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    NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 (Out): Age Limit, Qualifying Marks, Qualification

    NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 (Out): Age Limit, Qualifying Marks, Qualification

    Shamshad Ali DarUpdated on 08 Feb 2026, 02:04 PM IST

    The NEET eligibility criteria 2026 is determined by the National Testing Agency. The NEET 2026 eligibility criteria guidelines include age limit, educational qualification, marks percentage and Class 12 subjects. To appear in NEET 2026, candidates must check the eligibility criteria to ensure a smooth process in the entrance exam.

    NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 (Out): Age Limit, Qualifying Marks, Qualification
    NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026: Age Limit, Qualifying Marks, Qualification

    The NEET eligibility criteria is the first step that each candidate must follow in order to appear in the NEET UG entrance exam. Candidates who meet the eligibility criteria can complete the NEET 2026 registration. Understanding the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria will help students about the essential guidelines and factors, planning to pursue medicine in India. Read the article to know more about the NEET eligibility criteria and other details.

    NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria: Highlights

    The NTA releases the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria rules in the information bulletin. Candidates can check the overview of NEET UG 2026 eligibility criteria in the table below.

    NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026

    Particulars

    Details

    Nationality

    • Indian Nationals

    • Foreign Nationals

    • NRI

    • PIO

    • OCI

    Age limit

    A candidate must be 17 years of age at the time of admission as of December 31, 2026. There is no upper age limit.

    Educational qualification

    Medical aspirants must have passed 10+2 or its equivalent with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English from a recognised board.

    Qualifying marks

    • General - 50%,

    • OBC/SC/ST - 40%,

    • PWD - 40%

    NEET 2026 Eligibility Criteria Requirement

    The NEET 2026 eligibility criteria is essential and the first step for candidates wishing to appear in the entrance test. The eligibility guidelines allow candidates to fill the NEET 2026 application form and fulfill all the required requirements for NEET UG 2026. The detailed eligibility criteria guidelines of NEET 2026 can be checked here.

    Nationality

    • Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), and foreign nationals are eligible to appear in the NEET exam.

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    NEET 2026 Age Limit

    The age limit of NEET UG 2026 is categorized into minimum age and maximum age.

    • Minimum age for NEET 2026: Like previous years, candidates must be 17 years old at the time of admission as of December 31, 2026. Failing to meet the required age limit will result in disqualification.

    • Maximum age limit: As per NMC guidelines, there is no upper age limit in NEET UG 2026. Candidates who have completed the required minimum age limit can apply for the test. The removal of the upper age cap in NEET gives a fair chance, allow candidates of any age to pursue a career in medicine in India.

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    Educational Qualification in NEET 2026

    • Candidates must have passed Class 12 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects from a recognised board.

    • Students who have passed Class 12 from open schools, or as private candidates in the required subjects as specified above are also eligible.

    Qualifying marks required for NEET 2026

    • The minimum pass percentage required for NEET in the last qualifying exam for unreserved candidates is 50%.

    • Candidates belonging to reserved category such as OBC/SC/ST and PwD must have at least 40% marks in Class 12.

    NEET 2026 Attempt LImit

    • The NEET attempt limit is set by the NTA. Candidates who fulfil the NEET eligibility criteria can appear as many times as they want.

    There is no restriction on the number of NEET attempts.

    Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

    Q: Who is eligible for NEET 2026?
    A:

    Candidates who complete 17 years of age at the time of admission as of December 31, 2026 are eligible for NEET 2026.

    Q: What is the 75% criteria for NEET 2026?
    A:

    There is no 75% criteria for NEET 2026. Candidates from general category must have at least 50% pass percentage (40% for reserved category) in Class 12.

    Q: How much percentage is required for NEET in 2026?
    A:

    The category-wise pass percentage required for NEET in Class 12 is: General - 50%, OBC/SC/ST - 40%, and PWD - 40%.

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    Questions related to NEET

    On Question asked by student community

    Have a question related to NEET ?

    Hi! As per the NEET eligibility criteria , you must be 17 years of age as on December 31 of the year of admission. As you will complete the age criteria, you can definitely appear for NEET 2027. Do check the other eligibility criteria and apply for the NEET 2027

    Hi Vishwajeet Nagare,

    To get the best marks in the NEET 2026 exam, you need to be perfect in the fundamentals, basics, syllabus topics. However you can still have time to score good marks. Follow the below link to reach high rank in NEET 2026.

    Link: https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/neet-preparation-tips

    Link: https://medicine.careers360.com/articles/tips-for-620-score-in-neet-2026-time-management-strategy-study-plan

    Link:

    The NEET qualifying cutoff for ST category was 143-113. For ST (PWD) , the cut off marks 2025 was 126-113. As you have not mentioned the closing rank for a particular college. Here, we have provided the college wise 2025 MBBS closing rank for ST category.

    Regards.

    With 400-500 score in NEET, securing MBBS admission at CMC Vellore is highly challenging for students. With such score, you can apply for allied health science courses offered by the institute.

    Regards,