NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Age Limit, Marks, Qualifying Codes 01–07, NRI Rules & AYUSH Guide

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 — the first and most critical step for every medical aspirant in India. The National Testing Agency (NTA) has published the official NEET UG 2026 eligibility rules in the Information Bulletin released on 8 February 2026 as per regulations set by the National Medical Commission (NMC), Dental Council of India (DCI), and the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India.

Meeting the NEET eligibility criteria is non-negotiable. A candidate who does not fully satisfy every eligibility condition — even after qualifying NEET with a good rank — can have their admission cancelled during counselling. This guide covers every aspect of NEET 2026 eligibility: age limit, educational qualification, minimum marks, nationality rules, qualifying codes (01 to 07), special cases for droppers, NIOS students, PCM students, NRI/OCI candidates, and AYUSH courses.

NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026 – Overview

2026 Age Limit – Complete Details

Minimum Age Limit

The National Medical Commission made some rules for the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023. They changed these rules on 16 June 2023. So for UG 2026 you have to be at least 17 years old.

You must be 17 years old by 31 December 2026.

This means you must be born on or before 31 December 2009.

For example if you were born on 1 January 2010 or after that you cannot take the 2026 exam. You will be able to take the 2027 exam.

Upper Age Limit

There is no maximum age limit for NEET UG 2026.

The Supreme Court of India decided this after many people asked them to. They said that the old rule of a 25 year limit is not valid anymore. The same applies to people who’re from reserved categories and had a 30 year limit.

This means that NEET UG 2026 is open, to everyone no matter how old you are.

You can take the UG 2026 exam if you meet the other requirements it does not matter if you are a dropper or a repeater or how old you are when you take the exam.

2026 Educational Qualification

To be eligible for NEET 2026 you need to have the right educational qualification.

• The qualifying examination is very important.
• Candidates must have. Be currently appearing in the Class 12 examination.
• This Class 12 examination should be a Senior equivalent examination.
• It should be from a recognized Board in India or abroad.
• The Class 12 examination must have the subjects listed below.
• These mandatory subjects are necessary, for NEET 2026.
• So you need to check if your Class 12 examination has these subjects.

Mandatory Subjects for NEET 2026

Important: To pass the test you have to do in each subject. It is not about getting a good total score. If you fail in one subject, like Chemistry you will not be able to take the 2026 even if you scored really well in Physics, Chemistry and Biology overall. You have to pass each subject like Physics, Chemistry and Biology on its own. The NEET 2026 requires you to pass each subject like Chemistry to be eligible.

Minimum Marks in PCB (Class 12) for NEET 2026

PCB Aggregate means: To calculate the percentage you need to add the marks you got in Physics and Chemistry and Biology or Biotechnology. Then you divide this sum by the marks you could have got in these three subjects. After that you multiply the result by 100. The marks you got in English are not part of this calculation.

NEET 2026 Nationality Eligibility

For OCI Candidates:

The Supreme Court made a ruling on February 3 2023. According to this ruling OCI candidates still have the admission benefits they had, before the 2021 MHA notification.

This means they are treated like nationals in most counselling processes. However some institutions may have their rules.

For Foreign-Educated Students:

You must have completed Class 12 or something similar. You need to have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English in your home country.

Your qualification must be recognized by the Association of Indian Universities also known as AIU. The National Medical Commission or NMC must also accept it.

NEET 2026 Qualifying Exam Codes (01 to 07) – Complete Guide

This is the searched part about NEET eligibility. And it can be really confusing.

Every student has to choose the qualifying exam code when they fill out the NEET 2026 application form.

If they pick the wrong code their form might get. They could get disqualified during counselling.

The NEET 2026 application form is a document and selecting the correct qualifying exam code, for NEET eligibility is essential. So candidates must be very careful when selecting the qualifying exam code for NEET.

The qualifying exam code is a part of the NEET eligibility criteria.

Quick Code Selection Guide

Warning: If you choose the wrong code the National Testing Agency will probably reject your application.. They may ask you questions, about your eligibility when you go for counselling.

If you find out that you have chosen the wrong code you can use the National Testing Agency Correction Window to correct it. The National Testing Agency usually opens this window after they stop taking registrations. You can fix the mistake during this time.

NEET Eligibility 2026 – Special Cases Explained

1. NEET 2026 eligibility criteria for dropper students

Students who took NEET in 2025 or before and want to take it in 2026 can do so. Here is what they need to do:

• Choose Code 02 in the application form.
• There is no limit on how times they can take NEET.
• They must be 17 years old by 31 December 2026.
• They must have passed Class 12 with the required marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.

The good news is that there is no age limit and no limit on how many times they can take NEET.

2. NEET 2026 eligibility for NIOS students

Students who completed Class 12 from NIOS or a State Open School are eligible for 2026. Here are the requirements:

• They must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English.
• They must have the required marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (50% for General and 40% for Reserved).
• They must have taken exams in science subjects.
• They need to choose Code 02 in the application form.

Recently it was clarified that NIOS and private students are eligible for NEET.

