New Delhi, Mar 8: In a major relief for over 20 lakh aspiring medical students across India, the National Testing Agency (NTA) announced on Sunday an extension of the NEET (UG) 2026 online application form submission deadline till March 11, 2026, up to 9:00 PM, with fee payment window open until 11:50 PM on the same day.
This last-minute extension comes amid overwhelming response and technical glitches reported by candidates during the initial window that opened on January 20, allowing more time for Class 12 students and droppers to finalize their registrations for the prestigious National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, gateway to MBBS, BDS, and allied courses in government and private colleges nationwide.
NTA emphasized in its official notice on neet.nta.nic.in that no further extensions will be granted, urging applicants to upload required documents—including passport-size photo, signature, thumb impression, and Category/Disability certificates if applicable—without delays to avoid last-hour server crashes. The application fee remains unchanged: ₹1,700 (General), ₹1,600 (EWS/OBC), and ₹1,000 (SC/ST/PwD/Third Gender), payable online via debit/credit card, net banking, or UPI.
The move benefits students in remote areas facing internet issues or those awaiting Aadhaar-linked corrections, especially with the exam tentatively slated for May 4, 2026, in 13 languages including Hindi, English, and regional tongues. Last year’s NEET saw 24 lakh registrations and topped global single-exam records, with top ranks securing AIIMS seats.
Experts advise double-checking details like 17-digit Application Number and ensuring images meet specs (photo: 10-200KB JPEG; signature: 4-30KB). Correction window opens post-deadline from March 13-15.
