NEET UG 2026: NTA extends exam duration to 195 minutes, announces major changes for students

The National Testing Agency (NTA) has introduced several student-friendly changes for the NEET (UG) 2026 examination, including an increase in the exam duration and additional space for rough work. The medical entrance exam will be conducted on June 21, 2026, from 2:00 PM to 5:15 PM.

According to the revised guidelines, the total examination window has been extended to 195 minutes. The additional time will cover mandatory administrative procedures such as attendance verification and invigilation formalities, ensuring candidates receive their full allotted time to attempt the question paper without interruptions.

NTA has also increased the number of rough-work pages from two to four. Two pages will now be placed immediately after the instruction section, while the remaining two pages will continue to appear at the end of the booklet. The change aims to provide more convenience for students, particularly left-handed candidates who had raised concerns about the previous layout.

The updated rough-work page design will be available across all question paper versions, including English and regional languages. The agency said these modifications have been introduced to improve the overall examination experience and provide a more student-friendly testing environment.