NEET syllabus · Updated 24 October 2026
NEET Biology syllabus 2026–27
The NEET Biology syllabus has 10 units covering botany and zoology. Biology carries half the paper: 90 of the 180 questions.
Status on 24 October 2026
This is the latest official syllabus, used for NEET 2025 and NEET 2026. The NEET 2027 syllabus has not been released yet; prepare with this one and we will update the page when the National Medical Commission publishes it.
Biology
Biology syllabus: 10 units
90 questions · 360 marks in the exam.
01Diversity in living world
- What is living? Biodiversity, need for classification, taxonomy and systematics, concept of species and taxonomic hierarchy, binomial nomenclature
- Five kingdom classification; salient features and classification of Monera, Protista and Fungi; lichens; viruses and viroids
- Plants: algae, bryophytes, pteridophytes and gymnosperms (three to five salient features and at least two examples of each)
- Animals: non-chordates up to phyla and chordates up to classes (three to five salient features and at least two examples)
02Structural organisation in animals and plants
- Morphology and modifications; tissues; anatomy and functions of root, stem, leaf, inflorescence (cymose and racemose), flower, fruit and seed
- Families: Malvaceae, Cruciferae, Leguminosae, Compositae and Gramineae
- Animal tissues; morphology, anatomy and functions of the digestive, circulatory, respiratory, nervous and reproductive systems of the frog (brief account only)
03Cell structure and function
- Cell theory and the cell as the basic unit of life; prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells; plant and animal cells
- Cell envelope, cell membrane, cell wall; endomembrane system (endoplasmic reticulum, Golgi bodies, lysosomes, vacuoles); mitochondria, ribosomes, plastids, microbodies; cytoskeleton, cilia, flagella, centrioles; nucleus
- Biomolecules: proteins, carbohydrates, lipids and nucleic acids; enzymes — types, properties, action, classification and nomenclature
- Cell division: cell cycle, mitosis, meiosis and their significance
04Plant physiology
- Photosynthesis: site, pigments (elementary idea), photochemical and biosynthetic phases, cyclic and non-cyclic photophosphorylation, chemiosmotic hypothesis, photorespiration, C3 and C4 pathways, factors affecting photosynthesis
- Respiration: exchange of gases; glycolysis, fermentation (anaerobic), TCA cycle and electron transport system (aerobic); ATP yield; amphibolic pathways; respiratory quotient
- Plant growth and development: seed germination, phases and rate of growth, conditions of growth, differentiation, dedifferentiation and redifferentiation; growth regulators — auxin, gibberellin, cytokinin, ethylene, ABA
05Human physiology
- Breathing and respiration: human respiratory system, mechanism and regulation of breathing, exchange and transport of gases, respiratory volumes; asthma, emphysema, occupational respiratory disorders
- Body fluids and circulation: blood, blood groups, coagulation, lymph; human heart and blood vessels; cardiac cycle, cardiac output, ECG, double circulation, regulation of cardiac activity; hypertension, coronary artery disease, angina pectoris, heart failure
- Excretory products and their elimination: ammonotelism, ureotelism, uricotelism; human excretory system, urine formation, osmoregulation; renin–angiotensin, atrial natriuretic factor, ADH and diabetes insipidus; uraemia, renal failure, renal calculi, nephritis; dialysis and artificial kidney
- Locomotion and movement: ciliary, flagellar and muscular movement; skeletal muscle and muscle contraction; skeletal system and joints; myasthenia gravis, tetany, muscular dystrophy, arthritis, osteoporosis, gout
- Neural control and coordination: neuron and nerves; central, peripheral and visceral nervous systems; generation and conduction of the nerve impulse
- Chemical coordination and regulation: hypothalamus, pituitary, pineal, thyroid, parathyroid, adrenal, pancreas and gonads; mechanism of hormone action (elementary); dwarfism, acromegaly, cretinism, goitre, exophthalmic goitre, diabetes, Addison's disease
06Reproduction
- Sexual reproduction in flowering plants: flower structure, male and female gametophytes, pollination, outbreeding devices, pollen–pistil interaction, double fertilisation, endosperm, embryo, seed and fruit; apomixis, parthenocarpy, polyembryony
- Human reproduction: reproductive systems, microscopic anatomy of testis and ovary, gametogenesis, menstrual cycle, fertilisation, development up to the blastocyst, implantation; pregnancy, placenta, parturition and lactation (elementary)
- Reproductive health: preventing sexually transmitted diseases; birth control, contraception and MTP; amniocentesis; infertility and assisted reproductive technologies — IVF, ZIFT, GIFT (elementary)
