NEET 2026 registrations open: Check eligibility criteria for MBBS entrance

According to the official schedule, the online submission of the application form process started from O8 February 2026. Therefore, candidates who wish to apply for admission to MBBS, BDS, and other undergraduate courses in government and private medical colleges can apply until 9 PM on March 8. The exam will be held on 03rd May 2026 and the duration of the examination will be 18O minutes (03 hours from O2:OO PM to O5:OO PM (IST).

ELIGIBILITY TO APPEAR IN NEET (UG) – 2026

Eligibility for appearing in NEET (UG), as per the related Regulations of NMC and DCI are as follows-

As per the Graduate Medical Education Regulation-2023 (Amendment) dated 16.06.2023, the following amendment with respect to minimum age has been notified in GMER-2023, which mandates that-

i He/She has completed the age of 17 years as on or before 31st December of the year that the candidate shall be appearing for NEET-UG examination.

ii Accordingly, the lower age limit shall be as under-

iii Upper age limit: (As per Letter No. U-11022/2/2022-UGMEB, dated 09 March 2022 received from National Medical Commission (NMC), Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) regarding the upper age limit), there is no upper age limit. (As per Letter No. U-14023/19/NEET(UG Exam)/UGMEB dated 13.01.2026)

iv Indian Citizens/ Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) intending to pursue Undergraduate Medical Courses in a foreign Medical/ Dental Institute also need to qualify for NEET (UG).

CRITERIA FOR NRI / OCI / FOREIGN NATIONALS

i Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical /Dental Colleges subject to rules and regulations framed by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India, as the case may be. The NRI and OCI Applicants/Candidates have to upload a Certificate from the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence in support of their claim as an NRI/OCI Candidate, along with their online Application Form for NEET (UG) - 2026 and retain the original of such document for producing it at the time of Counselling / Admission to the Courses covered under NEET (UG). Similarly, a foreign applicant for NEET (UG) 2026 shall also upload Documentary Proof in support of his/her Nationality, along with the online Application Form. Foreign nationals may confirm their eligibility from the competent state authorities and counselling authorities, as the case may be.

ii Eligibility of OCI cardholders for NEET (UG)-

a Indian Nationals, Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Persons with Indian Origin and Foreign Nationals are eligible for admission in Medical/Dental/Ayurveda/Siddha/Unani/ Homoeopathy Colleges, subject to the rules and regulations framed by respective State Governments, Institutions and the Government of India, as the case may be.

b In compliance with the Hon’ble Supreme Court Order dated 03.02.2023 in WP No. 891 of 2021, OCI will be entitled to the rights and privileges which had been conferred on them earlier to the notification dated 04.03.2021.

QUALIFICATIONS AND QUALIFYING EXAMINATION CODES

To be eligible for NEET (UG) – 2026, candidates need to refer to the following table for qualifying examination criteria-

CODE: 01

A candidate who is appearing in the qualifying examination, whose 12th result is awaited, may apply and appear in the test, but he/she shall not be eligible for admission to the Undergraduate Medical Courses if he/she does not pass the qualifying examination at the time of the first round of Counselling.

Candidates who have undertaken the study of the requisite subjects, i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology, along with English, even as additional subjects after passing Class 12th from duly recognised boards by the concerned Govt. such candidates shall be permitted to appear in NEET-UG Test and resultantly also be eligible for the grant of Eligibility Certificate as per Public Notice dated 22.11.2023. However, their candidature will be considered only if they provide documentary evidence of having passed the qualifying Examination with the required subjects.

CODE: 02

The Higher/Senior Secondary Examination or the Indian School Certificate Examination which is equivalent to class 12 Higher/Senior Secondary Examination after a period of 12 years of study, the study of the requisite subjects i.e. Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology along with English even as additional subjects after passing Class 12th from duly recognized boards by the concerned Govt. (which shall include practical tests in these subjects) and Mathematics or any other elective subject with English at a level not less than the core course for English as prescribed by the National Council of Educational Research and Training after the introduction of the 10+2+3 educational structure as recommended by the National Committee on Education.

If the institute has to consider an examination of an Indian University or of a foreign/university to be equivalent to the Class 12 under intermediate science examination, the candidates shall have to produce a certificate from the concerned Indian University/Association of Indian Universities to the effect that the examination passed by him/her is considered to be equivalent to the class 12 under intermediate science examination.

CODE: 03

The Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in Science of an Indian University/Board or other recognised examining body with Physics, Chemistry, Biology /Biotechnology (which shall include a practical test in these subjects) and also English as a compulsory subject.

CODE: 04

The Pre-professional/Pre-medical Examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English after passing either the Higher Secondary Examination or the Pre-University or an equivalent examination. The Pre-professional/Pre-medical examination shall include practical tests in these subjects and also English as a compulsory subject.

CODE: 05

The first year of the three-year degree course of a recognised University with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology, including practical tests in these subjects, provided the examination is a University Examination and the candidate has passed the earlier qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/ Biotechnolog,y with English at a level not less than a core course.

CODE: 06

B.Sc. Examination of an Indian University provided that he/she has passed the B.Sc. Examination with not less than two of the subjects Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Biotechnology and further that he/ she has passed the earlier qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English.

CODE: 07

Any other examination which in scope and standard (Last 02 years of 10+2 Study comprising of Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology; which shall include practical test in these subjects) is found to be equivalent to the Intermediate Science Examination of an Indian University/Board, taking Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology including practical tests in each of these subjects and English.

SCHEDULE