The National Testing Agency (NTA) has officially cancelled the original NEET UG 2026 exam held on 3 May 2026 due to paper leak allegations. To ensure a fair and transparent process, a nationwide re-examination has been officially scheduled for 21 June 2026 (Sunday).
⚠️ IMPORTANT PUBLIC NOTICE: NEET UG 2026 CANCELLED & RE-EXAM SCHEDULED
NTA has cancelled the NEET UG 2026 exam that took place on May 3, 2026. A fresh Re-Exam will be held on 21 June 2026 (Sunday).
• No Re-Registration Needed: Already registered candidates are automatically eligible.
• City/Address Correction Window: Open from May 15 to May 21, 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) for updating address and city choices.
• Admit Cards: Fresh admit cards will be released by 14 June 2026.
⚡ Confirmed Re-Exam Date: NEET UG 2026 Re-exam will be held on 21 June 2026 (Sunday), from 2:00 PM – 5:15 PM IST. NTA has provided an additional 15 minutes of exam time compared to the original schedule.
Conducting Body
National Testing Agency (NTA)
Exam Name
NEET UG 2026 (Re-exam)
New Exam Date
21 June 2026 (Sunday)
Exam Time
2:00 PM – 5:15 PM IST
3 hrs 15 mins
Mode
Pen & Paper (Offline)
Total Marks
720 Marks
NEET UG 2026 — Important Dates
All official dates are sourced from the NTA Public Notice (08 Feb 2026), Extension Notice (08 March 2026), and Correction Notice (11 March 2026).
| Event | Date | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Online Application Opens | 8 February 2026 | Done |
| Application Deadline (Extended) | 11 March 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) | Done |
| Application Correction Window | 12 March – 14 March 2026 | Done |
| Original Admit Card Release | 15 April 2026 | Released |
| NEET UG 2026 Exam (Original) | 3 May 2026 (Sunday) | CANCELLED |
| Re-Exam City/Address Correction | 15 May – 21 May 2026 (up to 11:50 PM) | OPEN NOW |
| Re-Exam Admit Card Release | By 14 June 2026 | Upcoming |
| NEET UG 2026 Re-Exam | 21 June 2026 (Sunday) | Re-Exam Day |
| Result Declaration | ~Mid July 2026 | Upcoming |
| Counselling (MCC — AIQ) | ~Late July / August 2026 | Upcoming |
⚠️ Note: NEET 2026 original exam on May 3 was officially cancelled by NTA. The address/city correction window for the re-exam is open from 15 May to 21 May 2026. Keep visiting the official NTA website (neet.nta.nic.in) for updates.
Exam Day Schedule & Reporting Time
All candidates must follow the official reporting schedule strictly. Latecomers will NOT be allowed entry after the gate closing time.
| Activity | Time |
|---|---|
| Entry to Exam Centre Opens | 11:00 AM |
| Last Entry (Gate Closes) | 1:30 PM sharp |
| Instructions & OMR Sheet Distribution | 1:30 PM – 1:50 PM |
| Exam Starts | 2:00 PM |
| Exam Ends | 5:15 PM |
🚫 Important: Gate closes at 1:30 PM sharp. Candidates arriving after 1:30 PM will not be permitted to enter the exam hall under any circumstances.
✅ Tip: Reach your exam centre at least 1 hour before gate opening (i.e., by 10:00 AM) to avoid last-minute rush and complete frisking/verification without stress.
Mode of Examination & Duration
Mode of Examination
NEET UG 2026 is a Pen and Paper (Offline) based test. The exam is conducted in a single day and single shift across all exam centres. Candidates will use a ball-point pen to mark answers on an OMR (Optical Mark Recognition) sheet.
📝 OMR Sheet: Answers must be darkened on the OMR sheet using a blue or black ball-point pen only. Use of pencil, whitener, or correction fluid is strictly prohibited.
Duration of the Test
The total duration of the NEET UG 2026 re-exam is 3 hours 15 minutes (195 minutes) — from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM. NTA has provided 15 minutes of additional time for the re-examination compared to the original schedule.
