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The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released the NEET Biology syllabus 2026 for the upcoming NEET 2026 exam conducted by NTA. The syllabus is based on NCERT Class 11 and Class 12 syllabus. Biology in NEET has two branches - Botany and Zoology. It is the most scoring subject as it contributes to 50% marks of the total paper (360/720).
This page is all about explaining the NEET Biology Syllabus 2026 to aspirants in detail so no doubt is left unanswered.
Download NEET Biology Syllabus PDF
You can Download NEET Biology Syllabus 2026 PDF from below.
Key Highlights of NEET 2026 Biology Syllabus
Structure of NEET Biology Syllabus 2026
NEET syllabus for Biology has two branches, overall. The basic structure of both the branches is discussed below:
NEET Biology Syllabus - Class 11 Topics
Class 11 Biology topics included in NEET Syllabus 2026 have been mentioned below:
Unit 1 - Diversity in the Living World
(Botany + Zoology)
- What is living? Biodiversity; Need for classification; Taxonomy & Systematics; Concept of species and taxonomical hierarchy; Binomial nomenclature
- Five kingdom classification; salient features and classification of Monera; Protista and Fungi into major groups; Lichens; Viruses and Viroids
- Salient features and classification of plants into major groups - Algae, Bryophytes, Pteridophytes, Gymnosperms (three to five salient and distinguishing features and at least two examples of each category)
- Salient features and classification of animals-non - chordate up to phyla level and chordate up to classes level (three to five salient features and at least two examples)
Unit 2 - Structural Organisation in Animals and Plants
(Botany + Zoology)
- Morphology and modifications; Tissues; Anatomy and functions of different parts of flowering plants: Root, stem, leaf, inflorescence-cymose and racemose, flower, fruit and seed (To be dealt along with the relevant practical of the Practical Syllabus); Family (Malvaceae, Cruciferae, Leguminosae, Compositae, Graminae)
- Animal tissues; Morphology, anatomy and functions of different systems (digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive) of an insect (Frog) (Brief account only)
Unit 3 - Cell Structure and Function
(Botany + Zoology)
- Cell theory and cell as the basic unit of life; Structure of prokaryotic and eukaryotic cell; Plant cell and animal cell; Cell envelope, cell membrane, cell wall
- Cell organelles-structure and function; Endomembrane system-endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles; mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, microbodies; Cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles (ultrastructure and function); Nucleus-nuclear membrane, chromatin, nucleolus
- Chemical constituents of living cells: Biomolecules-structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, lipids, nucleic acids; Enzymes-types, properties, enzyme action, classification and nomenclature of enzymes
- Cell division: Cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance
Unit 4 - Plant Physiology
(Botany)
Photosynthesis
- Photosynthesis as a means of autotrophic nutrition; site of photosynthesis; pigments involved in photosynthesis (elementary idea)
- Photochemical and biosynthetic phases of photosynthesis; cyclic and non- cyclic photophosphorylation; chemiosmotic hypothesis
- Photorespiration; C3 and C4 pathways; factors affecting photosynthesis
Respiration in Plants
- Exchange of gases; cellular respiration-glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic respiration), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic respiration)
- Energy relations-number of ATP molecules generated; amphibolic pathways; respiratory quotient
Plant Growth and Development
- Seed germination; phases of plant growth and plant growth rate; conditions of growth
- Differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation; sequence of developmental process in a plant cell
- Growth regulators-auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA
Unit 5 - Human Physiology
(Zoology)
Breathing and Respiration
- Respiratory organs in animals (recall only); respiratory system in humans
- Mechanism of breathing and its regulation-exchange of gases, transport of gases and regulation of respiration; respiratory volumes
- Disorders: Asthma, Emphysema, Occupational respiratory disorders
Body Fluids and Circulation
- Body fluids and circulation has composition of blood, blood groups, coagulation of blood; composition of lymph and its function
- Human circulatory system-structure of human heart and blood vessels; cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG, double circulation; regulation of cardiac activity
- Disorders: Hypertension, Coronary artery disease, Angina pectoris, Heart failure
Excretory Products and Their Elimination
- Modes of excretion - Ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; human excretory system-structure and function
- Urine formation, osmoregulation; regulation of kidney function-Renin- angiotensin, Atrial Natriuretic Factor, ADH and Diabetes insipidus; role of other organs in excretion
- Disorders: Uraemia, Renal failure, Renal calculi, Nephritis; Dialysis and artificial kidney
Locomotion and Movement
- Types of movement-ciliary, flagellar, muscular; skeletal muscle-contractile proteins and muscle contraction
- Skeletal system and its functions (To be dealt with the relevant practical of Practical syllabus); Joints
- Disorders: Myasthenia gravis, Tetany, Muscular dystrophy, Arthritis, Osteoporosis, Gout
Neural Control and Coordination
- Neuron and nerves; nervous system in humans - central nervous system, peripheral nervous system and visceral nervous system
- Generation and conduction of nerve impulse
Chemical Coordination and Regulation
- Endocrine glands and hormones; human endocrine system-Hypothalamus, Pituitary, Pineal, Thyroid, Parathyroid, Adrenal glands, Pancreas, Gonads
- Mechanism of hormone action (elementary idea); role of hormones as messengers and regulators
- Hypo- and hyperactivity and related disorders: Dwarfism, Acromegaly, Cretinism, Goitre, Exophthalmic goitre, Diabetes, Addison's disease
- Note: Diseases and disorders mentioned above to be dealt in brief.
