Blogs / Student's Corner / NEET 2026: Dates and Exam Pattern
Blogs / Student's Corner / NEET 2026: Dates and Exam Pattern
Primebook Team
15 Jan 2026
NEET 2026: Dates and Exam Pattern
Each year, NEET sees participation at a massive scale. In NEET-UG 2025, over 22 lakh undergraduate aspirants appeared for the exam, while NEET-PG 2025 recorded more than 2.3 lakh candidates competing for postgraduate medical seats.
With competition spread across both undergraduate and postgraduate levels, clarity around the exam calendar and paper structure becomes essential for managing preparation cycles alongside academic or clinical commitments.
While the official notification for NEET 2026 is yet to be released, the exam continues to follow a well-defined framework based on previous years. Following that, here we outline the key details related to NEET 2026 dates and exam pattern for both NEET-UG and NEET-PG.
NEET UG 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)
Below is the expected schedule for the NEET UG 2026 examination cycle, based on consistent patterns followed by the National Testing Agency (NTA) and credible education sources.
|
NEET UG 2026 Notification Release Date |
February 2026 |
|
NEET UG 2026 Registration Opening Date |
February 2026 |
|
Last Date to Submit Application |
March 2026 |
|
NEET UG 2026 Application Correction Window |
March 2026 |
|
City Intimation Slip Release Date |
April 2026 |
|
NEET UG 2026 Admit Card Release Date |
April 2026 |
|
NEET UG 2026 Exam Date |
First Sunday of May 2026 |
|
Provisional Answer Key Release Date |
May 2026 |
|
Final Answer Key Release Date |
May-June 2026 |
|
NEET UG 2026 Result Declaration Date |
June 2026 |
NEET PG 2026 Important Dates (Tentative)
Based on timelines followed by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) in previous cycles, here are the expected dates for NEET PG 2026.
|
NEET PG 2026 Notification Release Date |
February-March 2026 |
|
NEET PG 2026 Registration Opening Date |
March 2026 |
|
Last Date to Submit Application |
Late March / Early April 2026 |
|
NEET PG 2026 Application Correction Window |
April 2026 |
|
City Intimation Slip Release Date |
Mid July 2026 |
|
NEET PG 2026 Admit Card Release Date |
Last week of July 2026 |
|
NEET PG 2026 Exam Date |
Early August 2026 |
|
Provisional Answer Key Release Date |
Late August 2026 |
|
Final Answer Key Release Date |
Late August 2026 |
|
NEET PG 2026 Result Declaration Date |
Late August 2026 |
Also Read: Top Android Apps for NEET Preparation
NEET UG 2026 Exam Pattern
The NEET UG exam pattern has remained stable in recent years and is expected to follow the same structure for NEET UG 2026, unless officially revised by NTA.
|
Particulars |
Details |
|
Exam Level |
National |
|
Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
|
Mode of Exam |
Offline (Pen-and-Paper) based |
|
Medium of Exam |
13 languages (including English, Hindi, and other Indian regional languages) |
|
Exam Duration |
3 hours 20 minutes |
|
Type of Questions |
MCQs |
|
Total No. of Questions |
200 (180 to be attempted) |
|
Total Marks |
720 |
|
No. of Sections in the Paper |
3 (Physics, Chemistry, Biology) |
|
No. of Questions from Physics |
45 questions to attempt (out of 50) |
|
No. of Questions from Chemistry |
45 questions to attempt (out of 50) |
|
No. of Questions from Biology (Botany + Zoology) |
90 questions to attempt (out of 100) |
|
Marking Scheme |
+4 for every correct answer, −1 for an incorrect answer |
|
Section-Wise Structure |
Section A (35 compulsory questions) and Section B (Selective; to attempt any 10 out of 15 questions) |
|
Unattempted Questions |
No marks deducted |
Also Read: NEET UG Syllabus
NEET PG 2026 Exam Pattern
The NEET PG exam pattern is set by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and is expected to remain unchanged for 2026, unless officially notified otherwise.
|
Particular |
Details |
|
Exam Level |
National |
|
Exam Frequency |
Once a year |
|
Mode of Exam |
Computer-Based Test (CBT) |
|
Medium of Exam |
English Only |
|
Exam Duration |
3 hours 30 minutes |
|
Question Types |
MCQs |
|
Total No. of Questions |
200 (all compulsory) |
|
Total Marks |
800 |
|
Marking Scheme |
+4 for every correct answer |
|
Negative Marking |
Applicable, −1 for each incorrect answer
|
Subject-Wise Questions’ Breakdown |
Anatomy (17), Physiology (17), Biochemistry (16), Pathology (25), Pharmacology (20), Microbiology (20), Forensic Medicine (10), Social and Preventive Medicine (25), General Medicine including Dermatology & Psychiatry (45), General Surgery including Orthopaedics, Anaesthesia & Radiology (45), Obstetrics & Gynaecology (30), Paediatrics (10), ENT (10), Ophthalmology (10) |
Also Read: NEET Registration Process & Applicant Criteria
To sum up, NEET serves two distinct purposes across different stages of a medical career; undergraduate entry and postgraduate progression, each with its own structure and expectations. Looking at NEET UG and NEET PG together offers a clearer view of how the examination framework evolves, helping aspirants better contextualise where they stand within the larger medical education pathway.
For more information on other national-level competitive exams in India, follow Primebook’s Student’s Corner.
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