NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria - Complete Guide
Detailed eligibility criteria for NEET UG 2026 including age limit, educational qualification, qualifying exam codes, minimum marks requirement, nationality rules, and documents required. Make sure you meet all the criteria before applying.
Quick Summary - NEET 2026 Eligibility
| Criteria | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | Minimum 17 years as on Dec 31, 2026; No upper age limit |
| Educational Qualification | 10+2 or equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology & English |
| Minimum Marks (Class 12) | General: 50% in PCB | SC/ST/OBC/PwBD: 40% in PCB |
| Nationality | Indian Nationals, NRIs, OCIs, Foreign Nationals |
| Number of Attempts | No limit on number of attempts |
| Application Fee (Indian) | Rs 1,700 (Gen) / Rs 1,600 (EWS/OBC) / Rs 1,000 (SC/ST/PwBD) |
| Application Fee (Abroad) | Rs 9,500 |
Age Criteria for NEET 2026
Minimum Age
Candidates must be at least 17 years of age as on December 31, 2026. This means candidates born on or before 31.12.2009 are eligible to apply.
Maximum Age
There is no upper age limit for appearing in NEET 2026. The Supreme Court of India struck down the upper age limit in 2019, and this ruling continues to apply.
Date of Birth Proof
The date of birth as recorded in the Secondary Education Board/University certificate will be considered. Candidates must carry their Class 10 certificate as proof of date of birth.
Important: Born on or before 31.12.2009 means the candidate must complete 17 years of age by December 31, 2026. Candidates born on 01.01.2010 or later are NOT eligible for NEET 2026.
Qualifying Examination Codes for NEET 2026
During the NEET 2026 registration process, candidates are required to select a Qualifying Examination Code that matches their educational qualification. This code determines the basis of your eligibility. Select the correct code to avoid rejection of your application.
| Code | Qualification |
|---|---|
01 | Higher Secondary (10+2) Passed |
02 | Higher Secondary (10+2) Appearing |
03 | BSc / Equivalent Degree |
04 | Indian National Diploma |
05 | State Open School |
06 | NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) |
07 | Others Equivalent |
Candidates who have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination from a recognized Board/University with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as compulsory subjects.
Candidates who are appearing in 10+2 or equivalent examination in 2026. They must pass the exam before counselling to be eligible for admission.
Candidates who have completed a B.Sc. degree or equivalent with Biology/Biotechnology and Physics and Chemistry as subsidiary/ancillary subjects from a recognized Indian University.
Candidates who have completed an Indian National Diploma in any of the relevant science streams as recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Candidates who have passed the qualifying examination from any State Open School recognized as equivalent to 10+2 by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU).
Candidates who have passed 10+2 from the National Institute of Open Schooling with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as main subjects along with English.
Any other examination recognized as equivalent to 10+2 by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU). Candidates must ensure their qualification is recognized before applying.
Mandatory Subjects in Class 12
To be eligible for NEET 2026, candidates must have studied the following subjects as core/main subjects in their Class 12 or equivalent examination. These subjects must not be studied as additional or optional subjects.
Physics
Mandatory subject in Class 12. Must be studied as a core/main subject, not as an additional or optional subject.
Chemistry
Mandatory subject in Class 12. Must be studied as a core/main subject, not as an additional or optional subject.
Biology / Biotechnology
At least one of Biology or Biotechnology must be studied as a core subject. Both are accepted for NEET eligibility.
English
English must be one of the subjects in the qualifying examination (10+2). It is a compulsory subject for NEET eligibility.
Warning: Candidates who have studied Biology/Biotechnology as an additional or 6th subject (not as a main/core subject) are NOT eligible for NEET. Ensure that your Class 12 curriculum has these subjects as main subjects.
Minimum Qualifying Marks in Class 12
Apart from qualifying the NEET exam, candidates must also have scored the minimum required marks in their Class 12 examination in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology combined (PCB aggregate). This is a separate requirement from the NEET cutoff.
