Overview
NEET UG is India's single, mandatory entrance test for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and several other undergraduate medical and allied health courses across government and private institutions nationwide, including AIIMS and JIPMER. Conducted by the National Testing Agency, it typically draws over 22–24 lakh applicants competing for roughly 1.1 lakh MBBS seats, making it one of the most competitive entrance exams in the country by sheer applicant volume. The 2026 cycle was notably disrupted — the original 3 May 2026 exam was cancelled by NTA following reports of a paper leak and exam irregularities, with a CBI investigation ordered, and a Re-NEET UG 2026 was subsequently conducted offline on 21 June 2026 using the same original applications, with no fresh registration required.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- The original NEET UG 2026 exam (3 May 2026) was cancelled by NTA following paper-leak reports, with a CBI investigation ordered; Re-NEET UG 2026 was held offline on 21 June 2026 using existing applications.
- Exam pattern reverted to the pre-COVID format per the official notification dated 25 January 2025 — 180 compulsory questions within 180 minutes, removing the optional-question (Section A/B choice) format used in recent prior cycles.
- Total marks: 720 (180 questions × 4 marks), with +4 for a correct answer and −1 for an incorrect answer.
- Question paper is available in 13 regional languages plus English, with candidates selecting their preferred medium at the time of application.
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Minimum 17 years as on the year of admission; no upper age limit currently specified (always verify against the current notification) |
| Educational Qualification | Passed Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English as core subjects, with a minimum 50% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Biology combined (40% for SC/ST/OBC-NCL categories) |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals, NRIs, PIOs, OCIs and Foreign Nationals are eligible, subject to seat-category-specific rules |
| Application Fee | As specified in the current NTA notification (category-dependent, typically in the ₹1,000–₹1,700 range) |
NEET UG Exam Pattern
The NEET UG selection process runs through single offline test. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
NEET UG (Single Paper)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 180 |
| Botany | 45 | 180 |
| Zoology | 45 | 180 |
NEET UG Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise NEET UG syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
Physics
The most calculation-heavy of the three subjects — consistent numerical problem-solving practice matters more than pure formula memorisation.
- Mechanics — laws of motion, work, energy & power, gravitation, rotational motion
- Thermodynamics & kinetic theory of gases
- Oscillations & waves
- Electrostatics, current electricity, magnetic effects of current & magnetism
- Electromagnetic induction & alternating current
- Optics — ray optics and wave optics
- Dual nature of matter & radiation, atoms & nuclei
- Electronic devices & semiconductors
Chemistry — Physical
Rewards conceptual clarity and practice over memorisation — master the underlying principles rather than just formulas.
- Basic concepts & stoichiometry
- States of matter, thermodynamics
- Equilibrium
- Electrochemistry
- Chemical kinetics
- Solutions
Chemistry — Organic
Reaction mechanisms and application-based thinking are tested more than rote recall — practice reasoning through reactions.
- Basic principles & techniques
- Hydrocarbons
- Organic compounds containing halogens, oxygen & nitrogen
- Biomolecules & polymers
- Chemistry in everyday life
Chemistry — Inorganic
Demands strong memory and line-by-line NCERT familiarity — this is the most 'directly testable' part of Chemistry.
- Classification of elements & periodicity
- Chemical bonding & molecular structure
- p-block, d- and f-block elements
- Coordination compounds
- General principles of isolation of elements
Botany
Detail-heavy and NCERT-line-specific — precise, careful reading of the textbook pays off more than external reference material.
- Diversity in living world
- Plant morphology, anatomy & physiology
- Cell structure & function
- Genetics & evolution
- Reproduction in plants
- Ecology & environment
Zoology
Human physiology carries particularly heavy weightage — prioritise this sub-area within your Zoology revision.
- Animal kingdom classification
- Human physiology — digestion, respiration, circulation, excretion, control & coordination
- Human reproduction & reproductive health
- Genetics & evolution
- Biotechnology & its applications
- Biology in human welfare
Selection Process
- Single offline NEET UG examination.
- All-India Rank based on NEET UG score.
- Counselling — 15% All India Quota seats via MCC, remaining seats via respective state counselling authorities.
- Seat allotment based on rank, category, reservation and choice-filling during counselling rounds.
Salary & Job Profile
NEET UG itself carries no salary since it's an entrance exam, not a job. It determines admission into MBBS/BDS/AYUSH programmes, after which medical career earnings vary widely by specialisation, practice setting (government/private) and years of experience post-qualification.
Best Books for NEET UG Preparation
- NCERT Physics, Chemistry & Biology textbooks (Class 11 & 12) — the primary and most heavily-weighted source
- NEET Objective Biology — Dinesh/Trueman Publications
- NEET Physics & Chemistry MCQ practice — MTG/Arihant Publications
- NEET Previous Year Solved Papers — various publishers
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
NEET UG's general-category qualifying percentile is the 50th percentile, but actual government MBBS seat cut-offs are far higher — top government medical colleges typically admit candidates scoring 620+ out of 720 in recent cycles, though the exact figure depends on that year's paper difficulty and seat availability. Always check the official NTA/MCC cut-off release for the specific year and category.
Preparation Tips
- Base at least 80% of your preparation directly on NCERT textbooks — the vast majority of NEET questions are sourced from or closely mirror NCERT content, especially in Biology.
- Biology carries the single largest weightage (360 of 720 marks) — prioritise mastering Botany and Zoology thoroughly before deep-diving into peripheral Physics/Chemistry topics.
- Since there's no longer a choice/optional-question format, practise completing all 180 questions within the time limit, rather than strategic skipping.
- Revise high-weightage chapters (identified from previous years' papers) with extra depth, while maintaining broad coverage across the full syllabus.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Carry the Document Checker, a valid original photo ID, and a passport-size photograph as specified in the admit card.
- Report to the centre by 1:00 PM as instructed; candidates cannot leave the exam hall before 5:00 PM once the exam begins.
- Only a black/blue ballpoint pen is permitted for marking the OMR sheet — check the admit card for any additional permitted items.
- No electronic devices of any kind are allowed inside the exam hall, including smartwatches and calculators.
Frequently Asked Questions
The original exam scheduled for 3 May 2026 was cancelled by NTA following reports of a paper leak and exam irregularities, with a CBI investigation ordered; a Re-NEET UG 2026 was subsequently conducted offline on 21 June 2026 using the same original applications, with no fresh registration required.
Yes, per the official notification dated 25 January 2025, the pattern reverted to the pre-COVID format of 180 compulsory questions within 180 minutes, removing the optional-question (Section A/B choice) format used in some recent prior cycles.
Yes, 1 mark is deducted for every incorrect answer, while a correct answer earns 4 marks and an unattempted question earns 0.
There is currently no cap on the number of attempts for general category candidates, though age and qualification requirements still apply — always verify against the latest NTA notification for any policy updates.
Biology (Botany and Zoology combined) contributes 90 of the 180 questions and 360 of the 720 marks, making it the single highest-weightage and most scoring section.
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official National Testing Agency notification as of 16 Jul 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at neet.nta.nic.in before applying.