NEET UG 2026 Counselling FAQs

Since 2019, the National Testing Agency NTA has been conducting the NEET (UG) exam with approval from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and the Ministry of Education, following the directions of the Supreme Court of India.

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET UG) 2026 is expected to be conducted on 3 May 2026 (Sunday) from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (IST). The result is expected to be announced in June 2026, typically within 4–6 weeks after the examination.

The Examination was conducted in 13 languages (Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, Punjabi, Tamil, Telugu, and Urdu).

The examination was conducted in 500+cities including 14 cities outside India, like Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Bangkok, Colombo, Doha, Kathmandu, Kuala Lumpur, Kuwait City, Lagos, Manama, Muscat, Riyadh, Sharjah, and Singapore.

The NEET (UG) 2026 results may also be used by various Central and State Government bodies for admissions, based on their own rules and eligibility criteria.
In addition to medical courses, NEET scores will be used for admission to B.Sc. (H) Nursing programs and for BVSc & AH courses under the 15% quota set by the Veterinary Council of India (VCI) in approved veterinary colleges.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) is responsible for conducting the NEET (UG) 2026 exam and declaring the results based on the eligibility criteria provided by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Candidates submit their category information as per the national category list, and the results are prepared accordingly.
NTA provides each candidate with an All India Rank (AIR). Based on this rank, various admitting authorities, such as state governments and institutions, will prepare their own merit lists for MBBS, BDS, and other related courses.
When applying for state counselling, candidates must select their category according to the respective state category list. State counselling authorities will then create merit lists based on both the AIR and state-specific rules, including domicile requirements.

In NEET (UG) 2025, over 24 lakh candidates registered for the examination, with more than 23 lakh candidates appearing. The majority of applicants were Indian nationals, and female candidates constituted a significant share of total registrations. Category-wise, OBC candidates formed the largest group, followed by the Unreserved category. NEET UG 2025 continued to be the largest medical entrance examination in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA) across hundreds of cities in India and abroad.

No, there was a decrease of approximately 4–5% in NEET (UG) 2025 registrations compared to 2024. In NEET 2024, around 24.06 lakh candidates registered, while in NEET 2025, registrations dropped to approximately 22.7–23 lakh. This reflects a decline of about 4–5% year-on-year.

A total of 12,36,531 candidates qualified for the NEET (UG) 2025 examination. Out of approximately 22.76 lakh registered candidates and 22.09 lakh candidates who appeared, over 12.3 lakh candidates met the qualifying cutoff set by the National Testing Agency (NTA).

For the smooth and secure conduct of NEET (UG) 2025, multiple examination functionaries were deployed across all centres. These included city coordinators, centre superintendents, observers, deputy observers, and invigilators, along with officials from the National Testing Agency (NTA) and members of the District Level Coordination Committee (DLCC). A central control room was also established to monitor the examination process nationwide. Only authorised personnel were permitted inside the examination centres to ensure transparency, discipline, and the proper conduct of the exam.

Yes, the NEET (UG) 2026 syllabus has been released, but there are no major changes. It remains based on the NCERT Class 11 and 12 curriculum, with only minor updates.

Yes, candidates were allowed to challenge the provisional answer key of NEET (UG) 2026. They could raise objections within a limited time window by submitting valid proof and paying a non-refundable fee per question. All challenges were reviewed by subject experts, and the final answer key was released after considering valid objections.

Yes, candidates were allowed to view their OMR answer sheets. The National Testing Agency (NTA) releases scanned images of the OMR sheets along with the provisional answer key, allowing candidates to review their responses and raise objections, if any, within the specified time period.

The loss of examination time was ascertained and such candidates
were compensated with marks based on their answering efficiency and time lost, as per the mechanism/ formula established by the Hon’ble Apex Court, vide its judgment dated 13.06.2018 in W.P. 551 of 2018. 1563 candidates were compensated for the loss of time.

YES, every room has a CCTV camera installed. They are used for monitoring throughout the test as well as for post-examination video evaluation to look for malpractice and cheating. Candidates found engaging in malpractice, even after the exam, are subject to punitive action.

To prevent cheating, CCTV cameras were installed in all examination halls. Biometric verification was done for the candidates. Conducted thorough frisking at entry points. Used the latest jammers to block electronic communication devices.

If two or more candidates have the same NEET (UG) 2026 score, their ranks will be decided by:
– Higher Biology marks
– Higher Chemistry marks
– Higher Physics marks
– Fewer wrong answers overall
– Fewer wrong answers in Biology
– Fewer wrong answers in Chemistry
– Fewer wrong answers in Physics
– Lower application number
The same rules applied for NEET (UG) 2025.

NTA used many methods to keep the exam fair, such as checking candidates’ identities with biometrics, monitoring the exam with CCTV cameras, and having strict invigilators. After the exam, NTA carefully reviewed CCTV videos and checked the academic records of the top scorers in NEET (UG) 2026 to confirm their scores were authentic.

The NTA is actively engaged with all relevant stakeholders to gather detailed information and evidence related to the alleged malpractices. Any individuals or entities found involved in such activities will be subjected to strict disciplinary action as per law. NTA has registered cases against impersonators and some cases have been registered by the State Police.

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has become aware of instances where candidates are forging their NEET (UG) – 2025 scorecards and/or OMR answer sheets, claiming that NTA has released incorrect results. The NTA wants to clarify that any manipulation or tampering with the OMR answer sheet at any stage is strictly prohibited. As stated in the NEET (UG) information bulletin, tampering with the OMR answer sheet will result in the candidate being debarred from the examination for three years. Additionally, making fake claims by manipulating the responses in the OMR sheet, or tampering with it in any way whatsoever, either before or after the declaration of results, is a serious offence. The NTA ensures the accuracy and integrity of all scorecards and OMR answer sheets, and any official documents should only be downloaded from the official NTA website https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET/. Candidates are advised to refrain from any such malpractices. Strict action will be taken against those found guilty

The National Testing Agency (NTA) clarified that the claims made in the viral video regarding discrepancies in NEET (UG) scoring and the receipt of a torn OMR answer sheet are false and misleading. NTA stated that no torn OMR answer sheet was sent through any official communication, and the candidate’s original OMR sheet is intact and securely maintained. The agency further confirmed that the scores have been calculated accurately based on official records, and candidates are advised to rely only on information available on the official website.

Yes, a committee was formed following court directions to examine cases in which candidates lost time during the NEET (UG) 2025 exam. The committee reviewed individual complaints and recommended appropriate relief, including compensatory marks where applicable. However, it was not intended for all candidates and was handled on a case-by-case basis.

Candidates are advised to regularly visit NTA website(s) www.nta.ac.in and https://exams.nta.ac.in/NEET/ for the latest updates regarding the examination