Kamal Ghorui
The wait is now over—and the game is on! The National Testing agency (NTA) has begun the online registration process for NEET (UG) 2026 today, i.e., on February 8. It’s preparing to be the biggest and most competitive exam in the country!So, if your goal is MBBS, BDS, AYUSH courses, BVSc & AH, BHMS, or even B.Sc. Nursing through MNS, this is your cue. The window for registration is open for just one month, but savvy observers of NEET, like all public exams, know that you shouldn’t wait until the end of Week One.What’s at Stake This YearNEET (UG) persists to be the sole entry route to undergraduate medical education in India, as stipulated by law. The NEET UG 2026 score and merit list will be used for admission to:• MBBS – All India and State Quotas• BDS• BVSc & AH• BAMS, BUMS, BSMS (Indian Systems of Medicine)• BHMS• B.Sc. Nursing (MNS) in Armed Forces Medical Services hospitalsIn brief: one exam, many doors.Key Dates at a Glance Here’s the timeline you’ll want to screenshot and pin to your wall:
Exam Day Basics: No Surprises HereNEET UG 2026 follows the well-established pattern:• Duration: 180 minutes or 3 hours• Mode: Pen and Paper• Time: From 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM IST• Date of exam: Sunday, 03 May 2026And yes, the afternoon slot is kept—plan your mock tests accordingly.13 Languages, One PaperTo widen the accessibility of the entrance examination, the NEET UG 2026 shall be conducted in 13 languages: Assamese, Bengali, English, Gujarati, Hindi, Kannada, Malayalam, Marathi, Odia, PunThe candidates have to be careful about the choice of language while filling up the form. This cannot be changed later.Application Fees: Category-wise BreakdownHere’s what you’ll need to pay (excluding processing charges and GST):Centres in India
Centres Outside India
Payment can be made through Credit Card, Debit Card, Net Banking, or UPI.
How-and Where-to Apply
Applications are online only. No offline forms. No exceptions.Websites:• nta.ac.in• neet.nta.nic.inUploading requirements include:• One recent passport-size photograph• Scanned signature•Proof of residence and other documents as mentioned in the Information BulletinPro tip from years on the beat: Use your own or your parents’ active email ID and mobile number. Every update-every alert-comes there.One Candidate, One FormYet again, NTA has repeated this loud and clear:Only one application form should be submitted.More than one entry per contestant = elimination. Absolutely no appeals, no discussion.Need Help? NTA Says Call or Write• Helpline: +91-11-40759000• Email: neetug2026@nta.ac.inBottom LineThe NEET season has well and truly begun. For lakhs of students, today marks the beginning of a high-stakes countdown to May 3. The syllabus may be familiar, but the competition never gets easier. So yes-fill the form early, re-check every entry, and then get back to what really matters: preparation. Because when that NEET bell rings this May, the excuses won’t matter-only answers will.
