LATEST UPDATE 2026

The NEET PG notification and registration are expected in the first week of March, with the application deadline likely by the last week of March 2026. A correction window may open in April, and admit cards are expected by the last week of July. The exam is tentatively scheduled for the first or second week of August 2026, with results expected by the end of August. Candidates should monitor the official NBE website for confirmed dates.

OVERVIEW

The NEET(PG) (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation) is conducted for providing admission to various MD (Doctor of Medicine) / MS (Master of Surgery) and PG Diploma courses across the country. The National Board of Examination(NBE) conducts the exam once a year in computer-based mode. NEET(PG) is the national level exam for candidates who have completed MBBS and wish to take admission into the MD / MS / PG diploma programs offered by the various universities.

IMPORTANT DATES

For NEET PG, the important dates are not yet officially announced, but based on previous year patterns and credible sources: the official notification and registration are expected to begin in the first week of March 2026, with the last date to submit the application form likely in the last week of March 2026. A correction window for the application may be provided in April 2026, and the admit card is expected to be released in the last week of July 2026. The NEET PG 2026 exam is tentatively scheduled for the first or second week of August 2026, with the results expected by the last week of August 2026. Candidates should keep checking the official National Board of Examinations (NBE) website for confirmed dates as they are released.

PROGRAMS OFFERED

The NEET PG exam primarily qualifies candidates for admission to various postgraduate medical programs in India after MBBS. As of now, the official Information Bulletin for NEET PG 2026 has not been released on the NBEMS website (natboard.edu.in), so the exact list and seat numbers will be confirmed in the bulletin. 

Main Programs Offered Through NEET PG

NEET PG serves as the single entrance exam for the following postgraduate courses:

MD (Doctor of Medicine) — 3-year degree courses in non-surgical specialties (broad specialties).

MS (Master of Surgery) — 3-year degree courses in surgical specialties.

PG Diploma — 2-year diploma courses in various fields (often in clinical subjects; some lead to lateral entry into MD/MS).

DNB (Diplomate of National Board) — 3-year broad specialty courses (post-MBBS), equivalent to MD/MS in recognition and scope. These are offered in NBEMS-accredited hospitals/institutes.

Post Diploma DNB — 2-year DNB courses for those who have completed a relevant PG Diploma.

(Note: Super-specialty courses like DM/MCh/DrNB require separate exams like NEET SS, not NEET PG.)

Key Specialties Under MD/MS/DNB

These are the most common and high-demand broad specialties (based on NMC-recognized qualifications and recent seat matrices):

MD Specialties (Non-Surgical Focus):

Anaesthesiology

General Medicine

Paediatrics

Radio-Diagnosis / Radiology

Dermatology, Venereology & Leprosy

Psychiatry

Community Medicine / Preventive & Social Medicine

Pathology

Pharmacology

Microbiology

Physiology

Biochemistry

Anatomy

Forensic Medicine

Emergency Medicine

Family Medicine

And others like Tropical Medicine, Geriatrics, etc.

MS Specialties (Surgical Focus):

General Surgery

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Ophthalmology

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

Orthopaedics

And allied like Plastic Surgery (though some are super-specialty now).

Common PG Diploma Courses (often 2 years):

DGO (Obstetrics & Gynaecology)

DCH (Child Health / Paediatrics)

DA (Anaesthesiology)

DMRD (Radio-Diagnosis)

DLO (Otorhinolaryngology)

DO (Ophthalmology)

DTCD (Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases)

DPM (Psychological Medicine)

And others like DFam.Med (Family Medicine), DEM (Emergency Medicine) under NBEMS.

DNB mirrors many of the above MD/MS specialties (e.g., DNB General Medicine, DNB General Surgery, DNB Paediatrics, etc.), with thousands of seats in accredited hospitals.

TOP COLLEGES & TOTAL SEATS

The top colleges for NEET PG admissions (MD/MS/PG Diploma/DNB) in India are primarily determined by the NIRF Rankings (released by the Ministry of Education), which evaluate factors like teaching, learning, research, graduation outcomes, infrastructure, and perception. These rankings strongly correlate with prestige, clinical exposure, faculty quality, research opportunities, and post-PG career prospects—making them the most sought-after choices during MCC/All India Quota and state counseling.

