The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences opened registration for NEET PG 2026 this week, and doctors chasing a postgraduate seat have until July 21 to apply. The board will not accept late forms under any circumstance.
NBEMS will hold the exam on August 30 as a computer-based test in a single shift, 9 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., at centres nationwide. Test cities go out August 11. Results are due by September 30.
What’s Changing This Year
The exam is shrinking. NEET PG 2026 will carry 180 multiple-choice questions, down from 200 in previous years. Each correct answer still earns four marks; each wrong answer still costs one. Unanswered questions carry no penalty.
Centre selection is changing too. Candidates no longer pick a preferred city. They now rank three preferred states, starting with the state tied to their correspondence address, followed by two neighboring states. Once submitted, those choices are locked — even during the correction window. And filing early buys no advantage: NBEMS has confirmed centre allocation will not run on a first-come, first-served basis.
How to Apply — Step by Step
| Step | Action |
|---|---|
| 1 | Go to natboard.edu.in |
| 2 | Click the “NEET-PG” link on the homepage |
| 3 | Enter name, date of birth, email ID and mobile number |
| 4 | Receive User ID and password via email/SMS |
| 5 | Log in with the credentials provided |
| 6 | Fill in personal and academic details |
| 7 | Upload required documents |
| 8 | Pay the application fee |
| 9 | Review all entries and submit the form |
Key Dates
| Milestone | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | Now open |
| Registration closes | July 21, 2026 |
| Test city intimation | August 11, 2026 |
| Exam date | August 30, 2026 |
| Exam time | 9:00 AM – 12:30 PM (single shift) |
| Result declaration | By September 30, 2026 |
Exam Pattern
| Detail | 2026 | Previous Years |
|---|---|---|
| Total questions | 180 | 200 |
| Marks for correct answer | +4 | +4 |
| Marks for wrong answer | −1 | −1 |
| Marks for unanswered | 0 | 0 |
| Format | Computer-based | Computer-based |
Application Fee
| Category | Fee |
|---|---|
| General / OBC / EWS | ₹3,500 |
| SC / ST / PwD / Other categories | ₹2,500 |
Eligibility
| Requirement | Detail |
|---|---|
| Qualification | MBBS degree or Provisional Pass Certificate |
| Registration | NMC, former MCI, or State Medical Council |
| Age limit | None |
| Internship deadline (Indian graduates) | March 31, 2026 |
| Internship deadline (Foreign graduates) | July 31, 2026 |
| Foreign graduates | Must hold a valid FMGE Pass Certificate |
| Nationality | Indian citizens and OCI cardholders only |
Test Centre Selection — What’s New
| Old Process | New Process (2026) |
|---|---|
| Choose preferred city | Choose 3 preferred states |
| City locked at submission | State choices locked at submission, no changes allowed |
| — | First preference must match correspondence address |
| — | Second and third preference: neighboring states |
| Allocation basis | Not first-come, first-served |
Documents to Keep Ready
| Category | Examples |
|---|---|
| Identity | Photo ID, Passport, Voter ID, PAN, Driving Licence |
| Personal | Full name, DOB, gender, nationality, parents’ names |
| Contact | Email, mobile number, alternate mobile |
| Address | Correspondence and permanent address |
| Registration | NMC/SMC registration number |
| Other | Identification marks, category certificate (if applicable) |
Who Can Apply
Candidates need an MBBS degree or a provisional pass certificate, plus registration with the National Medical Commission, the former Medical Council of India, or a State Medical Council. There’s no age limit.
Internship deadlines vary by candidate type. Indian MBBS graduates must complete their internship by March 31, 2026. Foreign medical graduates, including those who cleared the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination, have until July 31, 2026.
How to Register
Candidates apply directly through natboard.edu.in. The process requires a working email and mobile number, basic personal and academic details, uploaded identity documents, and the application fee. NBEMS sends login credentials to the registered email and phone once initial details are submitted.
The application also demands a long list of supporting information — from passport and voter ID numbers to identifying marks and NMC registration details — so candidates should gather these before starting the form rather than mid-application.
For nearly two lakh MBBS graduates competing for a fraction of that many postgraduate seats, this form is the only door in. NBEMS has made clear it won’t hold that door open past July 21.
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