The NEET UG 2026 exam is days away. 22.79 lakh registered candidates will sit the test on Sunday, May 3, from 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM, across 566 cities in India and 14 centres abroad. NTA released admit cards on April 26. Here’s everything you need sorted before exam day.
Download your admit card now
Admit cards are live at neet.nta.nic.in. Log in with your application number and password (or date of birth), complete the captcha, and download the PDF. Print it. A digital copy on your phone will not be accepted at the centre.
If you’re having trouble logging in, try the alternate link that NTA sometimes provides on its homepage, or clear your browser cache and retry. The site gets heavy traffic in the last few days before the exam.
What to carry
You need four things at the exam centre:
- Printed admit card with the self-declaration form signed
- Original photo ID (Aadhaar, PAN card, voter ID, driving licence, or passport)
- Passport-size and postcard-size photographs, same as your application photo
- A transparent water bottle
That’s it. Everything else stays outside the centre or at home.
What not to carry
NTA runs strict security checks. Leave these behind:
- Mobile phones, smartwatches, earphones, Bluetooth devices
- Calculators and any electronic gadgets
- Pens, pencils, erasers, or any stationery (NTA provides a ballpoint pen at your seat)
- Wallets, bags, and food items
- Jewellery and metallic accessories
If you need prescription medicines, carry them with a doctor’s note and inform the invigilator before the exam begins.
Dress code
The dress code exists for security screening. Wear half-sleeved, light-coloured clothing. No dark colours, no heavy embroidery, no clothing with large buttons or excessive pockets. Open-toed footwear (sandals or slippers) is required.
Avoid jewellery, metal hair clips, and accessories that could trigger a metal detector. The less you carry, the faster you get through screening and into your seat.
Timing
Gates open at 11:00 AM. Last entry is 1:30 PM. The exam runs 2:00 PM to 5:00 PM. No one is allowed to leave before 5:00 PM.
Arrive by 11:00 AM. The verification and frisking process takes time, and the anxiety of cutting it close is not worth the extra hour at home. Settle into your seat, breathe, and use the buffer to get comfortable with the hall.
One thing that’s different this year
NTA has confirmed that 99% of candidates received their first-choice exam city. If you haven’t checked your centre location yet, do it today. Know where the building is, how long it takes to get there, and where you’ll park or get dropped off. A dry run tomorrow eliminates one more variable on exam day.
All the best
You’ve put in the work. The syllabus hasn’t changed, the format hasn’t changed, and the three hours ahead of you are the same test that lakhs of students write every year.
Trust your preparation. Read each question fully before looking at the options. If a question feels stuck, mark it for review and move on; the next easy one is worth the same four marks. Manage your time, manage your nerves, and you’ll walk out knowing you gave it your best.
After results come out, we’ll be here to help you make sense of your rank, explore colleges, and build your counselling preference list at neet2seat.com.
Good luck.
Source: NTA NEET UG 2026 information bulletin and admit card notification (April 26, 2026).