Top Government Medical Colleges for PG (NEET PG Accepting)

These offer the best clinical training, low/no fees (often stipends), and high patient load—ideal for competitive branches like Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Radiology, etc.

King George’s Medical University (KGMU), Lucknow — Ranked high; excellent for clinical branches; strong in UP state quota too (great for you in Lucknow!).

Sanjay Gandhi Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences (SGPGIMS), Lucknow — Super-specialty focus but offers broad PG; top-tier research and patient care.

Banaras Hindu University (BHU), Varanasi — Strong legacy; good for North India candidates.

Maulana Azad Medical College (MAMC), Delhi — Premier Delhi govt college; high patient volume.

Vardhman Mahavir Medical College (VMMC) & Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi — Massive exposure; popular for clinical PG.

Madras Medical College (MMC), Chennai — One of the oldest and best in South India.

Government Medical College & Hospital (GMCH), Chandigarh — Solid reputation.

Aligarh Muslim University (AMU), Aligarh — Good for certain branches.

Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education & Research (IPGMER), Kolkata — Strong in East India.

Other notables: Seth GS Medical College & KEM Hospital (Mumbai), BJ Medical College (Ahmedabad), Grant Medical College (Mumbai), and various AIIMS-like institutes under NEET PG (e.g., newer AIIMS if seats available via NEET PG).

Top Private/Deemed Colleges for PG (via NEET PG)

These have higher fees but excellent infrastructure and often better facilities in some branches.

Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore — Ranked 3 in NIRF; world-class; very low fees for merit seats.

Kasturba Medical College (KMC), Manipal — Top deemed; great for many branches.

Sri Ramachandra Institute of Higher Education and Research, Chennai — Strong contender.

Amrita School of Medicine, Kochi — High reputation.

Saveetha Institute of Medical and Technical Sciences, Chennai — Rising fast.

Others: Kasturba Medical College Mangalore, JSS Medical College Mysore, etc.

Why These Are Top Choices for NEET PG 

High Patient Load & Exposure — Crucial for hands-on training in clinical subjects.

Research & Academics — Better for future fellowships/super-specialties.

Stipend & Fees — Govt colleges offer stipends (Rs. 80,000–1,20,000+/month) with minimal fees; deemed have higher fees (Rs. 10–50 lakh+ per year for clinical branches).

Branch Availability — Top ranks (AIR <1000–2000) snag Radiology/Dermatology/Medicine in these; mid-ranks get good seats in Surgery/OBG/Paediatrics.

Seat Availability Overview (Latest Trends for Reference)

Total PG seats (MD/MS/PG Diploma) — Around 52,000–73,000+ (recent figures vary; e.g., ~52,173 MD/MS/Diploma for 2025–26 per NMC provisional matrix, plus ~13,000–17,000+ DNB broad specialty seats per NBEMS accreditation data).

DNB/DrNB/FNB total accredited seats — Over 17,000 (including ~6,200+ broad specialty non-sponsored, plus sponsored and diploma).

Government colleges hold a significant share (~33,000+ MD/MS in recent years), with private/deemed adding more.

Popular high-demand branches (e.g., MD General Medicine ~4,000–4,500 seats, MD Anaesthesiology ~3,500+, MS General Surgery ~3,000+, MS OBG ~2,500–3,000) remain competitive.

Admission to these programs happens through centralized counseling:

All India Quota (50%) — MCC (mcc.nic.in) for MD/MS/DNB in government/central/deemed.

State Quota (50%) — Respective state authorities.

DNB seats — Often through centralized NBEMS/MCC counseling.

For the most accurate and updated list of recognized courses, seat matrix, and any additions, check the official NEET PG Information Bulletin on natboard.edu.in once released.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA

Candidates who wish to apply for this examination must go through the NEET PG eligibility criteria before filling the applications. NEET PG eligibility criteria have been summarised below:

1. Aspirants should own an MBBS Degree/ Provisional Pass Certificate which is recognized as per the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956. 
2. They must additionally own Permanent/ Provisional Registration Certificates of MBBS qualification issued through the Medical Council of India or State Medical Council.

Nationality/Citizenship

The candidate must be an Indian National or Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) in order to be eligible for NEET PG Examination.

Age Limit

There is no defined age limit for the candidates who wish to apply for NEET PG.

