The Medical Entrance Exam 2026 is the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc, MD, MS, MDS, DM, MCh and DrNB programmes at medical, dental, AYUSH and veterinary colleges across India. Generally, the most accepted national-level UG test is NEET, conducted by the National Testing Agency, which serves as the single window for MBBS, BDS and AYUSH admissions. Furthermore, NEET PG, INI CET, NEET MDS, NEET SS and INI SS are the standard PG and super-specialty routes. Moreover, several screening exams such as FMGE certify foreign medical graduates. This page lists every major medical admission test in India along with eligibility, exam pattern, important details and preparation tips — see the full list of entrance exams in other streams too.
- Conducted by the NTA, NBEMS, AIIMS, NMC, DCI and other apex bodies for medical education.
- Cover admission to MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc, MD, MS, MDS, DM, MCh and DrNB programmes.
- Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) is the standard eligibility for UG medical admission.
- Most exams are conducted in offline pen-and-paper (NEET) or online CBT (NEET PG, INI CET, FMGE) mode.
- Importantly, NEET is the single-window national entrance for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc and most other UG medical programmes in India.
Quick Highlights – Medical Admission
| Exams Listed | 15+ | Levels | UG • PG • Super-Specialty |
| Course Levels | UG / PG / SS / PhD | Regulating Body | NMC / NBEMS / DCI / NCISM |
| MBBS Duration | 5.5 Years (incl. internship) | Exam Mode | Offline / Online CBT |
What is Medical Entrance Exam 2026?
A medical admission test is a competitive examination conducted at national level to shortlist candidates for MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, veterinary and postgraduate medical programmes. Generally, the most accepted national-level UG test is NEET, conducted by the NTA — the single-window entrance for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc and Indian Army B.Sc Nursing (MNS). Furthermore, NEET PG and INI CET are the standard PG entrances for MD / MS / PG Diploma programmes, while NEET MDS covers MDS admission. The NExT (National Exit Test) is being phased in as a unified licentiate-cum-PG entrance under the NMC Act. Additionally, NEET SS and INI SS govern super-specialty (DM / MCh / DrNB) admissions, while FMGE certifies foreign medical graduates for practice in India.
Medical Entrance Exam 2026 – Complete List
The complete list of medical admission exams in India, grouped by stage, is given below. In particular, click any exam name to see its full details — dates, application form, syllabus, admit card, answer key, result and counselling.
UG Medical Entrance Exam 2026
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| NEET | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test | MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc and other UG medical courses |
PG Medical Entrance Exams
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| NExT | National Exit Test | Licentiate + PG medical courses (broad specialities) |
| NEET PG | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate | MD, MS, PG Diploma courses |
| INI CET | Institute of National Importance Combined Entrance Test | MD, MS, DM (6 yrs), MCh (6 yrs), MDS |
| NEET MDS | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Masters of Dental Surgery | MDS |
Super-Specialty Medical Entrance Exams
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| NEET SS | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Super Specialty | DM, MCh and DrNB Super Specialty courses |
| INI SS | Institute of National Importance Super Speciality Entrance Test | DM, MCh and MD Hospital Administration |
| NBE FET | NBEMS Fellowship Entrance Test | Fellow of National Board (FNB) courses |
| DNB PDCET | Diplomate of National Board Post Diploma Centralized Entrance Test | Post Diploma DNB broad-specialty courses |
| FET FPIS | Fellowship Entrance Test for Fellowship Programme for International Students | Fellowship Programme for International Students (FPIS) |
Screening & Licentiate Exams
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Purpose |
|---|---|---|
| FMGE | Foreign Medical Graduate Examination | Mandatory screening for Indian citizens / OCIs holding a primary medical degree from outside India, before registration with NMC or any State Medical Council. |
| FDST BDS | Foreign Dental Screening Test for Bachelor of Dental Surgery | Mandatory screening for Indian citizens / OCIs / PIOs holding a primary dental degree from outside India, before registration with any State Dental Council. |
| FDST MDS PGD | Foreign Dental Screening Test for Master of Dental Surgery | Mandatory screening for Indian citizens / OCIs / PIOs holding a PG dental qualification from outside India, before registration with any State Dental Council. |
AYUSH Medical Entrance Exams
The AYUSH stream covers Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha and Homoeopathy. UG admission is through NEET, while PG admission is conducted via AIAPGET.
