NEET UG Eligibility Criteria is one of the most crucial aspects every medical aspirant must check before applying for the exam. NTA will publish the NEET eligibility criteria 2026 for medical aspirants on its official website, neet.nta.nic.in. The National Testing Agency (NTA) prescribes detailed eligibility guidelines covering age limit, nationality, academic qualifications, and subject requirements. Candidates who fail to meet these conditions may not be allowed to appear in the exam or their candidature may be cancelled during the admission process.
In this article, we will provide a complete overview of NEET UG Eligibility Criteria, including the minimum marks required, age relaxation for reserved categories, and the number of attempts allowed. Whether you are a first-time aspirant or reappearing for NEET, this guide will help you understand the requirements clearly so that you can apply without any confusion.
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NEET UG Eligibility Criteria
Students can check the NEET UG Eligibility Criteria 2026 mentioned below.
| Parameters | Details |
|---|---|
| Qualifying Exam for NEET 2026 | • Candidates must have passed 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects from a recognised board. • Class 12 appearing students are also eligible to apply. • Candidates who studied Biology as an additional subject after passing Class 12 are also eligible. |
| NEET Eligibility Marks 2026 | The minimum percentage required in Class 12 varies by category. Marks are calculated for PCB subjects only: • UR (General): 50% • OBC/SC/ST: 40% • PwD: 40% |
| Maximum Number of Attempts | • There is no restriction on the number of attempts for NEET 2026. Aspirants can apply as many times as they meet the age and qualification requirements. |
OCI Candidates Revised
NTA1 has released the NEET UG Eligibility Criteria for Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) Candidates.
| Modify | Revised |
| Existing Provision | The Ministry of Home Affairs vide Notification dated 4 March 2021 specified the rights to which an OCI cardholder shall be entitled under the Citizenship Act, 1955. Clause (4) (ii) of the Notification reads as under. (ii) appearing for the all-India entrance tests such as the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test and Joint Entrance Examination (Main). Joint Entrance Examination (advanced), or such other test to make them eligible for admission only against any Non- Resident Indian seat or any supernumerary seat: Provide that the OCI cardholder shall not be exclusively for Indian citizens.” “The OCI Cardholder (including a PIO card holder) is a foreign national holding passport of a foreign country and is not a citizen of India.” Similarly, the PIO cardholder and foreign nationals shall not be eligible for admission against any seat reserved exclusively for Indian citizens. Hence, OCI/PIO will be treated as foreigners and eligible for NRI seats only and not for Indian National seats, including paid seats of deemed universities. |
| Amended Provision | An Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) will be eligible for admission to the Undergraduate Medical/Dental/Ayurveda/Unani/Siddha/Homeopathy Courses in India subject to the rules/regulations/notifications issued from time to time by the respective regulatory bodies/ counselling Authorities /Admission Authorities in conformity with the policy Decision of Ministry of Health & Family Welfare (MoHFW) and/ or Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). |
Category-wise Age Limit
Accordingly, the lower age limit shall be as under:
| Category | Descriptions |
|---|---|
| For Candidates of General (UR)/General-EWS | born on or before 31.12.2009 |
| For Candidates of SC/ST/OBC-NCL/PwBD Category | born on or before 31.12.2009 |
Upper age limit: As per the latest NEET UG Eligibility Criteria update, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has removed the upper age limitation. There is no restriction on the candidates to attend maximum attempts for NEET UG 2026.
Criteria for NRI / OCI / Foreign Nationals
- 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 Governments 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) 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) shall also upload a Documentary.
- Proof (e.g. relevant pages of a valid passport or a Certificate from a Competent Authority in the country of their nationality regarding their citizenship status) in support of their Nationality, along with an online application form. The Embassy and Citizenship certificate entry proof of Citizenship is given in Annexures- XI Annexures XI V B.
- Foreign nationals may confirm their eligibility from the concerned Medical/Dental/
- College/State.
- Eligibility of OCI cardholders for NEET (UG): The Ministry of Home Affairs vide Notification dated 4th March 2021 specified the rights to which an OCI cardholder shall be entitled under the Citizenship Act, 1955.
Qualification Criteria (Brief Description)
- Qualifying Exam: Candidates must have passed the higher/senior secondary examination or ISCE, which is equivalent to the 10+2 examination Higher/Senior Secondary Examination after 12 years of study.
- Subjects: Candidates must pass the above qualifying examination with English in Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology & Mathematics or any other elective subjects.
- Appearing Candidates: Candidates who are in the 12th standard can also apply. They must show the passing certificates complying with the percentage criteria at the time of the first round of counselling.
- NIOS, State Open Schools, or private candidates are also eligible to apply for the NEET exam.
