NEW DELHI: The nationwide decline in NEET-UG attendance in 2026 revealed a distinct regional trend, with Kerala, Tamil Nadu and Karnataka recording some of the highest absentee rates, while Rajasthan expanded its candidate base and posted the strongest qualification rate among major states.
Kerala registered 1.14 lakh candidates, but only 84,664 appeared for the exam, leaving 29,122 absent—a no-show rate of 25.6%. Tamil Nadu reported 33,893 absentees out of 1.42 lakh registrations (23.8%), while Karnataka recorded 28,288 no-shows, accounting for 19.4% of registered candidates. Maharashtra’s absentee rate was lower but still notable at 9.8%, with 21,749 candidates skipping the exam. The absentee rates are calculated against total registrations.
In contrast, northern states reported far lower absenteeism. Rajasthan recorded a no-show rate of 7.9%, while Uttar Pradesh stood at 7.6%.
Kerala witnessed the steepest year-on-year decline. The number of candidates appearing for NEET fell from 1.22 lakh in 2025 to 84,664 this year—a drop of more than 30%. The number of qualifiers also declined by 21,546 to 51,782.
Tamil Nadu, despite registering 2,336 more candidates than last year, saw 27,114 fewer candidates take the exam and 14,875 fewer qualify. Karnataka’s number of qualifiers dropped by 17,681.
Rajasthan bucked the trend. Registrations rose 15.5%, from 1.81 lakh in 2025 to nearly 2.1 lakh this year, while the number of qualifiers increased by 13,275 to 1.33 lakh. The state posted a qualification rate of 69.3% among candidates who appeared—the highest among large states—further reinforcing its position as India’s leading medical entrance coaching hub.
Elsewhere, Punjab recorded an 18.6% rise in registrations to 34,858, while Jammu and Kashmir saw registrations increase from 50,957 to 56,420. The “Others, including Outside India” category more than doubled, rising from 1,997 to 4,732 registrations. NRI registrations also increased sharply, from 741 to 1,066, a jump of nearly 44%.
