NEET UG · exam information
NEET eligibility criteria 2027: age, subjects and Class 12 marks
Under the current NEET eligibility criteria, you need to be at least 17 by 31 December of the admission year, have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English in Class 12, and meet a PCB minimum of 50% as a General candidate. There is no upper age limit and no limit on attempts. NEET UG 2027 is expected to follow these rules.
Quick answer
- For NEET UG 2027 you must be at least 17 years old by 31 December 2027, which means born on or before 31 December 2010.
- NEET UG has no upper age limit and no limit on the number of attempts, so droppers can appear as many times as they need.
- Class 12 must include Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English.
- The minimum PCB aggregate in Class 12 is 50% for General, 45% for General-PwD and 40% for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwD.
NEET UG 2027 eligibility at a glance
These are the rules in force for recent NEET UG exams. The 2027 information bulletin is not out yet; eligibility rules are set by NTA and the National Medical Commission and can change, so confirm them before you apply.
- Minimum age
- 17 years by 31 December 2027
- Upper age limit
- None
- Number of attempts
- No limit
- Class 12 subjects
- Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English
- PCB aggregate — General
- 50%
- PCB aggregate — General-PwD
- 45%
- PCB aggregate — SC, ST, OBC (incl. PwD)
- 40%
- Class 12 students in 2027
- Can usually apply; must meet the criteria at admission
Source: NTA NEET UG information bulletins and NMC regulations. Check the 2027 bulletin on neet.nta.nic.in.
What Class 12 marks do you need for NEET by category?
There are two separate bars. The PCB percentage is about your Class 12 marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology. The qualifying percentile is about your NEET score. You need both for an MBBS or BDS admission.
| Category | Minimum PCB aggregate in Class 12 | NEET qualifying percentile |
|---|---|---|
| General | 50% | 50th |
| General-PwD | 45% | 45th |
| SC, ST, OBC (including their PwD candidates) | 40% | 40th |
EWS candidates share the General qualifying percentile (50th). Check the 2027 bulletin for the Class 12 marks rule that applies to EWS candidates.
How old do you need to be for NEET 2027?
You must be at least 17 years old by 31 December of the year of admission. For NEET UG 2027 that means your date of birth must fall on or before 31 December 2010. Your Class 10 certificate is normally the proof of date of birth.
A student who turns 17 in, say, November 2027 is still eligible for NEET UG 2027, even though they write the exam in May at 16.
Is there an upper age limit or an attempt limit for NEET?
No. NEET UG currently has no upper age limit and no limit on the number of attempts. That is why NEET has a large dropper population: many students take a second or third attempt after a year of focused preparation.
"No limit" is not the same as "no cost". Each extra year is a year of preparation, fees and pressure. If you are deciding whether to drop, compare your mock scores with the NEET cutoff and the ranks that usually lead to a seat, and use the NEET rank predictor to see where a realistic score lands.
Which Class 12 subjects do you need for NEET?
Your Class 12 must include Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English, with the PCB aggregate minimums in the table above. The percentage is calculated on Physics, Chemistry and Biology (or Biotechnology) together — not on your overall Class 12 result.
Students who studied Biology through a different route — for example as an additional subject, through an open school, or on a foreign board — should read the 2027 bulletin closely. Rules for these cases have been revised in past years, and the bulletin is the only reliable answer.
Can you apply for NEET 2027 while in Class 12?
Yes. Students appearing for Class 12 in 2027 can usually apply for NEET UG 2027 and write the exam before their board results are out. Admission to a medical college then depends on actually passing Class 12 with the required subjects and PCB percentage. If you miss the PCB minimum, a good NEET score alone will not get you an MBBS seat.
Does qualifying NEET make you eligible for every seat?
Qualifying NEET UG makes you eligible for counselling, not for every seat. The All India Quota seats counselled by MCC are open across states, while state quota seats usually add domicile conditions set by each state. Some institutions, such as AFMC, add conditions of their own. Our NEET counselling guide explains who runs which seats.
Eligible? The next question is where your marks are.
The free 20-minute diagnostic maps your weak chapters across Physics, Chemistry, Botany and Zoology before you plan the year.
NEET eligibility checklist before you apply
Tick these off before the application window opens — the form rarely gives you time to fix a document problem.
- Your date of birth is on or before 31 December 2010, and it matches on your Class 10 certificate and ID.
- Your Class 12 subjects include Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English.
- Your PCB aggregate meets your category minimum: 50% General, 45% General-PwD, 40% SC, ST or OBC.
- Your category certificate (SC, ST, OBC-NCL or EWS) is valid and in the format NTA asks for.
- If you are a PwD candidate, your disability certificate comes from an authority the bulletin accepts.
- Your name, parents’ names and date of birth are spelt the same way on every document.
- You have read the 2027 bulletin section for your case if you studied through an open school or a foreign board.
NEET eligibility questions
What is the minimum age for NEET 2027?
The minimum age for NEET UG 2027 is 17 years by 31 December 2027, so candidates born on or before 31 December 2010 are eligible on age. The rule is counted on 31 December of the admission year, not on the exam date, which means a 16-year-old can write the exam in May if they turn 17 by the end of the year.
Is there an upper age limit for NEET?
No. NEET UG currently has no upper age limit, so older candidates and repeaters can apply as long as they meet the Class 12 subject and marks criteria. NTA and the National Medical Commission set these rules and have changed them in the past, so confirm the position in the NEET UG 2027 information bulletin.
How many attempts are allowed for NEET UG?
NEET UG has no limit on the number of attempts. A candidate who meets the age and Class 12 criteria can write the exam every year. Many students take a drop year after Class 12 to prepare again; if you are considering one, compare your recent mock scores with past qualifying marks and seat-level ranks first.
What percentage in Class 12 is required for NEET?
For NEET UG, the minimum aggregate in Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Biotechnology in Class 12 is 50% for General candidates, 45% for General-PwD candidates, and 40% for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including their PwD candidates. The percentage is calculated on PCB, not on the overall Class 12 result, and you also need English as a subject.
Can a Class 12 student apply for NEET 2027?
Yes. Students appearing for their Class 12 board exams in 2027 can usually apply for and write NEET UG 2027. Their admission to an MBBS or BDS course then depends on passing Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology and English, and meeting the PCB percentage for their category.
Is Maths compulsory for NEET?
No. Mathematics is not required for NEET UG. The required Class 12 subjects are Physics, Chemistry, Biology or Biotechnology, and English. Students who took PCMB can apply, and their NEET eligibility percentage is still calculated on Physics, Chemistry and Biology only.
Official sources
- NEET UG — National Testing Agencyneet.nta.nic.in
- National Testing Agencynta.ac.in
- National Medical Commissionwww.nmc.org.in
BrainStride is not affiliated with NTA, NMC or MCC. Exam facts checked September 2026.
Eligible for NEET 2027? Find out where your marks are leaking.
Twenty minutes, twenty-five NEET-pattern questions, and a weak-chapter map you can plan the year around. Free, no card.