NEET UG 2026 Provisional Answer Key

NEET Answer Key 2026: NTA (National Testing Agency) plans to declare provisional answer keys for NEET UG 2026 on their website (neet.nta.nic.in), most probably within one month from the date of examination (03 May 2026), expected in early June 2026. After taking into account any registered objections made by candidates to this answer key, NTA will be issuing final answer keys for NEET UG 2026, again on their website, very likely on or around the second week of June 2026, also when NTA releases NEET UG 2026 results.
The NEET UG 2026 examination is scheduled to take place at various examination locations across 557 cities in India as well as 14 international testing centres and will be conducted between 2:00 pm and 5:00 pm on May 3, 2026.

NEET Answer Key 2026 Latest Updates

• NTA has made an official announcement stating that the NEET UG exam for 2026 will be held on Sunday, May 3rd, 2026, from 2PM to 5PM.
• With around 2.5 – 2.6 lakh candidates registered for NEET 2026 so far, the number of registered candidates is anticipated to be the highest on record due to the combination of BSc Nursing, BPT and BOT programmes along with other related health programmes with NEET.
• The provisional answer key is expected to be published within one month of the exam (summer usually brings about the majority of changes in higher education), and there will be an objection window that starts on the same date as the provisional answer key.
• The final answer key and results for NEET 2026 are anticipated to be published in the second or third week of June 2026
• The fee for challenging an answer key (in public) will be Rs 200 per answer (non-refundable), and the only way to submit a challenge is by going to and completing the online application process.
• New courses available through NEET UG in 2026 will include BSc Nursing, BPT (Physiotherapy), and BOT (Occupational Therapy) courses.

NEET Answer Key 2026

On May 3, 2026, the National Testing Agency (NTA) will publish the NEET UG 2026 Answer Key. It will do this by making both the provisional and the final answer keys available at neet.nta.nic.in for candidates who have taken the test to use. Before the final answer key is released, candidates can use the provisional answer key to assess their anticipated score and submit any concerns they have about the grade.

This year’s NEET UG is projected to draw more candidates than any previous NEET exam, with between 25 and 26 lakh candidates expected to register, up 27% from the 22.7 lakh candidates who registered in 2025. The increase in candidate registration is mostly attributable to the addition for the first time of BSc Nursing, BPT (Physiotherapy) and BOT (Occupational Therapy) admissions under the NEET umbrella and the consolidation of many state-based paramedical entrance tests.

NEET Answer Key 2026 Important Dates

The table below shows all confirmed and expected dates for NEET UG 2026, from registration to result.

What’s New in NEET UG 2026?

NEET 2026 brings some key changes compared to 2025 that every candidate should know:

New Courses Added Under NEET 2026

For the first time, the following courses will accept NEET UG 2026 scores for admission  along with the existing courses:

1. MBBS
2. BDS
3. BAMS
4. BUMS
5. BHMS
6. BSMS
7. BVSc & AH
8. BSc Nursing
9. BPT (Physiotherapy)
10. BOT (Occupational Therapy)

NEET UG 2026 — Key Exam Details

How to Download NEET Answer Key 2026

Once NTA releases the provisional answer key (expected early June 2026), candidates can download it by following these steps:

1. Visit the official NEET UG website: www.neet.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the “Provisional Answer Key Challenge” link in the Public Notice / Latest Updates section.
3. Log in using your application number, password, and security PIN.
4. Select your question paper set code from the dropdown menu.
5. The answer key PDF will display on your screen. Cross-check your responses.
6. Download and save the answer key PDF for score calculation and future reference.

Note: Important: Login credentials for NEET UG 2026 are application number + password + security pin — NOT application number and date of birth. Keep your credentials safe after registration.

How to Download NEET 2026 OMR / Response Sheet

NTA will release individual OMR response sheets along with the provisional answer key. Your OMR sheet shows the exact answers you marked during the exam — use it alongside the answer key to calculate your accurate score.

1. Go to neet.nta.nic.in
2. Click on the “NEET UG 2026 OMR / Response Sheet” link.
3. Log in using your application number, password and security PIN.
4. Your recorded OMR responses will appear on the screen.
5. Download and compare with the official answer key to estimate your score.

Objection Window & Process

After the provisional answer key is released, NTA opens an objection window for candidates to challenge any answer they believe is incorrect. Based on 2025 trends, the objection window is expected to remain open for 2–3 days after the provisional key is released.

1. Log in to neet.nta.nic.in with your application number, password and security pin.
2. Click on “Apply for Answer Key Challenge(s)” on the homepage.
3. Select the question(s) you wish to challenge and choose your alternative answer option(s).
4. Upload supporting documents or references (NCERT page, research paper, etc.) to back your objection.
5. Click “Save your Claim”, then “Save your Claim and Pay Fee Finally”.
6. Pay the non-refundable fee of Rs 200 per question via debit card, credit card, or net banking.
7. Download the Answer Key Challenge Receipt for your records.
   

Key Points about Objections:

• The fee of Rs 200 per question is non-refundable regardless of outcome.
• Challenges will only be accepted through the online portal — no offline submissions allowed.
• Candidates are NOT individually informed if their objection is accepted or rejected. Changes appear only in the final answer key.
• The final answer key, once released, cannot be challenged under any circumstances.

NEET Answer Key Previous Year Release Dates

Use this data to estimate when to expect the NEET 2026 answer key and result.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. When will the NEET UG 2026 answer key be released?
Ans. NTA will release the NEET UG 2026 Provisional Answer Key within a month of the exam (03 May 2026), expected in early June 2026. The final answer key, along with the result, is expected in the second or third week of June 2026. Based on the 2025 pattern, the provisional key was released exactly 30 days after the exam.

Q2. How do I download the NEET 2026 answer key?
Ans. Visit neet.nta.nic.in and click the Provisional Answer Key link: log in with your application number, password and security pin, select your paper set code and download the PDF. The answer key will be available subject-wise and set-wise for all candidates.

Q3. What are the paper set codes for NEET 2026?
Ans. NTA distributes NEET question papers in 4 different set codes. In 2025, the sets were numbered 45, 46, 47, and 48. The same or similar numbering is expected for 2026. The set code is printed on your question paper and admit card. You must download the answer key for your specific set code to match answers correctly.

Q4. What is the marking scheme for NEET 2026?
Ans. NEET 2026 follows this marking scheme: +4 marks for every correct answer, -1 mark for every wrong answer, and 0 marks for unattempted questions. The maximum score is 720 for 180 questions. There is no change in the marking scheme from 2025.

Q5. What is the objection fee for the NEET 2026 answer key challenge?
Ans. The objection fee is Rs 200 per question challenged. This fee is non-refundable, whether or not the objection is accepted. Payment can be made online through debit card, credit card, or net banking on the official NTA portal. Challenges are only accepted online — no offline mode is available.

Q6. How many students registered for NEET 2026?
Ans. Approximately 25–26 lakh candidates are expected to have registered for NEET 2026, making it the largest NEET ever. The surge is due to BSc Nursing, BPT, BOT, and multiple state-level allied health exams being merged into NEET for the first time in 2026.

Q7. Can I challenge the NEET 2026 Final Answer Key?
Ans. No. Only the provisional answer key can be challenged within the objection window (typically 2–3 days after release). The final answer key, once released, cannot be challenged under any circumstances. Any discrepancies noticed in the final key are not entertained after it is officially published along with the result.