
- Many candidates boost their scores by over 100 marks in the final 3-4 months through diligent revision and testing.
- A score above 600 typically necessitates 2-3 complete revisions and 35-45 mock tests.
- Attempting 160-170 questions with high accuracy enhances the chances of selection.
Ques. What is the duration of the NEET exam 2026?
Ans. The NEET 2026 will occur in a single session, lasting 3 hours. Candidates are required to complete all 180 MCQs within this timeframe.
Ques. Will the NEET cutoff lower in 2026?
Ans. The cutoff for NEET 2026 is anticipated to rise compared to the previous year, with minor adjustments based on exam difficulty, but significant changes will depend on the number of candidates and available seats.
Last year's cutoff for the general category ranged from 686 to 114 marks, while for OBC/SC/ST categories, it was between 143 and 113 marks.
Ques. What NEET score is needed for MBBS?
Ans. Generally, a NEET score of 600-720 is required for admission to top government colleges in the general category.
- For OBC/SC/ST candidates, the required score ranges from 480 to 600.