EXAM PATTERN

NEET PG will be conducted as a Computer Based Test in the English Language which will contain questions with Multiple Choices with a total of 800 Marks. The total duration of the examination is 210 minutes (3 hours 30 minutes).

EXAM SYLLABUS

The NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation) syllabus is set by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and aligns with the MBBS curriculum as per the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (previously by MCI, now under NMC).

As of now, no major changes have been announced to the core syllabus compared to recent years. It covers pre-clinical, para-clinical, and clinical subjects taught during the MBBS course. 

Subjects Covered in NEET PG Syllabus

The exam draws from 19 core subjects, grouped as follows:

Pre-Clinical Subjects

Anatomy

Physiology

Biochemistry

Para-Clinical Subjects

Pathology

Pharmacology

Microbiology

Forensic Medicine

Preventive and Social Medicine / Community Medicine

Clinical Subjects

General Medicine (including Dermatology, Venereology, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine/Tuberculosis)

General Surgery (including Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Radiodiagnosis/Radiology)

Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Pediatrics

Ophthalmology

Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)

SELECTION PROCESS

The selection process for NEET PG (admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma/DNB broad specialty courses) follows a merit-based, centralized counseling system. It is conducted after qualifying the NEET PG exam, with seat allotment based on your All India Rank (AIR), category, choices filled, and available seats. 

Overview of the Selection Process

Qualify NEET PG Exam

Appear for the computer-based test (200 MCQs).

Secure marks above the qualifying percentile (typically 50th for General/EWS, 45th for General-PwD, 40th for SC/ST/OBC; may adjust slightly).

NBEMS declares results with AIR, category rank, and scorecard.

Counseling Registration

All India Quota (AIQ) + Deemed/Central Universities + DNB: Conducted by Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) at mcc.nic.in.

Covers ~50% AIQ seats in government colleges, 100% seats in deemed/central universities, and most DNB broad specialty seats.

State Quota (50%): Handled by respective state authorities (e.g., DGME Uttar Pradesh for UP at dgme.up.gov.in).

Includes state government colleges and some private seats under state rules.

Registration involves creating an account, paying a non-refundable fee + security deposit (refundable if no seat taken or after final round), uploading documents, and verifying eligibility.

Choice Filling & Locking

Log in to the portal and fill preferences: colleges + courses (e.g., MD Medicine at KGMU Lucknow, MS Surgery at MAMC Delhi).

Prioritize realistically based on your rank (use previous years’ closing ranks as guide).

Lock choices before the deadline—unlocked choices auto-lock on last day.

You can add/modify until locking; higher preferences get priority in allotment.

Seat Allotment Rounds Typically 3–4 main rounds + stray vacancy (to fill leftovers):

Round 1: First allotment result declared; accept/freeze (keep seat) or float (upgrade in next round) or reject (exit).

Round 2: Upgradation possible if floated; new candidates can join if seats vacant.

Mop-Up Round: For remaining seats; often final for many.

Stray Vacancy Round: Last chance for any unfilled seats (no upgradation usually).

Allotment is purely merit-based (higher rank gets preference if choices match).

After allotment, download provisional letter and report to the college with documents + pay fees (or forfeit security deposit if you don’t join).

Reporting & Admission

Visit the allotted institute within the stipulated time (usually 7–10 days).

Submit originals (MBBS degree, internship certificate, NEET PG scorecard, ID proof, category certificate if applicable, etc.).

Pay tuition/security fees as per college rules.

Joining confirmed; failure to report = seat cancellation + possible debarment from further rounds.

Key Quotas & Notes

50% AIQ: Open to all India candidates (via MCC).

50% State Quota: Reserved for domicile candidates of that state (e.g., UP domicile for UP seats at KGMU/SGPGIMS).

DNB Seats: Mostly under MCC (AIQ-style); some sponsored/in-service via NBEMS direct.

Deemed/Private: 100% via MCC (higher fees, management/NRI quotas possible in some).

PwD & Category Reservations: Applied as per rules (horizontal/vertical).

Upgradation Rules: Float option allows trying for better seat/college in next round without losing current one.

Security Deposit: Refunded if you join or exit after final round (forfeited if you take seat and don’t join).