07Genetics and evolution
- Heredity and variation: Mendelian inheritance; incomplete dominance, co-dominance, multiple alleles and blood groups, pleiotropy, polygenic inheritance; chromosome theory; sex determination in humans, birds and honey bees; linkage and crossing over; haemophilia, colour blindness, thalassemia; Down's, Turner's and Klinefelter's syndromes
- Molecular basis of inheritance: DNA as genetic material; structure of DNA and RNA; DNA packaging and replication; central dogma; transcription, genetic code, translation; lac operon; human genome project; DNA fingerprinting; protein biosynthesis
- Evolution: origin of life; evidence from palaeontology, comparative anatomy, embryology and molecular biology; Darwin and the modern synthetic theory; mutation, recombination and natural selection; gene flow and genetic drift; Hardy–Weinberg principle; adaptive radiation; human evolution
08Biology and human welfare
- Health and disease: malaria, filariasis, ascariasis, typhoid, pneumonia, common cold, amoebiasis, ringworm, dengue, chikungunya; basic immunology and vaccines; cancer, HIV and AIDS; adolescence, drug, alcohol and tobacco abuse
- Microbes in human welfare: household food processing, industrial production, sewage treatment, energy generation, biocontrol agents and biofertilisers
09Biotechnology and its applications
- Principles and process of biotechnology: genetic engineering (recombinant DNA technology)
- Applications in health and agriculture: human insulin and vaccine production, gene therapy, GM organisms and Bt crops, transgenic animals; biosafety, biopiracy and patents
10Ecology and environment
- Organisms and environment: population interactions (mutualism, competition, predation, parasitism); population attributes (growth, birth rate, death rate, age distribution)
- Ecosystem: patterns, components, productivity and decomposition, energy flow; pyramids of number, biomass and energy
- Biodiversity and its conservation: patterns, importance and loss of biodiversity; hotspots, endangered organisms, extinction, Red Data Book, biosphere reserves, national parks, sanctuaries and sacred groves
Quick check
Is it in the NEET Biology syllabus?
The topics students ask about most, checked against the wording of the official syllabus.
| Topic | In the syllabus? | What the official text says |
|---|---|---|
| Frog | Yes, brief | Unit 2: morphology, anatomy and functions of its systems. The official text reads "an insect (Frog)". |
| Cockroach | Not named | The syllabus names only the frog for this topic. |
| Earthworm | Not named | Not mentioned in any Biology unit. |
| Plant families | Five | Malvaceae, Cruciferae, Leguminosae, Compositae and Gramineae (Unit 2). |
| Human digestion | Not listed | Human Physiology (Unit 5) lists breathing, circulation, excretion, locomotion, neural and chemical coordination. |
| Transport in plants | Not listed | Plant Physiology (Unit 4) lists photosynthesis, respiration, and growth and development. |
| Mineral nutrition | Not listed | Plant Physiology (Unit 4) lists photosynthesis, respiration, and growth and development. |
| Reproduction in organisms | Not listed | Reproduction (Unit 6) lists sexual reproduction in flowering plants, human reproduction and reproductive health. |
| Food production strategies | Not listed | Biology and Human Welfare (Unit 8) lists health and disease, and microbes in human welfare. |
| Environmental issues | Not listed | Ecology (Unit 10) lists organisms and environment, ecosystem, and biodiversity. |
Keep going
Other subjects and next steps
NEET Physics syllabus20 units · 45 questionsNEET Chemistry syllabus20 units · 45 questionsFull NEET syllabusAll 50 units on one pageNEET 2027 guidePattern, eligibility and expected datesNEET mock testsPractise the real exam patternIntegrated BatchCover the syllabus alongside Class 11 and 12Repeaters BatchA focused year for NEET againDNA Learning appChapter-wise practice and live classes
Source: Syllabus for NEET (UG), National Testing Agency (neet.nta.nic.in/syllabus), prepared by the National Medical Commission. Topics follow the official unit text, lightly edited for readability.
FAQ
Questions students and parents ask
How many units are in the NEET Biology syllabus?
10 units, covering botany and zoology. Biology has 90 of the 180 questions in NEET.
Is cockroach or frog in the NEET Biology syllabus?
The frog is included as a brief account (Unit 2). The cockroach and earthworm are not named.
Which plant families are in the NEET syllabus?
Five: Malvaceae, Cruciferae, Leguminosae, Compositae and Gramineae.
Is human digestion in the NEET syllabus?
Digestion is not listed under Human Physiology. The digestive system appears only in the brief account of the frog.
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