The National Testing Agency has released the NEET 2026 eligibility criteria along with the official notification. Applicants looking for admission to medical courses are advised to refer to the eligibility criteria before filling tout he application form. The eligibility conditions comprises age limit and the educational qualification required to appear in the NEET 2026 exam. As per the NEET eligibility criteria, the lower age limit to apply for the exam is 17 years as on or before 31st December 2026. All candidates should ensure they qualify for all the requirements as mentioned in the NEET eligibility criteria. Any applicant who fails to fulfill the eligibility criteria at any stage of the selection process will be disqualified from the admission process. Applicants claiming for the reservation as per the rules need to produce the required documents to prove their eligibility. For more details, candidates can refer to the article provided below. 

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NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Overview

The NEET UG exam is conducted to shortlist candidates for various UG programs in medical sciences. Various courses are offered in several colleges across the country. Most government colleges, including the AIIMS, accept the NEET score of the candidates for admission. The NEET 2026 eligibility criteria list many pointers. Check key highlights below. 

NEET Age Limit 2026

NTA has mentioned the age limit for the NEET exam 2026 in the official notification. The minimum age limit to apply for the NEET 2026 exam is 17 years. There is no upper age limit to fill out the application form. Indian Citizens/Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) looking to pursue Undergraduate Medical Courses in a foreign Medical/ Dental Institute also need to qualify for NEET (UG). For more details, candidates can refer to the table below.

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NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 - Educational Qualifications

The NEET Exam Eligibility Criteria lists the minimum educational qualification required. The certificates of the qualifying examination will have to be submitted during the verification procedure to prove the same. The educational qualification listed as per the eligibility criteria is detailed below.

Number of Attempts For NEET Exam

There are no specific limits on the number of attempts that are provided to a candidate. A candidate can appear for the exam as long as they qualify for all other requirements listed in the NEET Eligibility Criteria.

NEET 2026 Tie Breaking Criteria

In cases where two or more candidates secure the same score in NEET 2026, a tie-breaking process is used to determine their ranking. NEET 2026 Tie Breaking Criteria Explained - priority will be given to candidates with higher marks in Biology, followed by Chemistry. If the tie persists, the student with fewer incorrect answers across all subjects is ranked higher. If a tie still exists, preference is given to the older candidate. The complete tie-breaking rule for NEET 2026 is explained below. 

• Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by, 
• Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Chemistry in the Test, followed by, Candidate obtaining higher marks/percentile score in Physics in the Test, followed by, 
• Candidate with less proportion of the number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in all the subjects in the Test,
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Biology (Botany & Zoology) in the Test, followed by 
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Chemistry in the Test, followed by 
• Candidate with less proportion of number of attempted incorrect answers and correct answers in Physics in the Test, followed by 
• In case, a-g criteria are exhausted, and the tie still persists, it will be resolved through a random process with the guidance of an independent expert committee.

Minimum Marks Required in Class 12th for NEET 2026 Exam

The candidates are required to have a minimum of the provided aggregate marks. The aggregate marks required for UG courses are listed below.

NEET 2026 Nationality

The NEET Eligibility Criteria lists the nationality requirements for the exam. Both Indian nationals and foreign nationals can appear for the NEET exam. The Indian nationals should qualify for all the requirements provided in the eligibility criteria.

Get the List of NEET Best Books for Preparation here. 

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Foreign/NRI Students

The foreign nationals are eligible for the NEET UG examination in both Medical/ Dental Colleges. Applicants should qualify all the requirements and follow all the rules and regulations framed by the respective State Governments, Institutions, and the Government of India. 

• The NRI and OCI Candidates should upload a certificate from the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence in support of the claim as an NRI/ OCI Candidate, along with their online application form for the NEET 2026 exam.
• They should produce the original certificate from the concerned Indian Diplomatic Mission in the country of their residence during the counselling process for verification.
• Foreign applicants should upload documentary proof in support of their nationality along with the NEET Application form 2026.

NEET 2026 Qualifying Code

Candidates belonging to the general category will be required to obtain a minimum of 50% marks in their 12th-grade board exams to apply for NEET UG 2026. While filling the application form, candidates must fill the correct qualification code for NEET according to their qualification in the form provided. To learn about the exam mode, syllabus, and qualification codes of NEET UG 2026, follow the table provided below:

NEET Eligibility for Admission to All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi

The All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, is the top institute in India serving various Medical Courses. The Institute had a different entrance examination. But now, it has been merged with NEET. Therefore, the topmost participating institute in the NEET examination is AIIMS. The eligibility criteria for AIIMS are the same as the NEET Eligibility Criteria. Candidates can check the same for the eligibility criteria listed for AIIMS. Anyways, the NEET examination's cut-off marks required for the institute will be different from those of other institutes. The cut-off marks required to get admission to AIIMS are as follows.

NEET 2026 Reservation

As per the Government of India rules certain seats are reserved for certain category students. The reserved categories are also offered relaxation in marks for the qualifying examination. The reservation provided for each course is as follows.

NEET UG Reservation

The 15% of seats in NEET are expected to be reserved for the All India Quota, and the rest goes for the State Quota seats. The reservation criteria for the State Quota Seats are as per the rules and regulations of the concerned state government. The reservation for the All India Quota Seats is as follows.

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