NEET 2026 answer key bonus marks are awarded to candidates under certain conditions. This article of Shiksha.com brings to you the details regarding NEET 2026 answer key bonus marks. The article explains the NEET marking scheme, along with the bonus marks criteria.
NEET Answer Key Bonus Marks
NEET bonus marks are a concept related to the marking scheme and answer keys. As per the NEET marking scheme, there is no bonus marking while attempting the questions. But according to the National Testing Agency, the exam conducting authority, in case of discrepancies in the NEET answer keys found, then test-takers will be eligible for the bonus marking. There are certain criteria or conditions related to the awarding of the NEET bonus marks.
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This article of Shiksha explains in detail about the NEET 2026 bonus marking, in terms of how it works, who is eligible for the bonus marking and also answers the relevant queries. The NEET Bonus Marking Scheme was introduced by NTA with the aim of giving equal scope to every candidate to score. This also recognises the errors committed by the exam authorities and avoids injustice towards students.
Latest:
- What is NEET 2026 Bonus Marks?
- NEET 2026 Bonus Marking Scheme
- How to Know About NEET Bonus Marks?
- Benefits of NEET Bonus Marks
- NEET 2026 Marking Scheme
- NEET Exam Pattern
What is NEET 2026 Bonus Marks?
NEET 2026 bonus marks or the criteria of awarding bonus marks will be announced by NTA in the NEET 2026 information bulletin. The bonus marking process will be applicable only if there is a discrepancy in the NEET answer keys. After the NEET provisional answer keys are released, candidates will be aware about the scope of getting bonus marks. The conditions under which candidates will be eligible for bonus marking in NEET are as follows:
- If more than one answer option is found to be correct
- If all answer options are found to be correct
- If none of the answer options are found to be correct
Based on the above criteria, the marking scheme varies.
Commonly asked questions
The NEET 2026 cutoff is released along with the results. The NTA released the NEET UG cutoff marks based on the difficulty level. Till then, take a look at the NEET 2025 cutoff for reference.
| Category | Cut off percentile | Cut off marks |
| UR/EWS | 50th Percentile | 715–213 |
| OBC | 40th Percentile | 212–177 |
| SC | 40th Percentile | 212–177 |
| ST | 40th Percentile | 212–177 |
| SC/OBC - PwD | 40th percentile | 193 - 177 |
| ST - PwD | 40th Percentile | 191 - 178 |
The NEET counselling registration fee varies for different candidate categories. For the AIQ seats and Central Universities, the fee for the General category candidates is INR 1,000 and for the SC, ST, OBC and PwD category candidates, the fee is INR 500. For participating in the NEET counselling process for Deemed Universities, the registration fee for all category candidates is INR 5,000. The registration fee is non-refundable. On the other hand, candidates will have to pay the tuition fee which is refundable. The amount for the General category candidates for the AIQ seats and Central Universities is INR 10,000. For the reserved category candidates, the amount is INR 5,000. For Deemed Universities, the tuition fee to be paid by all category candidates is INR 2,00,000. Those who would not be allotted a seat after the NEET counselling process will be refunded the tuition fee after the conclusion of the counselling rounds.
The NEET counselling process is conducted by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) primarily in online mode. All the steps of the counselling process, including the registration, release of seat matrix, choice filling and locking, and release of the seat allotment result. Only the last and final round, which is the institute reporting, has to be done in offline mode. Herein candidates who have been allotted seats have to visit the institutes for document verification and complete the admission process by paying the requisite fee amount.
The MCC conducts around 4 to 5 rounds for NEET UG Counselling process for MBBS, BDS, BHMS and other seats. The rounds of NEET counselling depends on seat matrix and number of vacant seats.
NEET 2026 Bonus Marking Scheme
Based on the above criteria, NTA has specified the marking scheme for the above criteria. The below table brings the marks awarded in each of these scenario.
| Parameter | NEET Bonus Marking Scheme |
|---|---|
| If more than one answer option is found to be correct |
+4 to be awarded only to those who have marked any of the correct options |
| If all answer options are found to be correct |
+4 to be awarded to all those who have attempted the question |
| If none of the answer options are found to be correct |
+4 to be awarded to all candidates irrespective of attempting the question |
Based on the above criteria, candidates will be awarded NEET 2026 bonus marks. It must be noted that the bonus marks are given in exceptional situations and it is not a norm. Hence, in case there is no discrepancy in the provisional answer keys, then there will not be any chance to secure bonus marks in NEET 2026.
How to Know About NEET Bonus Marks?
NTA will announce about the NEET bonus marks in the final answer keys. Based on the objections that will be received in the provisional answer keys from candidates, the NTA expert committee will announce about the NEET bonus marks. The process to check whether candidates are eligible for bonus marking scheme is given below.
- Visit the NEET UG exam website - www.neet.nta.nic.in
- Click on the link indicating NEET final answer key
- Download the PDF
- The answer keys for all sets will be provided in the PDF format
- In case a question has more than one answer option, or has a * mark with a note indicating all or none of the answer options are correct, that means that candidates will be eligible for NEET bonus marking for such questions.
Test-takers should also note whether they fulfil the condition of attempting that particular question or not. Only for those questions, where none of the answer options is correct, all candidates will be given the bonus marks. Once the NEET 2026 final answer keys are released, submitting objections regarding bonus marking will not be allowed.
