The National Testing Agency (NTA) has declared the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Undergraduate (NEET UG) 2026 results, bringing an end to the wait for nearly 20 lakh medical aspirants across the country. Candidates who appeared for the entrance examination can now download their scorecards from the official website, neet.nta.nic.in.According to the NTA, more than 11.21 lakh candidates have qualified for admission to undergraduate medical, dental, AYUSH and allied health science courses. The examination was conducted on June 21 at 5,440 centres spread across 551 cities in India and 14 cities abroad, in 13 languages.The agency said the results were announced on schedule to ensure that the medical counselling process begins without delay. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) will conduct counselling for the 15 per cent All India Quota seats, while the respective state authorities will oversee admissions under the state quota.
Punjab’s Aryan Gupta secures AIR 1
Punjab’s Aryan Gupta emerged as one of the joint national toppers by securing 715 out of 720 marks, sharing the top rank with Panshul Bansal of Haryana.Speaking to PTI after the results were declared, Aryan described the achievement as a dream come true after months of relentless preparation.“I secured AIR 1. I scored 715 out of 720. My father and mother are doctors. I worked hard. I would not get sleep, but it is feeling surreal now, looking like a dream. Everyone is happy,” he told PTI.Aryan revealed that his preparation demanded extraordinary discipline. During the final phase of his studies, he devoted 16 to 17 hours every day to preparing for the country’s toughest undergraduate medical entrance examination.
A childhood promise inspired his career choice
Beyond the academic achievement, Aryan’s ambition to pursue medicine is deeply personal. He said he wants to become an oncologist, a decision shaped by a tragedy he experienced as a child.“My grandmother had died from cancer. I was in third standard then, and I had taken a pledge,” he said in an interaction with PTI, adding that there is still “so much to do in life.”
Message for future NEET aspirants
Aryan also had a message for students preparing for future editions of NEET and for those who could not qualify this year.He urged aspirants not to lose hope and to remain committed to their goals, saying that consistent hard work eventually pays off. According to him, success does not come overnight, but sincere efforts never go unnoticed. He encouraged students to continue working with dedication, expressing his belief that if one remains persistent, the universe eventually recognises honest effort and rewards perseverance.His advice comes as thousands of candidates begin preparing for the next NEET cycle, while others look to learn from this year’s experience.
NEET UG 2026 by the numbers
This year’s results reflect the highly competitive nature of the examination.
- 19 candidates scored above 700 marks.
- 138 candidates secured more than 690 marks.
- 1,492 candidates scored 650 marks and above.
- 10,160 candidates obtained 600 marks and above.
- 90,780 candidates crossed the 500-mark threshold.
The NTA also noted that over 93 per cent of the top 138 candidates were first-time test takers, while nearly 99 per cent belonged to the 17-19 years age group. More than 58 per cent of the qualified candidates are women.
Counselling process to begin soon
With the results now available, the admission process will move to the counselling stage. The MCC will conduct counselling for the All India Quota seats, while individual states will release their own counselling schedules for state quota admissions.The NTA has advised candidates to rely only on official websites for counselling-related information and warned them against fraudulent calls, messages or websites promising admissions, seat blocking or score enhancement in exchange for money.
