NEET UG 2026 Exam Concludes for 22.79 Lakh Candidates

Photo by Haseeb Modi on Unsplash

The National Testing Agency (NTA) completed the NEET UG 2026 exam on May 3, with 22.79 lakh candidates appearing across 551 cities in India. The offline pen-and-paper test ran from 2 pm to 5 pm in a single shift for admission to MBBS, BDS, and AYUSH courses.

Students described the overall exam as easy, though the Biology section was considered the most challenging compared to Physics and Chemistry.

Exam Logistics and Security Measures

To ensure smooth conduct, NTA deployed over 2 lakh personnel, including 6,000 observers and 674 city coordinators. Each exam center was equipped with power backup, drinking water, sanitation, and on-site medical support. Candidates were required to reach centers between 11 am and 1:30 pm, with no entry allowed after 1:30 pm.

Exam Format and Marking Scheme

The NEET UG 2026 question paper consisted of 200 multiple-choice questions, with candidates required to answer 180 within the 3-hour duration. The total marks for the exam were 720, with four marks awarded for each correct answer and one mark deducted for each incorrect response.

Answer Key and Result Process

NTA will release a provisional answer key for all question paper sets a few days after the exam, allowing candidates to raise objections. After reviewing feedback, the final answer key will be published and used to prepare the results.

Candidate Requirements and Dress Code

Candidates had to carry a printed copy of their NEET 2026 admit card along with a valid government-issued photo ID. Those with disabilities were required to bring a disability certificate. Electronic devices and accessories such as smartwatches, calculators, and earphones were prohibited inside exam halls.

The dress code mandated simple, light clothing without heavy prints or embroidery. Female candidates were advised to wear half-sleeve tops or kurtis without jewelry, while male candidates were instructed to wear plain half-sleeve shirts or T-shirts and avoid accessories.

Registration Trends

This year, 22,79,743 candidates registered for NEET UG 2026, including 13,32,928 females and 9,46,815 males. This figure is slightly lower than the approximately 24 lakh registrations recorded in 2025.