- Persons with locomotor disability of lower limbs must have secured a minimum of 45% marks for General-PH and 40% marks for SC-PH/ST-PH/OBC-PH in aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Biology/Biotechnology.
Minimum Marks/ Percentage Required
| Category | PCB aggregate marks in the qualifying examination |
| Unreserved | 50% |
| SC/ST/OBC/Reserved-PH | 40% |
| Unreserved- PH | 45% |
Eligibility Criteria for B.Sc. Nursing
The candidates who are desirous to be admitted into B.Sc.Nursing/B.Sc.(Hons.) Nursing may note the following criteria, as communicated by the Indian Nursing Council2 (INC).
| Particular | Description |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | The minimum age for admission shall be 17 years as of 31 December of the year admission is sought. |
| Minimum Education | (i) A candidate should have passed the subjects of PCB (Physics, Chemistry, and Biology) and English individually and must have obtained a minimum of 45% marks taken together in PCB at the qualifying examination (class 12); (ii) Candidates are also eligible for State Open Schools recognized by the State Government and the National Institute of Open Schools (NIOS) by the Central Government, having science subjects and English only. (iii). For a candidate belonging to SC/ST or Other Backward Classes (OBC), the marks obtained in PCB taken together in the qualifying examination are 40% instead of 45% as stated above. (iv). English is a compulsory subject in class 12 to be eligible for admission to B.Sc.Nursing/B.Sc.(Hons.) Nursing |
| Reservation Policy | For Divyangjan candidates, 3% Disability reservation to be considered with a disability of locomotor to the tune of 40% to 50% of the lower extremity and other eligibility criteria concerning age and qualification will be the same as prescribed for each Nursing program. |
Reservation Criteria
As the whole process of the NEET exam is over, an all-India Merit list will be prepared based on marks scored by a candidate. The National Testing Agency will provide AIR for the first time (All Indian Rank).
Category-wise seat reservation
| Category | Percentage of Reservation |
| OBC (Other Backward Classes) | 27% |
| Scheduled Caste (SC) | 15% |
| Scheduled Tribe (ST) | 7.5% |
| Physically Handicapped (PH) | 3% |
NEET Qualifying Examination Codes 2026
| Sl. No. | NEET Qualifying Codes |
|---|---|
| 1 | Code 01 |
| 2 | Code 02 |
| 3 | Code 03 |
| 4 | Code 04 |
| 5 | Code 05 |
| 6 | Code 06 |
| 7 | Code 07 |
Details for Qualifying Examination Codes for NEET UG 2026
| Code | Eligibility Description |
|---|---|
| Code 01 | Candidates appearing for their Class 12 board exam in 2026 and awaiting results. They must qualify Class 12 with the required subjects before admission, otherwise they will be ineligible. |
| Code 02 | Candidates who have passed/are appearing in Class 12 or its equivalent (e.g., CBSE/ICSE/state boards). The last two years must include Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and Mathematics or any elective subject with English as a core subject. Droppers also fall under this category. |
| Code 03 | Candidates who have completed Intermediate/Pre-degree Examination in Science from an Indian University/Board with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects. The course must include practical tests in science subjects. |
| Code 04 | Candidates who have completed a Pre-professional/Pre-medical Examination after Higher Secondary/Pre-University with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. The course must include practical tests. |
| Code 05 | Candidates studying a three-year degree course with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology/Biotechnology as major subjects and have passed the first year including practical tests. They must also have qualified 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English. |
| Code 06 | Candidates who have passed B.Sc. from an Indian recognized University with at least two subjects among Physics, Chemistry, Biology (Botany, Zoology)/Biotechnology. They must have also passed 10+2 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and English. |
| Code 07 | Candidates who have passed any equivalent qualifying examination from a foreign country with the last two years of study including Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English with practical tests. Such candidates must be considered equivalent to Indian 10+2. |
NEET UG Resources
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
What is the minimum age limit for NEET UG 2026?
Candidates must be at least 17 years old on or before December 31, 2026 to be eligible for NEET UG. There is no upper age limit for the exam.
Join NEET 2025 Group What are the required subjects in Class 12 for NEET UG eligibility?
Students must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects in Class 12 or equivalent examination.
Can open school students apply for NEET UG 2026?
Yes, candidates who have passed Class 12 from open schools or with Biology as an additional subject are now eligible for NEET UG.
How many attempts are allowed for NEET UG?
There is no restriction on the number of attempts. Candidates can appear for NEET UG as many times as they meet the age and qualification criteria.
Are foreign/NRI students eligible for NEET UG 2026?
Yes, foreign nationals, NRIs, and OCI candidates are eligible provided they have passed an equivalent 10+2 examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.
Which examination codes should I select while applying for NEET UG 2026?
