NEET Exam Date 2026: Cut Off, Admit Card, Eligibility Criteria & 12th Marks Requirement

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is one of the most important medical entrance exams in India, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Lakhs of aspirants appear every year to secure admission into MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, and other medical courses across government and private institutions. If you are planning to appear for NEET 2026, it is crucial to stay updated with the exam date, admit card, eligibility criteria, cut-off trends, and 12th marks requirement.
📅 NEET Exam Date 2026
The official notification for NEET 2026 will be released by NTA in late 2025, along with the information brochure. Based on the previous year’s schedule, NEET 2026 is expected to be held in the first week of May 2026 in offline (pen-paper) mode.
- Application Form Release: December 2025 – January 2026
- Last Date to Apply: March 2026
- Admit Card Release: April 2026
- NEET 2026 Exam Date: May 2026 (tentative)
- Result Declaration: June 2026
🎫 NEET Admit Card 2026
The NEET 2026 admit card will be released in April 2026 on the official NTA website (neet.nta.nic.in). Candidates will need to log in with their application number, date of birth, and security pin to download it.
Details mentioned in the Admit Card:
- Candidate’s name & roll number
- Photograph & signature
- Exam date & time
- Exam centre details
- Instructions for the exam
👉 Without the admit card, no candidate will be allowed to enter the exam hall, so it must be carried along with a valid photo ID proof.
📊 NEET Cut Off 2026 (Expected)
The NEET cut-off is the minimum marks required to qualify for counselling and admissions. It varies every year depending on difficulty level, number of candidates, and available seats.
Expected NEET 2026 Cut Off (Percentile & Marks Range):
- General Category: 50th percentile (~720–138 marks)
- OBC/SC/ST: 40th percentile (~137–108 marks)
- General-PwD: 45th percentile (~137–122 marks)
👉 For admission to top government medical colleges, students generally need 600+ marks.
1. NEET 2026 Exam Date
Refers to the official schedule of the NEET UG exam in 2026, including application, admit card, and result dates. Students search this to plan their preparation timeline.
2. NEET 2026 Admit Card Download
This keyword helps aspirants find step-by-step details on how to download the NEET admit card from the NTA portal and the important instructions printed on it.
3. NEET 2026 Cut Off Marks
Represents the minimum qualifying marks candidates need to secure admission in medical colleges. Cut-off varies for General, OBC, SC, ST, and PwD categories.
4. NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026
Covers age limit, nationality, number of attempts, and academic qualifications that students must fulfill to be eligible for the NEET 2026 exam.
5. NEET 2026 12th Marks Requirement
Explains the subject-wise minimum marks in Physics, Chemistry, and Biology (PCB) that students need in their Class 12 board exams to qualify for NEET.
6. NEET 2026 Application Form
Includes information about registration dates, required documents, fees, and step-by-step guidance for successfully filling out the online form.
7. NEET 2026 Result Date
The date when NTA declares NEET UG results online, along with scorecards, rank lists, and qualifying status.
8. NEET 2026 Counselling Process
Explains how candidates can participate in AIQ (All India Quota) and state quota counselling, choice filling, seat allotment, and admission procedure after results.
📌 NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026
Before applying, candidates must meet the eligibility criteria set by NTA:
- Age Limit:
- Minimum age: 17 years (by 31st December 2026).
- No upper age limit (as per latest Supreme Court ruling).
- Educational Qualification (12th Marks Requirement):
- Must have passed 10+2 or equivalent examination with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English as core subjects.
- Minimum Marks Required in Class 12th:
- General Category: 50% aggregate in PCB.
- OBC/SC/ST: 40% aggregate in PCB.
- PwD candidates: 45% aggregate in PCB.
- Number of Attempts: No restrictions. Candidates can attempt NEET any number of times.
📖 Final Words
The NEET Exam Date 2026 is expected to be in May 2026, and aspirants must begin their preparation well in advance. Make sure you fulfill the eligibility criteria, especially the 12th marks requirement in PCB subjects, to avoid disqualification. Keep an eye on the official NTA notifications for the latest updates regarding the application form, admit card, and cut-off marks.
Consistent practice, solving previous year papers, and following NCERT books are key to cracking NEET with a good rank.