India · 2026 Edition · Updated 2026-05-30

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NEET PG 2026: Exam Pattern, Eligibility & Study Plan

The National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) is the sole entrance examination for admission to various postgraduate medical programmes (MD, MS, PG Diploma) in India. Conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBE), NEET PG is mandatory for all medical graduates seeking admission to government, private, and deemed medical colleges across India. The examination is considered one of the most competitive postgraduate medical entrance exams in the world, with over 2 lakh candidates appearing annually for approximately 50,000 MD/MS seats. NEET PG scores are also used for NBEMS recruitment and state quota counselling.

Year: 2026
Subjects: 7
Topics: 66
Cost: Free

Tracked daily from https://natboard.edu.in/viewnbeexam?exam=neetpg. See 2026 calendar →

dates eligibility syllabus pattern strategy

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📋 Exam Pattern

NEET PG consists of 200 multiple-choice questions to be completed in 3 hours 30 minutes (210 minutes). The question paper covers all subjects taught during the MBBS programme. The distribution includes Pre-clinical subjects (Anatomy - 17 questions, Physiology - 17 questions, Biochemistry - 16 questions), Para-clinical subjects (Pathology - 25 questions, Pharmacology - 20 questions, Microbiology - 13 questions, Forensic Medicine - 10 questions, Community Medicine - 25 questions), and Clinical subjects (Medicine and its allied - 37 questions, Surgery and its allied - 25 questions, Obstetrics and Gynecology - 25 questions, Pediatrics - 15 questions). Each correct answer scores 4 marks, with 1 mark deducted for each wrong answer. The exam is conducted online (CBT) in English only.

✅ Eligibility Criteria

Candidates must have completed their MBBS degree or a provisional MBBS pass certificate recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and must have completed their compulsory rotating internship on or before the prescribed date. Candidates must be registered with the NMC or State Medical Council. The maximum number of attempts for NEET PG is 4. There is no minimum marks requirement at MBBS level for appearing in NEET PG, though for admission to postgraduate courses, the eligibility criteria are set by the participating universities and counselling authorities. Foreign medical graduates must also qualify NEET PG and fulfill NMC's criteria for practicing in India.

Subjects & Topics Covered — 66 topics across 7 subjects

Anatomy

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10 topics · Cell Biology & Tissues· Upper Limb & Thorax· Lower Limb & Back + more

Physiology

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10 topics · General Physiology & Cell· Blood· Nerve & Muscle + more

Biochemistry

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10 topics · Biomolecules and Enzymes· Carbohydrate Metabolism· Protein Chemistry + more

Pharmacology

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10 topics · General Pharmacology & Pharmacokinetics· Autonomic Pharmacology· CNS Pharmacology + more

Pathology

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10 topics · Cell Injury and Adaptation· Inflammation and Repair· Neoplasia + more

Microbiology

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8 topics · Microbial Morphology & Staining· Bacterial Growth, Nutrition & Culture Media· Gram-Positive Cocci — Staphylococcus & Streptococcus + more

Psm

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8 topics · Epidemiology and Biostatistics· Communicable Diseases and Epidemiological Determinants· Health Administration and Health Care Delivery + more

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Frequently Asked Questions — NEET PG

Everything you need to know about NEET PG. Scroll down for the complete study guide.

How are the 200 NEET-PG 2026 questions distributed across the 19-subject syllabus?

The NEET-PG 2026 Information Bulletin (natboard.edu.in) confirms the CBT carries 200 questions worth 800 marks total. Clinical subjects—Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pediatrics, and Orthopedics—receive the highest weightage, collectively accounting for roughly 50–60 questions. Pre-clinical (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry) and Para-clinical (Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine, Community Medicine) share the remaining questions. During your syllabus audit, allocate 60% of revision time to clinical subjects, 25% to para-clinical, and 15% to pre-clinical. This subject-wise distribution guide helps you prioritize high-yield topics for the 3 hours 30 minutes exam. Source: natboard.edu.in

What is the exact marking scheme and how should I audit answers under NEET-PG 2026's negative marking?

The NEET-PG 2026 marking scheme awards +4 for every correct answer, deducts -1 for each incorrect response, and assigns 0 for unattempted questions—out of a total 800 marks. With 210 minutes to answer 200 questions, you have approximately 63 seconds per question. During your syllabus audit, simulate this marking scheme in mock tests to calculate your net score accurately. Identify subjects where your accuracy falls below 70%—these are your high-risk zones requiring immediate focus before the exam. Source: natboard.edu.in

What are the eligibility criteria and internship requirements for NEET-PG 2026?

According to natboard.edu.in, NEET-PG 2026 eligibility mandates an MBBS degree (or recognized equivalent) with completion of the mandatory 12-month internship before the prescribed cutoff date announced in the official notification. Foreign Medical Graduates must pass FMGE to qualify. PwD candidates receive a 5-year age relaxation. During your syllabus audit, cross-check your internship completion date against the expected cutoff window to confirm you will fulfill this requirement by exam day—failure to complete internship on time disqualifies you even with a top score. Source: natboard.edu.in

What is the registration fee for NEET-PG 2026 and what should I verify before paying?

The standard registration fee for NEET-PG 2026 is Rs. 2750 for General/OBC candidates and Rs. 1250 for SC/ST/PwD candidates, as published on natboard.edu.in. Payment is accepted only through the NBE portal via net banking, debit card, or credit card. Before paying, verify your category certificate format and internship completion certificate—both are mandatory uploads. Note that fee paid is non-refundable upon rejection, so audit your documents against the checklist in the Information Bulletin before submitting payment. Source: natboard.edu.in

What qualifying percentile must I secure in NEET-PG 2026 to participate in counselling?

The qualifying cutoff for NEET-PG 2026 is the 50th percentile for General category (approximately 300–350 marks out of 800), 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC, and 45th percentile for PwD candidates in the General category, per natboard.edu.in. Clearing this percentile makes you eligible for the All India 50% Quota counselling conducted by MCC, but admission depends on your rank and seat availability in your preferred MD/MS/PG Diploma specialties. During your syllabus audit, set a target score at least 50 marks above the estimated qualifying threshold to realistically secure a desirable seat. Source: natboard.edu.in

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Exam Name	NEET PG
Country	🇮🇳 India
Subjects	Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Pathology, Microbiology, Psm
Total Topics	66
Official Source	https://natboard.edu.in/viewnbeexam?exam=neetpg
Last Updated	2026-05-30