Commonly asked questions
NEET counselling seat matrix refers to the number of seats offered across the participating institutes for each course. The seat matrix is released by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) before the commencement of the counselling process. The seat matrix is released in institute-wise categories for the types of institutes, such as Deemed universities, AIIMS & JIPMER, etc. For NEET 2025 counselling, the primary seat matrix released by MCC for Round 1 was of for Deemed University, Central University, BSc Nursing and AIQ seats. After that, for the second and third rounds, MCC releases the list of newly added seats along with the clear vacancy and virtual vacancy.
The NTA has released the NEET 2026 results on its official website - neet.nta.nic.in. Candidates can download their NEET scorecard to check their status.
Candidates can check the NEET results using the process shared below-
- Visit neet.nta.nic.in
- Click on result PDF link.
- Go through the PDF carefully.
- Download the PDF.
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Benefits of NEET Bonus Marks
There are a number of benefits of the NEET bonus marking system. Some of which are listed below.
- Scope of scoring high: If a candidate gets the bonus marks, for questions they had attempted without being sure of the accuracy, they will not only get additional four marks, but will also be saved from the negative marking. In case of non-attempt, they will not be eligible for these marks.
- Mitigating the negative marking: By getting bonus marks, candidates will be able to negate or mitigate the effect of the negative marking scheme, which would have lowered their score than what they can secure with the bonus marks.
- Fair evaluation system: The bonus marking system in NEET will ensure a fair evaluation system so that test-takers are not affected by the errors committed by the conducting authorities.
NEET 2026 Marking Scheme
The NEET 2026 marking scheme can be checked below:
- Each correct answer will be awarded four marks
- One mark will be deducted for every incorrect answer
- No mark will be deducted for the questions which have not been answered
- Questions that have two or more responses marked on the OMR sheet will be considered incorrect and one mark will be deducted from them.
Commonly asked questions
The category-wise NEET cutoff percentile is given in the table below:
Category | NEET Cut Off Percentile |
|---|---|
General Category/Unreserved (UR) Category | 50 |
OBC/SC/ST | 40 |
PwD (General/UR) | 45 |
PwD (Reserved) | 40 |
Candidates need the given documents for NEET UG Counselling-
- NEET admit card
- NEET result or score card
- Class 10 and 12 mark sheet and certificate
- Valid, non-expired and government-issued photo ID proof
- Six to eight passport-sized photographs
- Caste Certificate
- Disability Certificate
- NEET Gap Certificate
- Provisional allotment letter
The terms Clear Vacancy and Virtual Vacancy are related to the NEET seat matrix, which is released prior to each round of counselling. Clear Vacancy means empty or unclaimed seats at the end of the institute reporting process conducted at the end of each round. After the declaration of the seat allotment result, if a candidate exits the seat, then those seats come under the Clear Vacancy category. On the other hand, Virtual Vacancy refers to the seats which are considered to be available, if candidates allotted those seats opt for upgradation. In case their seat is not upgraded then the virtual vacancy will not be applicable anymore.
The NEET cut off score generally changes every year, based on the exam difficulty level. The NEET 2025 cut off score was reduced from that of 2024. Have a look at the cut off scores of NEET 2025 exam below-
Category | NEET 2025 Cutoff percentile | NEET 2025 Cutoff score |
|---|---|---|
UR/EWS | 50th | 686-144 |
OBC, SC, ST | 40th | 143-113 |
UR/EWS-PwD | 45th | 143-127 |
OBC/SC/St-PwD | 40th | 126-113 |
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NEET Exam Pattern
Although NTA has released the NEET 2026 syllabus, which has remained the same as last year, the NEET 2026 exam pattern details can be checked below.
| Subject |
Number of Questions |
Marks |
|---|---|---|
| Physics |
45 |
180 |
| Chemistry |
45 |
180 |
| Botany |
45 |
180 |
| Zoology |
45 |
180 |
| Total |
180 |
720 |
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Anything you would want to ask experts?Answered Yesterday
The Kerala NEET UG Counselling will be conducted online from August 13 to 22. The last date to join the allotted seat will be August 28. Document verification will be done by August 29.
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The Kerala NEET UG Counselling Round 3 will be conducted from September 16 to 26. The last date to join the allotted seat will be October 1, 2026.
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The MP NEET UG Counselling 2026 will be held from August 31 to September 8. The last date to join the allotted course will be September 14. The document verification will be done by September 15.
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The MP NEET UG Counselling will be conducted online from August 13 to 22. The last date to join the allotted seat will be August 28. Document verification will be done by August 29.
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The Rajasthan NEET UG Counselling Round 3 will be conducted from September 16 to 26. The last date to join the allotted seat will be October 1, 2026.
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The Rajasthan NEET UG Counselling will be conducted online from August 13 to 22. The last date to join the allotted seat will be August 28. Document verification will be done by August 29.
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The Kerala NEET UG Counselling Round 3 will be conducted from September 16 to 26. The last date to join the allotted seat will be October 1, 2026.
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The Kerala NEET UG Counselling will be conducted online from August 13 to 22. The last date to join the allotted seat will be August 28. Document verification will be done by August 29.
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The Chhattisgarh NEET UG Counselling Round 3 will be conducted from September 16 to 26. The last date to join the allotted seat will be October 1, 2026.
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The Chhattisgarh NEET UG Counselling will be conducted online from August 13 to 22. The last date to join the allotted seat will be August 28. Document verification will be done by August 29.
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