NEET Eligibility 2026, Qualification, Marks, Age Limit, Attempts

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has created particular NEET Eligibility 2026 requirements for candidates seeking to take the NEET exam. Candidates must check the following criteria before completing the registration form:  Nationality Criteria, Academic Criteria, Age limit, Number of Attempts, and Qualification Exam. Interested students should consult the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria from this page for further information on admission requirements, qualifying standards, age limits, and other important guidelines.

NEET Eligibility 2026

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has released the NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 and qualifying requirements for aspiring medical students. To facilitate a smooth NEET application procedure, prospective applicants should familiarise themselves with these requirements, which can be found in the official NEET information brochure at exams.nta.ac.in/NEET/. Failure to meet any of these requirements will result in disqualification from the entrance exam.

Highlights of NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria

The first step is to grasp the NEET UG qualifying requirements, which we've provided in detail right in this table below:

NEET 2026 Education Qualification: Required Subjects in 10+2

Candidates must pass the 10+2 or equivalent exam with individual passing grades in some mandatory subjects like Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.

Students from all categories who pass Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects are eligible to take the NEET 2026 exam. These subjects are the foundation of the NEET syllabus and will decide your eligibility.

No, maths is not required for the NEET exam for any category. Only Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/ Biotechnology are required subjects. Even if a student studied Maths as a supplementary course, it has no bearing on NEET eligibility as long as PCB subjects are completed.

NEET UG Required Qualifying Marks

A thorough understanding of the NEET qualifying marks in Class 12 is essential for medical students. We've broken down the eligibility requirements into categories so you can readily see the criteria that apply to your specific category.

NEET 2026 Age Limits

Age limit is a significant factor in NEET 2026 eligibility. Students must reach the requisite age by the conclusion of the examination year. Students must be 17 years old on or before December 31, 2026, to be eligible.

NEET has no upper age limit, according to the NMC's 2022 update. Candidates of any age can take the NEET provided they meet the educational prerequisites.

There is no upper age limit for OBC, SC, ST, and Girls also; hence, category-based age relaxations are no longer available. Earlier guidelines mentioned relaxations, but the NMC scrapped the age limit to encourage all candidates to pursue medical jobs.

This means that if you are older than 25, you can still take the NEET exam. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has lifted the age limit, allowing all students an equal chance to become doctors.

Proof of Date of Birth (DOB) that Accepted DOB documents are:

• Class 10th mark sheet
• Aadhaar card
• Birth certificate
• Passport

Also Download the NEET Previous Year Question Papers

NEET 2026 Eligibility for NRIs/ OCI/Foreign Students

Foreign nationals, OCIs, and NRIs may also apply for NEET 2026 if they match the NEET Eligibility 2026 and qualification requirements.

NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria for NRIs, OCIs, and Foreign Students.

NEET 2026 Total Attempts

According to the National Testing Agency (NTA), the governing body for NEET tests, there is no limit on the number of attempts. This is consistent with the statement on the official NEET website, which specifically states, "There is no cap on the number of attempts."

Furthermore, CBSE has signed the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare's letter number U.12023/16/2010-ME-II, dated December 6, 2017, which confirms that the prior limit on the number of attempts is no longer applicable. In simplest terms, the CBSE's previously mentioned three-attempt rule is no longer in place. Check the change in attempts over the years:

Validity of NEET Scores 2026

The NEET score you will earn in 2026 is only valid for one year. This allows individuals who pass the NEET 2026 examination to apply for undergraduate medical and dentistry programs in the academic year 2026-2027.

• It is essential to note that, although the NEET score remains valid for this period, it does not guarantee admission to a specific institution or course.
• To gain admission, students must actively participate in the NEET 2026 counselling process and meet the particular qualifying requirements established by each institution and university.