NEET PG 2026: Exam Date, Eligibility, Cutoff, Counselling & Admission

This guide covers the latest NEET PG 2026 information, including eligibility criteria, exam pattern, application fees, result, qualifying cutoff, counselling procedure, seat matrix and frequently asked questions.

NEET PG is a national-level entrance examination for medical graduates seeking admission to postgraduate medical programmes in India. It is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) for admission to courses such as MD, MS, PG Diploma and other eligible postgraduate medical programmes.

The NEET PG 2026 examination was conducted on 30 August 2026, with a re-examination held on 5 September 2026 for candidates affected by a disruption at examination centres in Jaipur. NBEMS declared the result and qualifying cutoff on 24 September 2026. Candidates can now refer to the latest result, scorecard and counselling updates to plan their admission process.

NEET PG 2026: Quick Overview

ParticularsDetails
Examination NameNational Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG)
Conducting AuthorityNational Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
Examination LevelNational level
Examination FrequencyOnce a year
Examination ModeComputer-Based Test (CBT)
NEET PG 2026 Exam Date30 August 2026
Re-examination Date5 September 2026 for affected candidates
Examination Duration3 hours 30 minutes
Total Questions180
Maximum Marks720
Question FormatMultiple-choice questions (MCQs)
Marking Scheme+4 for a correct answer, −1 for an incorrect answer, 0 for an unattempted question
Result Date24 September 2026
Counselling AuthorityMCC and respective state counselling authorities
Official WebsiteNBEMS

The 2026 examination pattern differs from previous years: the paper contains 180 questions carrying 720 marks, compared with the earlier format of 200 questions and 800 marks.

NEET PG 2026 latest updates

Candidates should keep track of official notices because examination results and counselling are separate stages of the admission process.

EventLatest update
NEET PG 2026 examinationConducted on 30 August 2026
Re-examinationConducted on 5 September 2026 for affected Jaipur candidates
Result declaration24 September 2026
Qualifying cutoffReleased with the result
Scorecard and answer keyRefer to the NBEMS applicant portal for availability
MCC Round 1 counselling registrationScheduled to begin on 12 October 2026, according to the published tentative schedule
Official counselling websiteMCC PG Medical Counselling

The counselling dates are subject to official notices and revisions. Check the MCC portal before registering or filling choices.

NEET PG 2026 eligibility criteria

Candidates must meet the prescribed academic, registration and internship requirements to participate in NEET PG admission.

Eligibility requirementDetails
Educational qualificationMBBS degree or provisional MBBS pass certificate recognised under the applicable regulations
Medical registrationPermanent or provisional registration issued by the NMC or a State Medical Council
InternshipOne-year compulsory rotating internship completed, or scheduled for completion by the prescribed cutoff date
Internship cutoff for 202630 September 2026, as stated in the published NEET PG 2026 guide
Foreign medical graduatesMust fulfil applicable FMGE and other eligibility requirements
Age limitNo upper age limit stated in the published eligibility criteria
Number of attemptsNo fixed attempt limit stated in the published eligibility criteria

Candidates should read the official NBEMS information bulletin and the applicable counselling rules to confirm their eligibility. Meeting the qualifying cutoff alone does not guarantee a postgraduate seat.

NEET PG 2026 application process

The application window for NEET PG 2026 has passed. The following steps summarise the process for reference and can help candidates prepare for a future application cycle.

  1. Visit the official NBEMS website.
  2. Open the NEET PG application link for the relevant session.
  3. Complete registration with the required personal and contact information.
  4. Log in using the generated credentials.
  5. Enter academic, MBBS and internship details.
  6. Select the required examination-state preferences as instructed in the bulletin.
  7. Upload the photograph, signature, thumb impression and other required documents.
  8. Pay the application fee online.
  9. Submit the form and save the confirmation page.

Candidates should carefully check all entries before submitting the application. Changes to certain personal details or examination preferences may not be permitted during the correction window.