Candidates must choose from Code 01 to Code 07 based on their qualifying examination (Class 12 appearing, Class 12 passed, B.Sc., foreign equivalent, etc.).
If I’ve done my 12th from NIOS board, then can i face any problem during counciling for government medical college..
I’m very confused about this matter,, that’s why I’m not able to focus on my studies as well,, so please clarify me about this matter, so that I’ll be able to prepare for neet exam without any fear of rejection in future during counciling…
12th from NIOS are eligible for NEET.
I don’t have 50th percentile in PCB , i will be eliglbe or not for BHMS course ? If I’ll score in neet examination then it is possible to get admission in BHMS ?
Very sorry to inform you but you are not eligible
I had 505 in neet can I get the mbbs seat
Yes, 505 is a good score.
I am expecting a NEET score of 200. Can I get admission to MBBS in self financing seat in Yenapoya Medical college or any other Medical college s in Karnataka. Iam an OBC candidate.
Not quite possible, but you can participate in Karnataka NEET counselling and see what happens, for more admission related query contact 919999703444
What is the cutoff of tilak ayurvedic college last year २०२२
Round 1 closing Rank 40790.
Hi, try to give various UGC medical curriculum events and schedules. Since the insitute students not to prepare dairy for their insitute with accredited institutes.
Is “75” required for NEET?
A. No, scoring 75% marks in your 12th examination is not compulsory. NEET eligibility marks in the 12th to be considered are aggregate marks only for PCB subjects:
For UR Category – 50%,
For OBC/SC/ST Category- 40%
For PWD Category – 45%
question Not have% and its for mark or eligible attendance % for undergo university exams
Reference
Hi,
I am able to see black board from higher secondary schools or the insitute saying that they are conducting the NET/JEE/UGC NET/UPSC etc.?!
Hi,
I seen a step to create and keep the carrier card data for the UH/OH course and training joined and completed students carrier card. But, it was not achieved full effort for the past students communication.
And I am not able to see the para medical training prospects where the insitute undergone train the students internal and external for the present academic year which will help the interested students good self.🙏
Hi
I am studying 9th grade here in the US , I’m planning to move back to India after completing 12th grade and to give NEET. When is the right time to start preparing for the exam? Any cut off mark for NRIs? Am I eligible for government quota seat? (I am an Indian citizen)
Thank you
The right time for preparation depends upon you, while you are eligible for Goverment Quota Seat but since you would be entering as NRI then the fees would be high as compared to other. Also, the Cutoff for NRIs in NEET Exam generally remains low as compared to other Quotas.
Can I got MBBS 350 score in neet
No, it’s difficult to get MBBS college
Can supplementary students attend for neet counciling in 2022
Yes, You have to clear the Class 12th supplementary.
Can I get admission in Alfalah medical collage Haryana Minority quota. My neet points are 214.
Dear, admission to this college is based on NEET Score and I do not think that this score will guarantee your admission into the college. Anything below 400 seems unpredictable.
my marks are 295 in sc category. can i get govt seat in state quota or AIQ?
Only you will get a seat through State qouta.
I have 170 marks in neet 2021 .I can get admission in bams course in any private college in only government fees.l am belong to OBC category.
Admission in government fees is not possible, but you will get private BAMS Colleges in India.
How much fee require in private bams colleges per year for OBC students
It varies from college to college but most of the case it would be something around 3-4 lakh per year.
is 288 marks enough for neet 2021 in rims mbbs [ obc catogery] ???????
No chance at this marks.
i passed pcmb with 88% form nios as i know nios and state open board student are also eligible for neet 2021 as honorable high court order. please research properly before posting something.
Actual all information is given in simple words.
hi
i may get 520 in neet 2020 can i get an admission in ESIC sanath nagar medical collage i belong to BC-B telangana?
Yes there is the chance you must try.
I got 425 Can I get MBBS or BDS
Yes, You can get admission at these marks but in private medical or dental colleges.
Hi,
I have born in Delhi, done my schooling from LKG to 10th class CBSE board from DELHI, and 11th &12th CBSE from Hyderabad. Present Residential address in Adhaar and voter id is Ghaziabad,UP.
Am I eligible to apply Delhi MBBS colleges as local and compete under 85%?
Please clarify which state I will be considered as local?
Hi,
I am 32 yrs with 93%(Biology & math group) 2005 passed out. I am very eager to pursue siddha medicine. Could someone please let me know if i am eligible to apply for the same?
Thanks in advance.
Hello Divya please contact Ayush admission counsellor at 09999703444
What will be my Neet examination qualifying code if I am a BA 1st year student
Candidates must pass the above qualifying examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology & Mathematics or any other elective subjects with English.