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| AIAPGET | All India Ayush Post Graduate Entrance Test | MD / MS / PG Diploma in Ayurveda, Unani, Siddha & Homeopathy |
Veterinary Entrance Exams
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| CG PVPT | Chhattisgarh Pre Veterinary Polytechnic Test | Diploma in Animal Husbandry, Diploma in Fisheries Science |
| MP PVFT | Madhya Pradesh Pre Veterinary and Fisheries Test | BVSc & AH |
| UP Veterinary Entrance Exam | Uttar Pradesh Veterinary Entrance Exam (DUVASU) | BVSc & AH |
Other Medical Entrance Exams
| Name of Exam | Full Form | Courses |
|---|---|---|
| AIOAT | All India Online Aptitude Test | Diploma courses in Special Education & Disability Rehabilitation |
| ICMR JRF | Indian Council of Medical Research Junior Research Fellowships | Ph.D / Research Programmes |
Related Allied Streams
Top Exams for Medical Admission in 2026
Of the exams listed above, the following are typically the most widely accepted and most competitive options for medical aspirants in 2026.
| Exam | Why It Matters |
|---|---|
| NEET (UG) | Single-window national entrance for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc, Indian Army MNS and AIIMS / JIPMER MBBS. Conducted by NTA in offline pen-and-paper mode. |
| NEET PG | National PG entrance for MD / MS / PG Diploma at AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and all other government / private medical colleges. Conducted by NBEMS. |
| INI CET | Combined PG entrance for AIIMS (all branches), PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS and SCTIMST — the Institutes of National Importance. |
| NEET MDS | Sole national entrance for Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) admission at all dental colleges across India. |
| NEET SS | National super-specialty entrance for DM / MCh / DrNB admission at all medical colleges and Institutes of National Importance. |
| FMGE | Mandatory screening for foreign medical graduates seeking provisional / permanent registration with NMC or State Medical Councils. |
Courses Offered Through These Exams
Medical entrance exams open doors to UG, PG, super-specialty and doctoral programmes across allopathic, dental, AYUSH and veterinary streams.
Diploma & Allied Courses
- Diploma in Pharmacy (D.Pharm) — 2-year programme
- Diploma in Animal Husbandry / Fisheries Science
- Diploma in Special Education & Disability Rehabilitation
Undergraduate (UG) Courses
- Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) — 5.5 years
- Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) — 5 years
- Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery (BAMS)
- Bachelor of Homoeopathic Medicine & Surgery (BHMS)
- Bachelor of Unani Medicine & Surgery (BUMS); Bachelor of Siddha Medicine & Surgery (BSMS)
- Bachelor of Veterinary Science & Animal Husbandry (BVSc & AH)
Postgraduate (PG) Courses
- MD (Doctor of Medicine) — Internal Medicine, Paediatrics, Pathology, Radiology, etc.
- MS (Master of Surgery) — General Surgery, OBG, Orthopaedics, ENT, etc.
- MDS (Master of Dental Surgery)
- PG Diplomas (DGO, DA, DCH, etc.) — pre-Bond bridge programmes
Super-Specialty & Doctoral Programmes
- DM (Doctor of Medicine) — Cardiology, Neurology, Nephrology, etc.
- MCh (Magister Chirurgiae) — Cardiothoracic, Neuro, Plastic, Urology Surgery
- DrNB (Doctorate of National Board) — NBEMS-awarded SS qualification
- Ph.D. in Medical Sciences (via ICMR JRF / institute tests)
Eligibility Criteria for Medical Entrance Exam 2026
Eligibility varies by stage. However, the general framework prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and other apex bodies is summarised below.
| Level | Academic Qualification | Minimum Marks | Note |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undergraduate (MBBS / BDS / AYUSH) | Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology and English | 50% PCB aggregate (40% SC/ST/OBC; 45% PwD) | Minimum 17 years of age as on 31 December of admission year |
| Postgraduate (MD / MS / MDS) | MBBS / BDS from an NMC- or DCI-recognised college with completed internship | 50% aggregate (40% SC/ST/OBC) | Compulsory rotating internship to be completed by counselling cutoff |
| Super-Specialty (DM / MCh) | MD / MS / DNB in the feeder specialty | Pass criteria | Subject-specific feeder eligibility per NMC rules |
| Doctoral (Ph.D.) | Master’s degree in Life Sciences / Medical Sciences (or MBBS) | 55–60% aggregate | Research proposal + interview |
Always confirm exam-specific eligibility on the official notification, since many exams additionally specify age, nationality and domicile rules.
