NEET Age Limit 2026 for SC/ST, OBC, General, Check NEET Attempt Limit

NEET Age Limit 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) only allows students of specific ages to sit the National Eligibility and Entrance Test or NEET UG Entrance test. For this, the NTA has established a well-defined NEET UG age limit requirement. The NTA will begin the NEET UG 2026 application procedure in February 2026. The NTA has made accessible the Age limit accessible for NEET 2026. The NTA NEET UG 2026 age limit has not changed in 2026. The age limit for each category is stated in the article below.

NEET Age Limit

NEET eligibility criteria for 2026 provide vital instructions for students preparing for the test next year. The National Medical Entrance Exam (NEET) is offered to both Indian and foreign nationals. Students over or equal to 17 years of age are eligible to take the NEET 2026 examination. There is no maximum age limit for NEET 2026.

The NTA has published an official notification outlining the age limits for candidates in each category. The age limit criteria have changed dramatically over the years, and the Supreme Court has even had to intervene to make some revisions. As a result, many parents and students are still unfamiliar with the NEET UG age limit. The NTA has just declared that the NEET UG 2026 will be conducted in an offline manner in May 2026. To assist them, we have provided the category-specific age restriction for NEET UG 2026 here.

NEET UG Age Limit 2026

Candidates can check their NEET 2026 age limit by visiting the official website at neet.nta.nic.in. Aspirants who do not meet any of the NEET age limits will not be permitted to take the exam. The age limit has been included in the NEET exam so that only serious and able candidates sit for this national-level medical entrance exam.

As per the latest NEET eligibility criteria, the NTA has fixed a minimum age criterion required for candidates from each category. The minimum age limit to appear for the NEET 2026 exam is 17 years. The NTA NEET UG 2026 exam will be held in May 2026.

NEET Age Limit for SC/ST and OBC

The NTA releases the age limit eligibility criteria category-wise every year. This year too, the NTA will publish the NEET 2026 age limit for every category. The 2026 NEET age limit guarantees that candidates are within a certain age range.

According to NTA guidelines, candidates must be at least 17 years old by December 31, 2026. Candidates can check the NEET age limit 2026 table below category-wise.

NEET Minimum Age Limit 2026

The minimum age limit for appearing in the NEET UG exam is 17 years as of December 31 of the year of admission. This means that candidates must have completed 17 years of age by December 31 of the year in which they are seeking admission. The minimum age limit criteria is applicable for all students irrespective of their category.

NEET Exam Maximum Age Limit 2026

The maximum age limit for NEET UG has been completely scrapped, and there is no upper age limit now. Earlier, the NEET upper age limit was 25 years for the unreserved category (UR) candidates. There was a relaxation of 5 years for candidates belonging to the reserved categories, which means that candidates from the Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), and Other Backward Classes (OBC) categories have a maximum age limit of 30 years. But the NTA revised the upper age limit criteria.

According to the most current health ministry update, there is no maximum NEET age limit 2026. Previously, there were numerous limits on the NEET age limit, courses, attempt limit, and school type. However, the new NEET eligibility criteria for 2026 remove all previous limits for the NEET age limit 2026, attempt limit, courses, and school type. Now, students who have studied biology as an additional subject can appear for the NEET exam.

NEET Age Limit for General Candidates

In the General category, candidates for NEET 2026 must be a minimum of 17 years old, with no maximum age restriction. This provides older students the opportunity to pursue a medical career with flexibility. The age limit for NEET in 2026 for the General category ensures fairness for all candidates.

NEET Age Limit for OBC 2026

The age limit for OBC candidates in NEET will be consistent with that of the General category until 2026. Candidates must be a minimum of 17 years old by December 31, 2026, with no maximum age requirement. This policy guarantees inclusiveness and offers plenty of chances for all OBC aspirants to apply for NEET 2026. Earlier, there was an upper age limit on both OBC and General candidates

NEET Age Limit 2026 for SC/ST Candidates

SC and ST candidates must be a minimum of 17 years old by December 31, 2026, according to the NEET age limit 2026. Just like with other groups, there is no maximum age restriction. The age limit of NEET in 2026 for SC and ST candidates guarantees equal opportunities for all SC/ST applicants who want to pursue a medical profession.

NEET Age Limit for NRI / OCI / Foreign Candidates

The NTA does not discriminate between Indian students and students from other nationalities, including NRIs and OCIs. The age limit requirements, along with other eligibility criteria, are the same for both Indian and foreign candidates. That is, any NRI, OCI, or foreign applicant must be a minimum of 17 years old by December 31, 2026, to take the NEET UG 2026 exam. Just like other candidates, there is no upper age limit applicable for these applicants.

NEET Age Limit 2026: Key Points

NEET Age Calculation: Age is determined based on the date of December 31 in the year of examination. If NEET takes place in 2026, applicants must be at least 17 by December 31, 2026.

Attempts Limit: Candidates can make as many attempts as they want for NEET as long as they fulfill the age criteria and other eligibility requirements for each attempt. Candidates are able to take the exam again in following years if they do not meet their goals.

Relaxation in Age Limit: There is no relaxation in the lower age requirements for any candidate in the NEET exam.

Change in Age Limit Rules: The NEET age limit requirements have changed over time. Candidates must remain informed of the most recent notifications from the National Testing Agency (NTA) or official NEET guidelines in order to guarantee compliance with all current requirements.

NEET Attempt Limit

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) does not have any attempt limit. You can attempt NEET as many times as you wish, There is no maximum age restriction for NEET 2026, enabling a wider pool of applicants to participate. This inclusivity guarantees that every eligible student can pursue medical education, meeting the NEET age limit 2026 requirements.

Sharing is caring!