NEET 2026 Reform — NTA Announces Pattern Changes, Two Sessions & Tie-Breaker Rules
NEET 2026 reform: NTA announces two-session format from 2026, revised tie-breaker policy, biometric attendance, CBT mode pilot for NEET-PG, and tighter centre-allocation norms after 2024 leak.
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Summary. Following the 2024 NEET-UG paper-leak controversy and the High-Level Expert Committee (Radhakrishnan Committee) report submitted in October 2024, the National Testing Agency has announced major NEET 2026 reforms: two-session NEET-UG (like JEE-Main) starting 2026, revised tie-breaker policy with age dropped as the final differentiator, biometric attendance at every centre, mandatory CCTV with central monitoring, and a CBT mode pilot for NEET-PG for the first time. The exam continues to be the single qualifying test for MBBS / BDS / AYUSH / Veterinary admissions across India — over 24 lakh students appeared in NEET-UG 2025.
NEET-UG (the entrance for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc) and NEET-PG (the entrance for MD/MS) are conducted by NTA under the Ministry of Education. The 2024 paper leak in Bihar / Gujarat (linked to centre operators), the consequent grace-mark grant to 1,500+ candidates, and the Supreme Court’s 23 July 2024 order recommending procedural overhauls, triggered the Radhakrishnan Committee. The NTA accepted most of the committee’s 23 recommendations and is rolling them out from NEET 2026.
Six big changes for NEET-UG 2026
| Change | What it means | Effective from |
|---|---|---|
| 1. Two sessions per year | Like JEE-Main; candidates can appear in Session 1 (May) + Session 2 (July); best score is taken | NEET-UG 2026 |
| 2. New tie-breaker rules | When candidates have the same total marks, the order is: (a) higher Biology marks; (b) higher Chemistry marks; (c) higher Physics marks; (d) lower number of negatives. Age is no longer used. | NEET-UG 2026 |
| 3. Biometric attendance + CCTV monitored centres | Aadhaar-fingerprint at centre entry + central CCTV feed reviewed in real time | NEET-UG / PG 2026 |
| 4. Tighter centre allocation | Government-school / college centres prioritised; private coaching centres barred from hosting | NEET-UG 2026 |
| 5. Pen-and-paper continues for UG | Despite the 2024 demand to shift to CBT, UG stays paper-pencil for 2026 — concern over rural-area digital infrastructure | NEET-UG 2026 |
| 6. CBT mode for PG (pilot) | NEET-PG to be a Computer-Based Test for the first time — expected to cut leakage risk significantly | NEET-PG 2026 |
Pattern of NEET-UG 2026 (unchanged in content)
| Subject | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics | 50 (35 main + 15 optional from Section B) | 180 |
| Chemistry | 50 (35 + 15) | 180 |
| Botany | 50 (35 + 15) | 180 |
| Zoology | 50 (35 + 15) | 180 |
| Total | 200 (180 attempted) | 720 |
| Marking | Detail |
|---|---|
| Correct | +4 |
| Incorrect | −1 |
| Unattempted | 0 |
| Duration | 3 hr 20 min |
| Languages | 13 (English, Hindi, Bengali, Tamil, Telugu, Marathi, Gujarati, Kannada, Malayalam, Odia, Punjabi, Assamese, Urdu) |
Two-session format — how it works
Modelled on JEE-Main:
- Session 1 — May 2026 (likely first Sunday of May)
- Session 2 — July 2026 (likely first Sunday of July)
- Candidates can appear in either or both sessions
- The higher of the two NTA scores (percentile) is taken for ranking
- One application form covers both sessions; fee is per session
Cut-offs and counselling
The qualifying percentile remains:
- General — 50th percentile
- OBC / SC / ST — 40th percentile
- General-PWD — 45th percentile
State quota counselling (85%) continues through state authorities; central quota (15%) is run by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) under DGHS.
NEET-PG 2026 — first-ever CBT
The NEET-PG, which has been a paper-and-pencil test, will move to Computer-Based Test (CBT) mode for the March 2026 attempt (announced February 2026). The exam will be conducted across NTA’s existing CBT infrastructure with biometric authentication. The CBT mode:
- Eliminates physical paper transport and centre-level leakages
- Enables question randomisation
- Allows immediate provisional answer-key release
Why these reforms
The 2024 NEET-UG paper leak (centred on the Hazaribagh-Patna corridor) led to:
- Cancellation of 67 candidates’ results
- Grace marks granted to 1,563 candidates due to time loss at one centre
- Re-test for those 1,563 candidates
- A 23 July 2024 Supreme Court direction that NTA must overhaul examination security
The Radhakrishnan Committee report (October 2024) made 23 recommendations spanning paper security, candidate authentication, centre vetting, and grievance redressal. NTA’s 2026 framework implements 18 of these directly; the remaining 5 (including potentially CBT for UG and a national centre-network rebuild) are flagged for FY 2027–28.
Frequently asked questions
1. Will NEET-UG 2026 be online or offline?
2. How many times can I attempt NEET-UG in 2026?
3. What is the new tie-breaker rule?
4. Has the syllabus changed for 2026?
5. Will biometric attendance delay entry to the exam?
6. Is the qualifying percentile changing?
7. When will the NEET-UG 2026 application form open?
8. How does NEET-PG CBT mode work?
Official links
Disclaimer. SarkariBaba is an independent information publisher. NEET 2026 details are based on NTA notifications dated October 2024 to April 2026 — verify the latest information bulletin before applying.