HOW TO APPLY

Step 1: Go to the Official Website of NEET PG. Click on “NEET-PG” and Click on “New Registration”. Candidates willing to apply for NEET PG shall be required to create an online profile of themselves to generate a User ID and Password.

Step 2: This User ID and Password created will allow the candidate to log in as an applicant for NEET PG and register an online application. The “Go To Application” link will allow the candidate to continue with the application immediately. If the login password is lost, it can be retrieved by clicking “Forgot Your Password”.

Step 3: After completing the registration process, candidates have to click on ‘Complete Application Form’. It is mandatory to fill remaining details in the application form of NEET PG.

Step 4: The Candidates can log in with the system-generated Application Number and pre-created Password for completing the Application Form including filling up personal details, choosing the Question Paper medium and Examination Cities (The test city can be selected from available choices on a first come first serve basis, while the city will be chosen by the candidate himself/ herself at the time of online submission of application form, allotment of test center/ venue in the chosen city shall be done by NBE), providing the details of Educational Qualifications, and uploading the images and documents.

Step 5: Upload photographs, signatures, and thumb impression. Images that are not as per prescribed specification shall not be considered and may lead to rejection of the application. Things which has to be uploaded by candidates are as under-

1) Candidate shall be required to upload two photographs (one in real time using in built camera/ webcam and another one is recent photograph (Not more than 3 months old).

2)  Candidate shall be required to upload two signatures (one by using a digital device and another one by scanning).

3) Candidate has to upload his/ her left thumb impression using a blue/ black colour ink pad.

Step 6.  After Uploading, next step is application fees, once the application fees is paid, a confirmation page or acknowledgment receipt will be generated. This means that the application for NEET PG has been successfully submitted. A copy of the NEET PG acknowledgment or confirmation page will also be sent to the registered email as well as the mobile number of the candidates. Candidates are advised to save this acknowledgment receipt for future reference. They are also advised to take a printout of the same for reference.

Step 7. Take a printout of the filled Application form with Transaction ID printed on it for records.

Application Fees

EXAM CENTERS

NEET PG exam centres will be in over 230 cities across India (233 cities in 2025, with a similar or slightly expanded list expected). The official list (state-wise cities with codes) is released in the Information Bulletin and during the application process on natboard.edu.in. You select 3–4 preferred cities while applying; final allotment (based on availability) appears on your admit card.

Admission to the Examination Centres

1. The Examination Centre will be opened two hours before the commencement of the test. Therefore, candidates must ensure that they leave home well in advance considering all facts like traffic, location of the Centre, weather conditions, etc. Candidates are expected to take their seats immediately after the opening of the Examination Hall.
2. The candidate must show, on-demand, the Admit Card for admission in the Examination Hall. A candidate who does not possess a valid Admit Card shall not be allowed to enter the Examination Hall by the Centre Superintendent.
3. A seat with a roll number will be allotted to each candidate. Candidates must find out and occupy their allotted seats. If a candidate is found appearing in the Examination from a seat or room other than the allotted one, the candidature shall be cancelled.
4. During the examination time, the Invigilator will check Admit Card of the candidates to ascertain the identity of each candidate. The Invigilators will also put their own signature in the place provided in the Answer Sheet and on the Attendance Sheet.
5. A candidate who comes late shall not be permitted to enter the Examination Centre under any circumstances.
6. Candidates must bring only the following documents on the day of examination at the test centre. Candidates who will not bring these will not be allowed to sit in the examination.
7. A) A printed copy of Barcoded/ QR Admit Card downloaded from website with passport size photograph (same as uploaded on the Application form) pasted on it.
8. B) Candidates are advised to carry photocopy of Permanent/ Provisional SMC/ MCI/ NMC registration.
9. C) Any one of the authorized photo IDs (must be original and valid and like PAN card/ Driving License/ Voter ID/ Passport/ Aadhaar Card / any other valid photo ID issued by the Government.
10. Candidates are not allowed to bring any barred item or any item which could be used for Unfair practices. Possession of any such article with the candidates inside the Centre premises will attract the penalties of unfair practices.