3. NEET Eligibility for PCM Students (Biology as Additional Subject)

This is a relief for students who studied Physics, Chemistry and Mathematics in Class 12 but took Biology as an additional subject. They are also eligible for 2026:

• They must have passed Biology as a subject from a recognized board.
• The Biology exam must include theory and practical parts.
• They must show the required documents during counselling.

This allows students who studied PCM but want to study medicine to apply.

Note that the Physics, Chemistry and Biology marks will be used to calculate eligibility (50%/40%/45%). Mathematics marks are not counted.

4. NEET Eligibility for Gap Year Students

Students who took a gap year after Class 12 can apply for 2026. Here is what they need to do:

• The earlier rule of study for 2 years is no longer required.
• They must be 17 years old have the required marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology and have studied the required subjects.
• They need to choose Code 02 in the application form.

They can take NEET as times as they want.

5. NEET Eligibility for Class 12 Appearing Students (2026)

Students who are in Class 12 in 2026 and have not yet received their results can apply for NEET:

• They need to choose Code 01 in the application form.
• Their admission will be provisional until they pass Class 12 with the required marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology.
• If they fail Class 12 they will not be eligible for admission that year.

They must submit their Class 12 passing certificate and marksheet before counselling.

6. NEET Eligibility for Foreign-Educated Students

Students who completed their schooling outside India must ensure:

• Their Class 12 qualification is recognized by the Association of Indian Universities.
• They studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English.
• They cleared both theory and practical exams in science subjects.
• They must get an equivalency certificate from the Association of Indian Universities before counselling.

They need to choose Code 07 in the application form. NRI/OCI applicants must attach a certificate, from the Indian Diplomatic Mission in their country of residence.

NEET 2026 Eligibility for AYUSH Courses (BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS)

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test 2026 is also the way to get into AYUSH courses, like Ayurveda and Yoga and Unani and Siddha and Homeopathy.

Eligibility for AYUSH courses:

To be eligible for AYUSH courses you have to meet a requirements.

You must be least 17 years old by 31 December 2026.

You also need to have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English in Class 12.

The minimum marks you need to have scored in Physics, Chemistry and Biology are 50 percent if you are a General student and 40 percent if you are from the SC, ST or OBC category.

According to the rules AYUSH courses require students to take the UG exam.

This is because of what’s stated in Section 14 of the NCISM Act 2020 and the NCH Act 2020.

So if you want to study BAMS, BHMS, BUMS or BSMS you have to do in the NEET exam.

After that you have to take part in the AYUSH Counselling, which is organized by the AACCC or the counselling that is done by your state.

This is how you can get into AYUSH courses, like BAMS, BHMS, BUMS or BSMS.

NEET 2026. Number of Attempts

Many students wonder about this. The official word is:

• There is no limit on how times you can take NEET UG.
• You can take NEET as times as you want.

*. Each year you need to meet the age and academic requirements.

You must be least 17 years old.

• Your previous NEET scores don’t add up.

Your current years score matters for counselling.

• Your NEET score is only good for one year.

For example your 2026 NEET score is only valid for admissions, in 2026-27.

NEET 2026 Tie-Breaking Rule

If two or more candidates score the marks in NEET 2026 here is how NTA decides who gets a higher rank:

• They look at the scores of each candidate in Biology then Physics and then Chemistry. The candidate with the score in one subject gets the higher rank.
• If the scores are still the same they look at the scores in each subject one by one. The candidate who got correct answers, in Biology gets the higher rank and so on.

The National Testing Agency uses this method to make sure everyone gets a rank.

The tie-breaking rule is really important for students who get scores to the cut-off.

Even a small difference of one mark in Biology can make a change in the rank of the students.

This one mark in Biology can affect the students who score close to the cut-off, in Biology.

NEET 2026 Score Validity

Getting a score, in the NEET exam does not mean you will definitely get into a college. The NEET is important. The final decision to admit you to a college depends on many things. These things include the rank you get in the NEET if you take part in the counselling process the category you belong to if there are seats and the rules of the college or state you want to study in. The NEET is a part of this process but it is not the only thing that matters.

Tamil Nadu State Board 2021 Special Case (NEET 2026)

Students, from the Tamil Nadu State Board who passed Class 10 in 2021 have a situation when filling out the NEET form.

In 2021 the Tamil Nadu State Board did not hold Class 10 exams because of COVID-19. These students were marked as “Pass” without any marks.

When they fill out the 2026 application form and they choose 2021 as their passing year and Tamil Nadu State Board they will see that the marks field is automatically turned off by the NTA system.

The good news is that these students do not have to enter their Class 10 marks. The system takes care of it.

However they still need to enter their Class 12 marks. This special case only applies to the Class 10 marks field in the application form.

Documents Required for NEET 2026 Eligibility Verification

During counselling after you qualify for NEET you need to show these documents to prove you are eligible:

NEET 2026 vs NEET 2025 – Eligibility Changes

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FAQ: – NEET Eligibility Criteria 2026