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NEET UG 2026: The National Testing Agency (NTA) is in action mode regarding NEET UG 2026. To ensure the medical entrance exam—scheduled for June 21, 2026 (Sunday)—is transparent, secure, and student-friendly, the NTA has announced several major changes. Following recent controversies surrounding the NEET UG exam, special attention has been paid this time to both security and candidate convenience, ensuring a stress-free experience in the exam hall.
Candidates often complain about wasting valuable time on administrative formalities like signing and verification during the exam. Additionally, running out of space on the question paper for lengthy Physics and Chemistry calculations was a major issue. Recognizing these challenges, the NTA has completely redesigned the test booklet. Here is what you can expect at the NEET UG exam centers on June 21, 2026.

NEET UG 2026: Three major changes by the NTA—from rough work to timing
If you are preparing for the NEET UG exam, you should be aware of the National Testing Agency's comprehensive preparations.

1. A full 195 minutes instead of 180

Candidates will be allotted 195 minutes (3 hours and 15 minutes) for the NEET exam. The NTA has clarified that this entire duration is reserved exclusively for the candidates to write the exam. The test will be conducted from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM. The NTA has designed this time slot to accommodate all necessary formalities—such as invigilator signatures, biometrics, and OMR sheet collection—within this period. Candidates with disabilities (PwBD) will receive an additional 65 minutes, meaning their exam will conclude at 6:20 PM.

2. Extra pages for rough work

This comes as a major relief for NEET candidates. Candidates often found the space for rough work in the NEET paper insufficient, forcing them to write in tiny script or cross out previous calculations. To resolve this issue permanently, the NTA has increased the number of rough work pages in the test booklet from two to four. Candidates will now have ample space to work out even the most complex formulas and calculations.

3. Special design for left-handed candidates
Approximately 10% of candidates in the country are left-handed. The layout of previous test booklets was designed with right-handed candidates in mind, requiring left-handed candidates to repeatedly flip pages to the very back for rough work. This time, the NTA has introduced a new concept. Under the new design, two pages for rough work have been added at the beginning of the booklet—immediately after the instruction page. Left-handed students will no longer need to repeatedly reach for the final pages of the paper.

Schedule for June 21: Minute-by-minute timeline
The NTA has released the complete timeline for the day of the exam, which must be strictly followed:

11:00 AM: Entry into exam centers and the security check (frisking) process will begin. The NTA advises candidates to arrive early to avoid crowding.

01:30 PM: The main gate will be closed. Entry into the center will not be permitted under any circumstances after this time.

01:40 PM: Final entry of candidates into the exam room/hall.

01:55 PM: Test booklets will be handed over to candidates so they can verify the code, page count, etc.

02:00 PM: The NEET UG exam will commence.

05:15 PM: The exam will conclude (06:20 PM for differently-abled candidates). Note: The NTA has strictly advised candidates and parents to rely only on information provided on the official NTA website (neet.nta.nic.in) and its verified channels. Do not be misled by any rumors circulating on social media.

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