NEET PG 2026 application fees

The published examination fee structure is as follows.

Candidate categoryExamination fee
General, OBC and EWS₹3,500
SC, ST and PwBD₹2,500

Payment gateway charges, where applicable, may be additional. The examination fee is generally non-refundable under the published application rules. Candidates should confirm fee details in the official bulletin for their examination year.

NEET PG 2026 exam pattern

NBEMS introduced a revised pattern for the 2026 examination. The number of questions was reduced while the total examination duration remained unchanged.

ParticularsNEET PG 2026 pattern
Examination modeComputer-Based Test
Total questions180
Maximum marks720
Examination duration210 minutes
Question typeMCQs with four response options
Number of sections5
Questions per section36
Time per section42 minutes
Correct answer+4 marks
Incorrect answer−1 mark
Unattempted question0 marks
LanguageEnglish

The examination uses a time-bound sectional format. Candidates should consult the official information bulletin for the exact navigation, submission and section-locking rules.

NEET PG 2025 vs 2026 exam pattern

FeatureNEET PG 2025NEET PG 2026
Total questions200180
Maximum marks800720
Duration3 hours 30 minutes3 hours 30 minutes
Questions per section4036
Marking scheme+4 / −1+4 / −1
Average time per questionApproximately 63 secondsApproximately 70 seconds

Since the maximum marks changed from 800 to 720, raw scores from 2025 and 2026 should not be compared directly.

NEET PG 2026 result and scorecard

NBEMS declared the NEET PG 2026 result on 24 September 2026. Candidates should access the official NBEMS website to check the result notice and follow the instructions for obtaining their individual scorecards.

The result and scorecard are important for the next stage of admission, but qualifying NEET PG does not automatically mean that a candidate will receive a seat. Admission depends on the candidate’s rank, category, choice filling, seat availability and applicable counselling rules.

NEET PG 2026 qualifying cutoff

The qualifying cutoff represents the minimum score required to qualify for counselling eligibility. It is different from the closing rank needed to secure a seat in a particular college or speciality.

CategoryQualifying percentileQualifying marks out of 720
General / EWS50th percentile262
General PwBD45th percentile244
SC / ST / OBC, including applicable PwBD candidates40th percentile226

These are the published NEET PG 2026 qualifying cutoff figures. College-wise admission cutoffs can be much higher or lower depending on the speciality, category, quota, counselling round and seat availability.

NEET PG 2026 counselling process

NEET PG counselling is the process through which qualified candidates compete for postgraduate medical seats. MCC handles specified central counselling categories, while state authorities manage their respective state counselling processes.

Types of NEET PG counselling

Counselling typeConducting authoritySeats covered
All India Quota counsellingMedical Counselling Committee (MCC)Applicable AIQ seats in government medical colleges
Deemed university counsellingMCCDeemed university postgraduate medical seats
Central university counsellingMCCApplicable seats in central universities
ESIC and other specified institutional counsellingMCC, as applicableSeats covered under the relevant counselling scheme
State quota counsellingRespective state authorityApplicable state quota seats and other seats governed by state rules

Candidates should confirm the exact seat categories and eligibility rules in the current counselling bulletin.

Steps in the counselling procedure

  1. Registration: Register on the appropriate counselling portal and pay the applicable fee.
  2. Choice filling: Select preferred colleges and specialities in order of preference.
  3. Choice locking: Lock choices within the specified deadline.
  4. Seat allotment: The counselling authority processes choices according to rank, eligibility, category and seat availability.
  5. Allotment result: Download and review the seat-allotment letter.
  6. Document verification: Submit the required original documents and certificates.
  7. Reporting to college: Complete reporting and admission formalities within the allotted period.
  8. Further rounds: Participate in subsequent rounds if eligible and if a suitable seat remains available.

Candidates should read the round-wise exit, upgrade, resignation and joining rules before accepting or leaving a seat. These conditions may differ between rounds.

