The National Testing Agency (NTA) on Thursday announced the results of the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Undergraduate) or NEET UG 2026, with more than 11.21 lakh candidates qualifying for admission
to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and allied health science programmes across the country.
According to the NTA, women accounted for over 58 per cent of the qualified candidates, continuing their strong representation among successful aspirants. The majority of top-performing candidates were between 17 and 19 years of age.
A total of 138 candidates scored above 690 marks out of the maximum 720 marks. Of these, more than 93 per cent were appearing for NEET UG for the first time, while nearly 99 per cent belonged to the 17-19 age group.
The qualified candidates came from all 36 States and Union Territories, reflecting the nationwide reach of the examination. Uttar Pradesh recorded the highest number of successful candidates, with more than 1.7 lakh qualifiers, while Lakshadweep had 43 candidates clearing the exam.
Among the notable state toppers were Jigmet Yangchan Lamo from Ladakh, who scored 530 marks, Dhruv Tripathi from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands with 606 marks, and Fahmida Anees from Lakshadweep, who secured 573 marks.
The NTA noted that state toppers emerged from every state and Union Territory, including all northeastern states. Seventeen state toppers scored 700 marks or above, while 26 secured more than 690 marks.
The 138 highest scorers hailed from 66 cities across India, highlighting the broad geographic spread of top performers. The top 17 candidates, who scored above 705 marks, belonged to eight states — Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Bihar, Tamil Nadu and Telangana.
NEET UG is India’s largest medical entrance examination and serves as the gateway for admission to MBBS, BDS, AYUSH and several allied healthcare programmes across the country.
The examination was re-conducted on June 21 after the original test was cancelled amid allegations of a paper leak, triggering one of the biggest controversies in the history of the exam.
More than 20 lakh medical aspirants appeared for the re-examination, which was held at 5,440 centres across India and 14 centres overseas. To ensure the integrity of the process, authorities deployed nearly 7 lakh personnel, including examination staff, police personnel, observers and administrative officials.
The examination was conducted under extensive security arrangements, with over 95,000 examination rooms monitored through more than 1.38 lakh CCTV cameras. Additionally, over 51,000 signal jammers were installed at centres to prevent electronic malpractice and ensure a fair testing environment.
