NEET 2026 Registration Opens: How to complete form with live photo capture requirement? Step-by-step guide

The registration window for NEET UG 2026 has already been opened, giving medical aspirants a chance to begin their application process for the upcoming entrance exam. The online registration was started on February 8, 2026, by the National Testing Agency, which conducts the national medical entrance test.

Students aiming for undergraduate medical and allied courses such as MBBS, BDS, AYUSH, BVSc, AH, BHMS, and B.Sc. Nursing (MNS) should complete their applications before the March 8, 2026 deadline. Authorities have advised candidates not to wait until the last moment because a large number of applicants are expected, and technical issues may arise closer to the closing date.

This year’s application process includes a few new requirements. Candidates will need to complete eKYC verification using Aadhaar and upload a live photograph during form submission. The photo must clearly show the face, covering around 80 percent of the frame, and should not include accessories such as caps, spectacles, or goggles. The image can be uploaded using a web camera or by scanning a QR code through a smartphone. Since the same photograph will be verified on the exam day, accuracy is important.

The exam itself is scheduled for May 3, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM (IST). The correction window for application details will open between March 10 and March 12, while the fee payment must be completed before 11:50 PM on March 8.

NEET UG 2026 will continue to be conducted in the traditional pen-and-paper format and will be available in 13 different languages including Hindi, English, Bengali, Gujarati, and Marathi. Candidates are required to select their preferred language at the time of application, as this choice cannot be changed later.

Application fees vary depending on the category. General category candidates need to pay Rs 1,700, while General-EWS and OBC-NCL applicants have to pay Rs 1,600. SC, ST, PwBD, and third gender candidates are required to pay Rs 1000. For exam centres located outside India, the application fee is Rs 9500 across categories. Payments can be made through debit card, credit card, net banking, or UPI.

Authorities have also warned candidates to submit only one application form. Multiple submissions may lead to cancellation of candidature. Applicants are advised to use the official websites, nta.ac.in or neet.nta.nic.in, for registration and to provide active email IDs and mobile numbers belonging to themselves or their parents for receiving updates.

Since NEET UG remains the primary gateway to undergraduate medical education in India, competition is expected to stay intense. Admission to MBBS, BDS, and other medical and nursing programmes under both All India and state quotas will be based strictly on merit and exam performance. Experts suggest that candidates focus on early form submission, verify all details carefully, and continue their preparation alongside the application process.