NEET UG, the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, nursing and allied health degrees, had a cycle in 2026 unlike any before it. The exam of 3 May 2026 was cancelled after an alleged paper leak, NTA held it again on 21 June, and the Government said that from the next year NEET UG would be held entirely as a computer-based test. NTA had not announced NEET UG 2027 as of 14 November 2026. This guide covers what 2026 changed, the eligibility and the pattern, and how the seats are filled.
What happened in 2026
| Step | NEET UG 2026 |
|---|---|
| First exam | 3 May 2026, cancelled after an alleged paper leak |
| Re-exam announced | 15 May 2026, for 21 June; no fresh registration, a fresh choice of exam city |
| Re-exam | 21 June 2026, 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM, with 15 extra minutes |
| Centres | 5,440 centres in 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, in 13 languages |
| Result | 16 July 2026; 11.21 lakh candidates qualified |
| Counselling | MCC and State rounds through the second half of 2026 |
The State rounds were still finishing in November 2026, with special stray vacancy rounds in some States.
The move to a computer-based test
When the re-exam was announced in May 2026, the Government said that NEET UG would be held entirely as a computer-based test from the next year. That would end the pen-and-paper OMR format NEET UG has always used. The NEET UG 2027 information bulletin is where the mode, the pattern on screen and any change in timing will be confirmed, so treat any coaching claim about the new format with care until it is out.
NAAC A++
NIRF #2 (2025)Jawaharlal Nehru UniversityNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1969View details
NAAC A++
NIRF #4 (2025)Jamia Millia IslamiaNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1920 · 239 acresView details
NAAC A++
NIRF #5 (2025)University of DelhiNew Delhi, DelhiAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, JEE MainEst. 1922View details
NAAC A
NIRF #6 (2025)Banaras Hindu UniversityVaranasi, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1916 · 1300 acresView details
NAAC A+
NIRF #10 (2025)Aligarh Muslim UniversityAligarh, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, NET/JRF, NEET UGEst. 1920View details
NAAC A+
NIRF #18 (2025)University of HyderabadHyderabad, TelanganaAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1974 · 2000 acresView details
NAAC A++
NIRF #37 (2025)Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar UniversityLucknow, Uttar PradeshAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1996View details
NAAC A+
NIRF #77 (2025)Central University of PunjabBathinda, PunjabAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2009 · 500 acresView details
NAAC A+
NIRF #79 (2025)Tezpur UniversityTezpur, AssamAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 1994 · 262 acresView details
NAAC A
NIRF #82 (2025)Mizoram UniversityAizawl, MizoramAdmission: CUET UG, CUET PG, NET/JRFEst. 2000View detailsWho can sit NEET UG
- Class 12 or an equivalent with physics, chemistry, biology or biotechnology, and English.
- At least 50% marks in physics, chemistry and biology taken together for General candidates; 40% for SC, ST and OBC candidates; 45% for General PwBD candidates.
- An age of at least 17 years by 31 December of the year of admission. There is no upper age limit.
- Students appearing in Class 12 can sit the test.
The paper as held in 2026
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Biology (botany and zoology) | 90 | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 720 |
A right answer gets 4 marks and a wrong one loses 1. If the test moves to computers, the number of questions and the marking may stay or change; the 2027 bulletin will say.
Seats at Central Universities
The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) fills the All India Quota seats of government medical colleges and the seats of central institutions on the NEET UG rank. That includes the medical colleges of Central Universities, such as BHU’s Institute of Medical Sciences and AMU’s Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College. State quota seats are filled by each State’s own counselling. The NEET UG page of this site files the counselling notices with the steps of the exam.
What to do now
- Keep to the NCERT syllabus of Classes 11 and 12; NEET UG questions are built on it.
- Practise some full papers on a computer screen as well as on paper, so the mode does not matter on the day.
- Watch neet.nta.nic.in for the NEET UG 2027 bulletin, and use only NTA’s own websites for updates.