Documents required for NEET PG counselling

Candidates should prepare the documents required by MCC or the relevant state authority. The exact list can differ by counselling category.

  • NEET PG admit card
  • NEET PG result and scorecard
  • MBBS degree or provisional pass certificate
  • MBBS marksheets
  • Internship completion certificate
  • Permanent or provisional medical registration certificate
  • Government-issued photo identity proof
  • Recent photographs, where required
  • Category certificate, if applicable
  • PwBD certificate, if applicable
  • Domicile or state eligibility documents, where required
  • NRI eligibility and relationship documents, if applying under the NRI category

Check the current information bulletin for document format, validity and verification requirements before reporting to a college.

NEET PG 2026 seat matrix

The seat matrix lists available postgraduate seats by college, course, speciality, quota and category. It is an essential resource for candidates preparing their counselling choices.

Seat matrix detailInformation provided
College nameParticipating medical institution
CourseMD, MS and other eligible postgraduate programmes
SpecialityBranch offered by the institution
Seat countNumber of available seats in the relevant matrix
QuotaAIQ, state quota, deemed university or other applicable category
ReservationCategory-wise allocation, where applicable
Counselling roundAvailability for the particular round

The seat matrix may change as institutions verify seats and as seats are added, withdrawn or become vacant. MCC’s published Round 1 schedule lists institute verification of the tentative seat matrix from 10 to 12 October 2026. Candidates should check the official MCC PG counselling portal for the final matrix and updates.

Frequently asked questions about NEET PG 2026

Q. When was NEET PG 2026 conducted?

A. The examination was held on 30 August 2026. A re-examination took place on 5 September 2026 for candidates affected by a disruption at designated Jaipur examination centres.

Q. When was the NEET PG 2026 result declared?

A. NBEMS declared the result on 24 September 2026. Candidates should use the official NBEMS website for result-related notices and scorecard access.

Q. How many questions are there in NEET PG 2026?

A. The revised examination pattern has 180 multiple-choice questions carrying a maximum of 720 marks. The test duration is 3 hours and 30 minutes.

Q. What is the NEET PG 2026 qualifying cutoff for General candidates?

A. The published qualifying cutoff for General/EWS candidates is 262 marks out of 720, corresponding to the 50th percentile. Qualifying does not guarantee admission to a particular college.

Q. Who conducts NEET PG counselling?

A. The Medical Counselling Committee conducts counselling for applicable All India Quota, deemed university and specified central or institutional seats. State counselling authorities handle the applicable state quota and other seats under their jurisdiction.

Q. Is qualifying NEET PG enough to get an MD/MS seat?

A. No. Seat allotment depends on rank, category, eligibility, college and speciality preferences, seat availability and counselling rules.

Q. Can candidates participate in both MCC and state counselling?

A. Eligible candidates may participate in the relevant counselling processes, subject to each authority’s registration, eligibility, joining and resignation rules. Candidates should understand the consequences of accepting or leaving a seat in each round.

Q. Where can candidates check NEET PG 2026 counselling updates?

A. Use the official MCC PG counselling website for MCC notices and the NBEMS website for examination-related updates. State counselling notices should be checked on the relevant state authority’s official portal.

Conclusion

NEET PG is the main national-level entrance route for eligible MBBS graduates seeking postgraduate medical admission in India. For the 2026 session, candidates should pay particular attention to the revised 180-question examination pattern, the published qualifying cutoff, the counselling schedule and the official seat matrix.

Before selecting colleges, compare previous-year closing ranks, speciality-wise seats, tuition fees, stipend, bond conditions and category eligibility. Use official NBEMS, MCC and state counselling notices as the final reference for deadlines and admission requirements.

Disclaimer: The information shared here is collected from multiple reliable sources for educational and informational purposes. While we strive to provide accurate and updated details, some information may change over time. If you notice any incorrect data or discrepancies, please contact us at mbbsenquiry1[@]gmail.com so our team can review and update the information accordingly. Read More
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