| Category | Minimum Marks in PCB |
|---|---|
| General / EWS | 50% aggregate in PCB |
| SC / ST | 40% aggregate in PCB |
| OBC-NCL | 40% aggregate in PCB |
| PwBD (Persons with Benchmark Disabilities) | 40% aggregate in PCB |
Nationality Criteria - NRI, OCI & Foreign Nationals
Indian Nationals
- Must be a citizen of India
- Must possess a valid Aadhaar Card
- Can apply for both government and private medical colleges
- Application fee: Rs 1,700 (General), Rs 1,600 (EWS/OBC-NCL), Rs 1,000 (SC/ST/PwBD)
NRI (Non-Resident Indians)
- Must be an Indian citizen residing abroad
- Must possess a valid Indian passport
- Eligible for NRI quota seats in medical colleges
- Application fee: Rs 9,500
- Must provide NRI-related documents during counselling
OCI (Overseas Citizen of India)
- Must hold a valid OCI card
- Must have a valid passport of the country of citizenship
- Eligible for admission as per the seats available under OCI quota
- Application fee: Rs 9,500
- Not eligible for government quota seats in most states
Foreign Nationals
- Must hold a valid passport of their country
- Eligible for NRI/Management quota seats
- Application fee: Rs 9,500
- Must provide eligibility certificate from their country
- May need to appear at international exam centres
Note for NRI/OCI/Foreign Nationals: The application fee for candidates opting for exam centres outside India is Rs 9,500. These candidates must carry a valid passport on the exam day. NRI/OCI candidates may be eligible for specific NRI quota seats in certain medical colleges based on state counselling rules.
Documents Required for NEET 2026
Candidates must keep the following documents ready for the NEET 2026 registration process, admit card download, and counselling. All documents should be scanned in the specified format and size as per the official guidelines.
Identity & Age Proof
Educational Documents
Category Certificates (if applicable)
Other Documents
Photo & Signature Specifications
Photograph Requirements
- •Recent passport-sized color photograph with white background
- •Face should cover 80% of the photograph
- •Name and date of the photograph should be printed on the bottom of the photo
- •File format: JPG/JPEG, File size: 10 KB to 200 KB
- •Photograph must be taken within the last 3 months
Signature Requirements
- •Signature on white paper with black or dark blue ink
- •File format: JPG/JPEG, File size: 4 KB to 30 KB
- •The signature must match the one used during the exam and counselling
- •Do not use capital letters or all-caps for signature
- •Thumb impression is required for left hand thumb
Who is NOT Eligible for NEET 2026?
Number of Attempts for NEET 2026
No Limit on Number of Attempts
As per the current rules, there is no restriction on the number of times a candidate can appear for NEET. Candidates can take the exam as many times as they wish, provided they meet the minimum age requirement (17 years as on December 31 of the exam year).
This is a significant advantage for aspirants who may not clear the exam in their first attempt. Previously, there was a limit of 3 attempts, but this restriction was removed by the Supreme Court in 2017. Candidates can improve their scores by appearing in subsequent years.
Frequently Asked Questions - NEET 2026 Eligibility
Q1. Is there any upper age limit for NEET 2026?
No, there is no upper age limit for NEET 2026. The Supreme Court of India removed the upper age limit restriction. Candidates of any age (above 17 years as on Dec 31, 2026) can appear for the exam.
Q2. Can I appear for NEET 2026 if I am in Class 12?
Yes, candidates who are currently appearing in Class 12 (2025-2026 academic session) are eligible to apply under Qualifying Exam Code 02. However, they must pass the exam with the required marks before the counselling process begins.
Q3. Is there a limit on the number of NEET attempts?
No, there is no limit on the number of attempts for NEET. Candidates can appear for NEET as many times as they wish, provided they meet the age and educational qualification criteria.
Q4. Can I take NEET if I studied Biotechnology instead of Biology?
Yes, candidates who have studied Biotechnology in place of Biology in Class 12 are eligible for NEET. Both Biology and Biotechnology are accepted as equivalent subjects.
Q5. Is Aadhaar card mandatory for NEET 2026 registration?
For Indian nationals, Aadhaar card is mandatory for registration. For candidates from Meghalaya, Assam, and Jammu & Kashmir, alternative ID proofs such as passport, ration card, bank passbook, or other government-issued IDs are accepted.
Q6. What if I score less than 50% in PCB in Class 12 but belong to General category?
General category candidates must score a minimum of 50% aggregate in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology in Class 12. If you score less than 50%, you will not be eligible for NEET, even if you qualify the entrance test. This minimum marks requirement is for admission eligibility, separate from the NEET qualifying percentile.
Q7. Can NIOS students appear for NEET 2026?
Yes, candidates who have completed or are completing their 10+2 from NIOS (National Institute of Open Schooling) are eligible for NEET 2026, provided they have Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as subjects. NIOS is listed under Qualifying Exam Code 06.
Q8. Are state open school candidates eligible for NEET?
Yes, candidates from State Open Schools are eligible for NEET under Qualifying Exam Code 05, provided the State Open School is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities (AIU) as equivalent to 10+2.