NEET Biology Syllabus - Class 12 Topics
The NEET syllabus 2026 includes the following topics from Class 12 syllabus:
Unit 6 - Reproduction
(Botany + Zoology)
Sexual Reproduction in Flowering Plants (Botany)
- Flower structure; development of male and female gametophytes
- Pollination-types, agencies and examples; outbreeding devices; pollen- pistil interaction
- Double fertilization; post- fertilization events-development of endosperm and embryo, development of seed and formation of fruit
- Special modes-apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony; significance of seed and fruit formation
Human Reproduction (Zoology)
- Male and female reproductive systems; microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary
- Gametogenesis-spermatogenesis and oogenesis; menstrual cycle
- Fertilisation, embryo development up to blastocyst formation, implantation; pregnancy and placenta formation (elementary idea); parturition (elementary idea); lactation (elementary idea)
Reproductive Health (Zoology)
- Need for reproductive health and prevention of sexually transmitted diseases (STD)
- Birth control-need and methods, contraception and Medical Termination of Pregnancy (MTP); amniocentesis
- Infertility and assisted reproductive technologies-IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (elementary idea for general awareness)
Unit 7 - Genetics and Evolution
(Botany + Zoology)
Heredity and Variation
- Mendelian inheritance; deviations from Mendelism-incomplete dominance, co- dominance, multiple alleles and inheritance of blood groups, pleiotropy
- Elementary idea of polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory of inheritance; chromosomes and genes
- Sex determination-in humans, birds, honey bee; linkage and crossing over
- Sex-linked inheritance-Haemophilia, Colour blindness
- Mendelian disorders in humans-Thalassemia; chromosomal disorders-Down's syndrome, Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes
Molecular Basis of Inheritance
- Search for genetic material and DNA as genetic material; structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging; DNA replication
- Central dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation
- Gene expression and regulation-Lac Operon; genome and human genome project; DNA fingerprinting; protein biosynthesis
Evolution
- Origin of life; biological evolution and evidences-palaeontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular evidence
- Darwin's contribution; modern synthetic theory of evolution
- Mechanism of evolution-variation (mutation and recombination) and natural selection with examples, types of natural selection
- Gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy- Weinberg's principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution
Unit 8 - Biology and Human Welfare
(Zoology)
Health and Disease
- Pathogens; parasites causing human diseases: Malaria, Filariasis, Ascariasis, Typhoid, Pneumonia, Common cold, Amoebiasis, Ringworm, Dengue, Chikungunya
- Basic concepts of immunology-vaccines; Cancer, HIV and AIDS
- Adolescence, drug and alcohol abuse; tobacco abuse
Microbes in Human Welfare
- Household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation
- As biocontrol agents and biofertilizers
Unit 9 - Biotechnology and Its Applications
(Botany + Zoology)
Principles and Process of Biotechnology
- Genetic engineering (Recombinant DNA technology)
Applications of Biotechnology in Health and Agriculture
- Human insulin and vaccine production; gene therapy
- Genetically modified organisms-Bt crops; transgenic animals
- Biosafety issues-biopiracy and patents
Unit 10 - Ecology and Environment
(Botany + Zoology)
Organisms and Environment
- Population interactions-mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism
- Population attributes-growth, birth rate and death rate, age distribution
Ecosystem
- Patterns, components; productivity and decomposition; energy flow
- Pyramids of number, biomass, energy
Biodiversity and Its Conservation
- Concept of Biodiversity; patterns of Biodiversity; importance of Biodiversity; loss of Biodiversity
- Biodiversity conservation; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book
- Biosphere reserves, national parks and sanctuaries, Sacred Groves
Topics like Genetics, Biotechnology and Ecology chapters keep appearing vert frequently in NEET exams, so focus on them.