Standard Duration
3 Hours 15 Mins (195 minutes)
2:00 PM – 5:15 PMPwBD Candidates
4 Hours 15 Mins (255 minutes)
+1 hour compensatory time⚠️ Candidates with benchmark disabilities (PwBD) who require a scribe are entitled to 1 hour of extra time as compensatory time, as per government guidelines.
Pattern of the Test
NEET UG 2026 consists of 180 questions from Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (Botany + Zoology). All questions are Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs) with 4 options and 1 correct answer. All 180 questions are compulsory — there is no internal choice or optional section.
| Subject | Total Questions | Questions to Attempt | Maximum Marks |
|---|---|---|---|
| Physics | 45 | 45 (All compulsory) | 180 |
| Chemistry | 45 | 45 (All compulsory) | 180 |
| Biology (Botany + Zoology) | 90 | 90 (All compulsory) | 360 |
| Total | 180 | 180 | 720 |
📌 Note: Unlike 2021–2023 pattern (200 questions, attempt 180), the current pattern has exactly 180 questions — all compulsory. There is no optional Section B with internal choices. This pattern has been in place since 2024 and continues for 2026.
Marking Scheme
NEET UG 2026 follows a +4 / −1 marking scheme. There is no negative marking for unanswered questions.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer
Unanswered / Skipped
⚠️ Multiple answers marked for a single question will be treated as a wrong answer and will attract a penalty of −1 mark. Mark only ONE answer per question.
Score Calculation
Total Score = (No. of correct answers × 4) − (No. of wrong answers × 1)
Maximum possible score: 720 | Minimum possible score: −180 (if all wrong)
Medium of Question Paper
NEET UG 2026 question papers will be available in 13 languages. Candidates must select their preferred medium at the time of application — this cannot be changed later.
📌 Bilingual Paper: Candidates who opt for any regional language will receive a bilingual question paper — in their chosen language AND in English. In case of any discrepancy between the two versions, the English version will be treated as final.
⚠️ The choice of medium made at the time of application is final and cannot be changed in any subsequent stage, including the correction window.
Application Fee
The application fee varies by category. Payment is accepted online only — through debit card, credit card, or net banking.
| Category | Application Fee |
|---|---|
| General (UR) | ₹1,700 |
| General-EWS / OBC-NCL | ₹1,600 |
| SC / ST / PwBD | ₹1,000 |
| Candidates from Outside India | ₹9,500 |
⚠️ Application fee once submitted is non-refundable under any circumstances. Ensure all details are correct before payment.
Key Eligibility Criteria
Minimum Age
17 years by 31 December 2026
Upper Age Limit
No upper age limit
As per Supreme Court orderMinimum Qualification
Class 12 passed / appearing
Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotech, EnglishMinimum Marks (PCB)
50% — General | 40% — SC/ST/OBC | 45% — PwBD
Attempt Limit
No limit on number of attempts
Nationality
Indian / NRI / OCI / PIO / Foreign nationals
📌 Syllabus: No change in NEET UG 2026 syllabus. NMC has confirmed that the revised syllabus introduced in 2024 remains unchanged for 2026. Refer to the NEET UG 2026 Syllabus page for the complete chapter-wise list.
Key Takeaways for NEET UG 2026
🔴 Original May 3 Exam Cancelled — The original exam stands cancelled by NTA due to a paper leak.
✅ Re-Exam on 21 June 2026 — Mark the new date. Your revision and preparation timeline should target this date. Utilize the extra weeks to reinforce key topics.
📊 All 180 Questions Compulsory — There is no optional section. You must attempt all 180 questions or face 0 / −1 on unanswered / wrong ones. Time management (1 min/question) is critical.
⚠️ Negative Marking — Every wrong answer costs −1. Do not guess blindly. If you can eliminate 2 options, attempt; otherwise skip.
🚫 Reach by 10:00 AM — Gate closes at 1:30 PM. Late entry is not allowed. Carry your admit card, one valid photo ID, and two passport-size photographs.