The National Testing Agency (NTA) is conducting NEET UG 2026 on Sunday, 4 May 2026, in a single shift from 2:00 pm to 5:00 pm IST, with a sweeping administrative and security apparatus in place to ensure fair conduct. Approximately 22.79 lakh registered candidates are appearing for the examination across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, making it one of the largest entrance examinations in the world.

Scale and Infrastructure

The examination is being held in pen-and-paper mode at more than 5,432 centres nationwide and internationally. To manage operations at this scale, 674 city coordinators have been deployed, along with over 6,000 independent observers. Centre superintendents, invigilators, district administrations, and police forces are also actively involved — particularly in the secure transportation of confidential examination materials.

This is notably the first NEET UG cycle following the controversy that engulfed the 2024 edition, in which widespread allegations of paper leaks and irregularities led to political and judicial scrutiny. The NTA has since overhauled several procedural safeguards to restore credibility.

Entry Rules and Reporting Time

Candidates have been instructed to report to their respective centres between 11:00 am and 1:30 pm. Entry gates will close strictly at 1:30 pm, with no exceptions for late arrivals. Candidates wearing customary or religious attire, or full-sleeved clothing, have been advised to arrive early to allow time for thorough security checks.

Candidates eligible for compensatory time — including those under PwD/PwBD categories — will be permitted to write the examination until 6:00 pm.

What Candidates Must Carry

According to NTA guidelines, every candidate must bring a printed admit card, a valid original photo ID, and two passport-size photographs for attendance purposes. A transparent water bottle is permitted inside the hall. Diabetic candidates may additionally carry sugar tablets or fruits such as bananas, apples, or oranges.

Strictly prohibited items include mobile phones, smartwatches, Bluetooth devices, calculators, wallets, jewellery, metallic items, and food packets. Violations could result in disqualification.

Centre Verification Advisory

The NTA has specifically advised candidates to verify their exam centre address from the admit card rather than relying solely on map applications, which may occasionally display incorrect locations. Travel and weather advisories have also been issued, urging candidates to plan their commute well in advance.

NTA's Commitment to Integrity

Reaffirming its stance, the NTA stated that the examination will be conducted with full integrity, transparency, and efficiency, with support from state governments, union territories, and local authorities across the country. With results expected to determine admission to undergraduate medical and dental seats across India, the stakes for millions of aspirants — and for the NTA's own institutional credibility — could not be higher.