Common Exam Pattern
Although the exact pattern varies, most medical entrance exams share a common structure. Generally, candidates can expect the following.
| Component | Details |
|---|---|
| Mode | NEET UG — offline pen-and-paper; NEET PG, INI CET, NEET MDS, NEET SS, FMGE — online CBT |
| Duration | 3 hours 20 minutes (NEET UG); 3 hours 30 minutes (NEET PG) |
| Sections (NEET UG) | Physics, Chemistry, Botany, Zoology |
| Sections (NEET PG) | Pre-clinical, Para-clinical, Clinical subjects |
| Type of Questions | Multiple-Choice Questions (MCQs) |
| Total Marks | 720 (NEET UG); 800 (NEET PG) |
| Negative Marking | Yes — typically –1 per wrong MCQ |
| Medium | English, Hindi and 11 regional languages (NEET UG); English (NEET PG, INI CET, FMGE) |
How to Prepare — Step-by-Step Plan
A structured 12 to 24 month plan that balances Physics, Chemistry and Biology is ideal for cracking the leading medical admission tests. Follow these steps:
- First, read the latest official syllabus for your target exam (NEET / NEET PG / INI CET / NEET MDS, etc.) and map every topic systematically.
- Next, build strong fundamentals from NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks — NEET draws around 80% of Biology questions directly from NCERT.
- For Physics and Chemistry, additionally use NCERT plus HC Verma, DC Pandey, MS Chouhan and Cengage series for problem practice.
- Make handwritten notes for Botany and Zoology with diagrams, especially for plant and animal classification, human physiology and genetics.
- Solve at least 10 years of previous NEET question papers — patterns and concepts often repeat in NEET UG and PG.
- For NEET PG and INI CET, additionally focus on high-yield topics like Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology and Community Medicine.
- Furthermore, take weekly full-length mock tests on AglaSem Mock Test to build speed and accuracy.
- Finally, in the last month, focus on revision and mock-test analysis rather than starting new topics.
Top Medical Colleges in India
India has over 700 medical colleges recognised by the National Medical Commission. Notably, the following are considered among the most prestigious institutions admitting candidates through medical entrance test scores.
| Institute | Location | Admission Route |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS Delhi | New Delhi | NEET UG / INI CET / NEET SS |
| AIIMS (Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, Rishikesh, Nagpur, Mangalagiri, Gorakhpur, Bibinagar, Bilaspur, Deogarh, Rajkot, Kalyani, Madurai, Vijaypur, Guwahati, Awantipora, Darbhanga, Rewari) | Various | NEET UG / INI CET |
| PGIMER | Chandigarh | INI CET (PG / SS only) |
| JIPMER | Puducherry | NEET UG / INI CET |
| CMC Vellore / CMC Ludhiana | Vellore / Ludhiana | NEET UG / NEET PG |
| Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC) | Delhi | NEET UG / NEET PG |
| Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) | Pune | NEET UG |
| King George’s Medical University (KGMU) | Lucknow | NEET UG / NEET PG |
| BHU Institute of Medical Sciences | Varanasi | NEET UG / NEET PG |
| Madras Medical College / Stanley Medical College / Government Medical College Trivandrum / B.J. Medical College Pune / Grant Medical College Mumbai | Various | NEET UG (state quota) |
Career Scope After Medical Course
An MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS or postgraduate medical degree opens up roles across clinical practice, hospital administration, research, public health, the armed forces and academia.
- Clinical practice — General Practitioner, Consultant, Specialist (Cardiology, Neurology, Surgery, Paediatrics, etc.) at hospitals, nursing homes and private clinics.
- Hospital administration — Resident Medical Officer, Medical Superintendent, CMO at corporate hospital chains (Apollo, Fortis, Max, Manipal, Medanta).
- Public sector — Medical Officer at state health services; CMHO; Specialist via UPSC Combined Medical Services Exam; Doctor in Indian Army / Navy / Air Force Medical Corps.
- Research & academia — Junior Research Fellow at ICMR, AIIMS, NIMHANS; Faculty (Assistant Professor / Associate Professor) at medical colleges.
- Public health & policy — Public Health Officer, Programme Manager at WHO, MoHFW, state NHM, Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
- Pharma & clinical research — Medical Advisor, Pharmacovigilance Lead, Clinical Research Associate at MNCs and CROs.