Deleted Topics in NEET Biology Syllabus 2026
This section holds importance because here are those topics given which were removed in 2023 syllabus rationalization process and are still absent from the NEET syllabus 2026. Keep these topics in mind so you do not waste time preparing them.
Important: From some divisions only sub topics are removed, not the entire chapter.
High- Weightage Topics in NEET Biology 2026
Best section here. Given below is a table of high priority topics made from a close analysis of papers from 2021-2025. The are the most important topics ever with high weightage in NEET exam:
a) Botany-Chapter- wise Weightage
b) Zoology-Chapter- wise Weightage
Chs repeatedly asked in exam: Human Physiology, Genetics and Evolution, Biotechnology, Ecology, and Molecular Basis of Inheritance.
Exam Pattern for Biology NEET 2026
Go through the exam pattern below, as understanding the structure and syllabus should go hand in hand. It gives a good overview for you to plan your study strategy accordingly:
a) Total Questions and Marks
b) Marking Scheme
- Correct answer: +4 marks
- Wrong answer: −1 mark (negative marking applies)
- Unattempted: 0 marks
Smart Study Strategy for NEET Biology 2026
NEET UG Biology syllabus 2026 is so detailed that it could make any student spiral. We cannot make it easier for you, but we can tell you ways that could help you prepare your study plan:
Tips:
- As we keep saying, NCERT is SO IMPORTANT! Make sure you study NCERT syllabus by heart, all the examples, diagrams and exercises should be revised again and again and line by line.
- DIAGRAMS are to be taken seriously! Practice drawing and labeling important diagrams as per syllabus thoroughly.
- MCQs from every chapter are to be solved positively! Attempt ALL ch-wise questions immediately right after finishing a topic/chapter, it helps you to identify your weak areas.
- Practice previous year questions: Solving recent NEET papers will give you an overview on commonly asked topics / Qs which is a GREAT way to score good!
More NEET Preparation Resources
Use these resources alongside the Biology syllabus for complete NEET 2026 preparation:
FAQs
What is the NEET Biology syllabus for 2026?
The 2026 syllabus is divided into 10 major units covering the entire curriculum from Class 11 and 12. It includes fundamental topics like Diversity in Living World, Cell Structure & Function, and Plant/Human Physiology and Class 12 units like Genetics, Biotechnology, and Ecology.
How many chapters are included in the 2026 NEET Biology syllabus?
There are 32 to 38 chapters in the updated syllabus, depending on how specific sub-topics are grouped into units. This reflects the recent streamlining by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to remove redundant or overlapping chapter/topics.
Is the NEET Biology syllabus based on NCERT books?
Yes, the syllabus is strictly aligned with NCERT Class 11 and 12 textbooks. Approximately 80-90% of questions are drawn directly or indirectly from NCERT lines, tables, and diagrams. It is critical to use the latest rationalised NCERT editions, as some chapters from older versions have been deleted.
Which topics are most important for NEET Biology?
Based on weightage analysis from previous years, the following "powerhouse" units are most crucial:
- Genetics and Evolution: Typically accounts for the highest share of questions (up to 20-25%).
- Human Physiology: A massive unit that is the backbone of the Zoology section.
- Ecology and Environment: Highly scoring and consistent in every exam.
- Biotechnology: A smaller but very high-yield area with direct conceptual questions.
- Cell Structure and Function: Essential for understanding nearly every other unit in Biology.
Where can I download the NEET Biology syllabus PDF 2026?
The official and most reliable sources are the NTA Official Website or the NMC Public Notice portal.
How many questions are asked from Biology in NEET?
The Biology section contains 90 questions in total, split equally into 45 Botany and 45 Zoology questions. Each question is worth 4 marks, totaling 360 marks. Under the current revised pattern, all questions are compulsory, and there is a negative marking of -1 for every incorrect answer.
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