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Every year, families lose time and money because they misread a NEET-UG eligibility rule: an age limit that no longer exists, a subject combination that does not count, or a "qualifying mark" that is really a percentile. This post sets out what the official NEET (UG) 2026 bulletin says about age, subjects and qualifying criteria, works through two examples, and points to where the rules can change. NTA publishes a new bulletin each year, so check the current one on the NEET website before you apply.
What is the age limit for NEET-UG?
Chapter 6 of the NEET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin, quoting the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, says a candidate must have "completed the age of 17 years as on or before 31st December of the year" of the exam. For NEET (UG) 2026, that meant being born on or before 31 December 2009, for all categories.
There is no upper age limit. The bulletin cites a National Medical Commission (NMC) letter of 9 March 2022 for this.
Worked example: checking age
Two students plan to take NEET in 2026 (sample dates).
Aditi was born on 20 November 2009. She turns 17 on 20 November 2026, before 31 December 2026. Eligible.
Rohan was born on 15 January 2010. He turns 17 on 15 January 2027, after the cut-off. Not eligible for NEET (UG) 2026. If the rule stays the same, he can sit in 2027.
The rule is about your age on 31 December, not on the exam day. A common mistake is to count to the exam date.
Which Class 12 subjects do you need?
The bulletin lists seven qualification codes. The core requirement is Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English, with practical tests in the science subjects. The main ones:
Code 01: appearing in Class 12 this year. You may apply and sit the test, but you are not eligible for admission if you have not passed by the first round of counselling.
Code 02: passed Class 12 (or the Indian School Certificate) after 12 years of study, with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English, plus Mathematics or another elective.
Codes 03 to 07: intermediate or pre-degree science, pre-medical exams, first year of a B.Sc. with the required subjects, a B.Sc. with at least two of the subjects, and equivalent foreign or other boards.
Two newer rules matter. Following an NMC public notice of 22 November 2023, students who studied the required subjects "even as additional subjects after passing Class 12th" from a recognised board may appear, but only with documentary proof of passing those subjects. And Indian citizens or OCI holders who want to study medicine abroad also need to qualify NEET (UG).
What are the qualifying marks for admission?
Chapter 8 of the bulletin uses percentiles, not a percentage of the 720 marks. To be eligible for admission to undergraduate medical courses, you need:
General and General-EWS: at least the 50th percentile.
SC, ST and OBC: at least the 40th percentile.
Candidates with benchmark disabilities: 45th percentile for Unreserved and General-EWS, and 40th for SC, ST and OBC-NCL.
The percentile is "determined on the basis of the highest marks secured in the All India common merit list". The marks that correspond to these percentiles change every year with the paper and the field, so ignore anyone who quotes a fixed mark before results. The bulletin also allows the Central Government, in consultation with the NMC and other regulators, to lower the minimum when too few candidates qualify, for that year only.
Qualifying is not the same as getting a seat. The bulletin states that merely appearing and qualifying "does not confer any right" to admission, which depends on rank, counselling rules and seat availability.
Are there extra rules for some courses?
Yes. For BUMS, the bulletin requires Urdu, Arabic or Persian in Class 10, or passing an Urdu test where one is held. For BSMS, Tamil in Class 10 or higher secondary, or studying Tamil in the first professional course. NRIs, OCI holders and foreign nationals can apply, subject to state, institution and central rules, and must upload the documents the bulletin lists.
Common eligibility mistakes
Assuming there is an upper age limit; the 2026 bulletin states there is none.
Counting age to the exam date instead of 31 December.
Treating the qualifying percentile as a percentage of 720.
Taking Biology as an additional subject after Class 12 but not keeping proof of passing it.
Skipping the bulletin and relying on last year's summary.
After results, admission runs through counselling. Our guide to NEET counselling basics explains the next stage, and the Medical Counselling Committee runs All India Quota counselling.
Once eligibility is settled, the next job is a study plan. Fermi's AI tutor can work out what you already know and build a plan for the session, so each sitting starts with a clear next step.
Open the current NEET bulletin today, find your qualification code, and write down your date of birth against the age rule.