- Higher studies & abroad — USMLE for the US; PLAB for the UK; MCCQE for Canada; AMC for Australia. PhD at Harvard Medical School, Johns Hopkins, Karolinska, Oxford.
- NEET (NTA) ↗ — for MBBS / BDS / AYUSH / BVSc admission.
- NBEMS ↗ — conducts NEET PG, NEET MDS, NEET SS, FMGE, DNB PDCET, NBE FET.
- AIIMS Exams ↗ — conducts INI CET and INI SS.
- National Medical Commission (NMC) ↗ — apex regulator for medical education in India.
- MCC ↗ — for All-India Quota (AIQ) MBBS, BDS, PG counselling.
Medical Entrance Exam 2026 – FAQs
It refers to the set of national-level tests conducted in India for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, BVSc, MD, MS, MDS, DM, MCh and DrNB programmes. The most prominent UG entrance is NEET, conducted by NTA. NEET PG and INI CET are the standard PG entrances, while NEET MDS, NEET SS and INI SS govern dental and super-specialty admissions respectively.
NEET (UG) is the single-window national entrance for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BHMS, BUMS, BSMS, BVSc and Indian Army MNS admission across India. For PG admission, NEET PG is the main entrance, while INI CET is the gateway to AIIMS, PGIMER, JIPMER and NIMHANS — the Institutes of National Importance.
Yes. As per NMC, candidates must have studied Physics, Chemistry, Biology / Biotechnology and English as compulsory subjects in Class 12 for NEET UG eligibility. Mathematics is not required. Candidates who pursued Biology as an additional subject after Class 12 are also eligible, provided their Class 12 board accepts it.
NExT (National Exit Test) is the unified licentiate-cum-PG entrance being introduced under the NMC Act. NExT Step 1 will serve as the MBBS final exit examination, while NExT Step 2 will determine PG admission. Once fully implemented, NExT will replace NEET PG. The transition timeline is announced by NMC each cycle — refer to nmc.org.in for current status.
NEET PG is conducted by NBEMS for admission to MD / MS / PG Diploma at all government and private medical colleges across India, except the Institutes of National Importance. INI CET, in contrast, is conducted by AIIMS Delhi for admission to AIIMS (all branches), PGIMER, JIPMER, NIMHANS and SCTIMST. Most serious PG aspirants appear in both exams.
Yes. The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is mandatory for any Indian citizen or OCI holding a primary medical qualification awarded by a medical institution outside India, who wishes to register with the NMC or any State Medical Council and practise medicine in India. The exam is conducted twice a year by NBEMS.
NEET UG is one of India’s toughest entrance exams. Over 24 lakh candidates appear annually for around 1.08 lakh MBBS seats, and the 99+ percentile cutoff for top government medical colleges is very demanding. Although the syllabus is essentially Class 11 to 12 NCERT, the speed, accuracy and concept depth required for Physics and Chemistry are high. Hence, consistent year-long practice is essential.
The official website for NEET (UG) is neet.nta.nic.in, maintained by the National Testing Agency. NEET PG, NEET MDS, NEET SS, FMGE and DNB PDCET are conducted by NBEMS at natboard.edu.in. INI CET notifications are released on aiimsexams.ac.in. All notifications, application links, admit cards, answer keys and results are released on these official portals.
This page is a comprehensive reference for the medical entrance exam 2026 ecosystem in India — covering UG, PG, super-specialty and screening tests, course options, eligibility, exam pattern, preparation strategy and career outcomes. For real-time notifications, always cross-check with the official NTA, NBEMS, AIIMS Exams or NMC websites linked above.
I am Diptimayee sir How MBBS exam
Hi,
What do you want to know about the MBBS exam.
Sir when apply Aiims exam 2019
It’s already closed already, the last date was the 25th march for generation of code for final registration.
i want to apply for jipmer. i just came to know that the last date to apply is 12 april . sir any last chance to apply it with fine
Hi,
No the last date to apply is over.
SIR when release AMU gnm diploma of admit card . please reply me.
Most probably by 21 Apr.
Is AIIMS exam difficult than NEET??/
yes, in ur aiims level of qus is much better then neet
When will the application forms for M.pharm will be released in karnataka
sir i got 347 marks in neet from general category. can i get admission in govt bds college
No, sorry………….try once again ..best of luck
My 2nd puc physics,chemistry,biology marks 55,53,65 respectivly can I eligible to apply jipmer medical entrance exam
SIR’ when dose the B pharma application form date
plz admission date in bsc ot