Short answer
You must complete 17 years of age on or before 31 December of the year in which you appear for NEET (UG). For NEET (UG) 2026, this meant being born on or before 31.12.2009. The 2026 bulletin says there is no upper age limit.
Based on the NEET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletin. The 2027 bulletin hasn't been published yet — rules can change, so check it when it is.
Who this applies to
All candidates appearing in NEET (UG) for MBBS, BDS, BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS courses
The rule, explained
The minimum age rule comes from the Graduate Medical Education Regulations of the National Medical Commission (NMC). A candidate must have completed 17 years of age on or before 31st December of the year in which they appear for NEET (UG).
The 2026 bulletin gives the same birth-date limit, born on or before 31.12.2009, for General (UR) and General-Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates, and for Scheduled Caste (SC), Scheduled Tribe (ST), Other Backward Classes-Non Creamy Layer (OBC-NCL) and Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD/PwD) candidates.
Maximum age: based on an NMC letter dated 09 March 2022, the bulletin says there is no upper age limit.
For BAMS, BSMS, BUMS and BHMS (Ayurveda, Siddha, Unani and Homoeopathy) courses, the bulletin also says no candidate can be admitted unless they have reached the age of seventeen years on or before 31st December of the year of admission to the first year of the course.
What the official document says
He/She has completed the age of 17 years as on or before 31st December of the year that the candidate shall be appearing for NEET-UG examination.
National Testing Agency (NTA) · Information Bulletin for NEET (UG) – 2026, PDF page 30 (opens the official site)
Under Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) regarding the upper age limit) there is no upper age limit.
National Testing Agency (NTA) · Information Bulletin for NEET (UG) – 2026, PDF page 30 (opens the official site)
No candidate shall be admitted to BAMS, BSMS, BUMS, and BHMS Degree Courses unless he has attained the age of seventeen years on or before the 31st December of the year of his admission in the first year of the course.
National Testing Agency (NTA) · Information Bulletin for NEET (UG) – 2026, PDF page 46 (opens the official site)