ADMIT CARD

NEET PG  admit card (hall ticket) will be released tentatively in the last week of July 2026 (or 7–10 days before the exam, expected early August) on the official NBEMS websites: natboard.edu.in or nbe.edu.in. Download it by logging in with your application number/user ID and password/date of birth. It includes your roll number, exam date/time (single shift, 3.5 hours), allotted centre details, reporting time, photo, and instructions—print a colour copy, affix a recent passport-size photo if required, and carry it with a valid photo ID (Aadhaar/PAN/etc.) on exam day. Mandatory for entry; check for discrepancies immediately via NBEMS helpline. Official confirmation comes in the Information Bulletin (expected soon)—monitor natboard.edu.in regularly. Good luck, Vaibhav—Lucknow centre should be easy access!

STEP 1- Visit the Official Website

STEP 2– Select “NEET PG” 

STEP 3- Log in through the applicant login area. 

STEP 4– Click “Download admit card” 

STEP 5- Check that the ticket has no spelling mistakes. 

STEP 6– Download and save the admit card of NEET PG.

EXAM RESULT

NEET PG exam results are expected to be declared tentatively in the last week of August 2026 (around 3–4 weeks after the exam, similar to 2025’s August 19 release). Check natboard.edu.in or nbe.edu.in—log in with your credentials to download the scorecard showing All India Rank (AIR), category rank, percentile, total marks, and subject-wise performance. Qualifying status (pass/fail) is based on the percentile cut-off announced with results. Results are final and used directly for MCC/state counseling registration. Monitor the official website for exact date announcement in the Information Bulletin.

STEP 1- Go to the Official Website

STEP 2- Click on ‘NEET PG’ link.

STEP 3- NEET PG result will be displayed on the screen.

STEP 4- Download the NEET PG Result PDF and using CTRL+F, search for the Roll Number. 

STEP 5- Verify the Details mentioned in the result PDF.

STEP 6- Check the score and print the scorecard.

COUNSELLING PROCESS

To participate in the counselling for NEET PG, qualified candidates will have to register first on the official website of MCC by providing the required details and paying the registration fee. They will have to fill the choice of colleges and specialisations as well. MCC will release NEET PG rank wise seat allotment list on the basis of choices filled, availability of seats, reservation criteria and other factors. Reservation of PG seats shall be as per the norms of the Government of India and respective State Governments as may be applicable.

The qualifying cutoffs for NEET PG are set by NBEMS and represent the minimum percentile/marks needed to be eligible for counseling (not for specific seats/branches, which depend on All India Rank and counseling rounds).

NEET PG 2025 Cutoffs (for reference, as trends carry over)

Original (declared August 2025): General/EWS: 50th percentile (276 marks out of 800); General-PwBD: 45th (255); SC/ST/OBC (incl. PwBD): 40th (235).

Revised (January 13, 2026, for Round 3 counseling to fill ~18,000 vacant seats): General/EWS: 7th percentile (103 marks); General-PwBD: 5th (90); SC/ST/OBC (incl. PwBD): 0th percentile (-40 marks). This sparked controversy (PIL in Supreme Court, debates on merit/patient safety), but ranks remained unchanged—only eligibility expanded.

This revision trend has repeated in recent years (e.g., lowered to 5th/0th in 2024, zero in 2023) due to vacant seats in private/non-clinical branches.

Expected Cutoffs for NEET PG 2026

No official cutoffs yet (Information Bulletin pending), but based on consistent patterns, expert analyses (from PrepLadder, Marrow trends, coaching sites), and recent difficulty:

Standard/Initial Qualifying (likely at result declaration, ~August 2026):

General/EWS: 50th percentile ? Expected marks: 295–320 (some sources say 275–310; slight variation possible based on paper difficulty).

SC/ST/OBC (incl. PwBD): 40th percentile ? Expected: 245–275.

General-PwBD: 45th percentile ? Expected: 260–290.

Potential Revised (if vacancies persist, for later counseling rounds): Could drop significantly again (e.g., to 5th–15th for General, lower/negative for reserved), as seen in 2025/2024/2023—driven by seat surplus in some colleges.

For branch-wise seat allotment cutoffs (closing ranks/marks in AIQ/govt colleges, General category trends):

High-demand (top branches): Radiology (~545+ marks), Dermatology (~550), General Medicine (~535), OBG (~500), Paediatrics (~510), Orthopaedics (~490), Surgery (~480).

These require strong ranks (e.g., <5,000–10,000 for good govt seats like KGMU Lucknow in UP quota).

IMPORTANT LINK

For Official Website – click here