Overview
NEET PG is the National Board of Examinations' single entrance test for MBBS graduates seeking admission into MD (Doctor of Medicine), MS (Master of Surgery) and PG Diploma programmes across government and private medical colleges in India. Unlike NEET UG's offline format, NEET PG is conducted as a computer-based test, typically across multiple shifts given the very large applicant volume, with scores normalised across shifts to ensure fairness. It's a clinically-oriented, application-heavy exam that tests a candidate's accumulated medical knowledge across all MBBS subjects, with a particularly strong emphasis on subjects with high clinical relevance and recent practice-changing developments.
What's New in the 2026 Cycle
What changed in the 2026 cycle
- Conducted as a computer-based test (unlike NEET UG's offline OMR format), typically across multiple shifts with normalised scoring.
- Covers all MBBS subjects, but clinical subjects (Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics) typically carry the heaviest weightage.
- Completion of a compulsory rotating internship is mandatory before appearing (or by a specified cut-off date, per the current notification).
- Score is used for both All India Quota PG seats (via MCC counselling) and state-quota seats (via respective state counselling authorities).
Eligibility Criteria
| Criterion | Details |
|---|---|
| Age Limit | No upper age limit specified for appearing in NEET PG |
| Educational Qualification | MBBS degree from a recognised medical college, with completed (or soon-to-be-completed) compulsory rotating internship, and registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council |
| Nationality | Indian citizen (or as specified for NRI/foreign medical graduate candidates per NBE's eligibility norms) |
| Application Fee | As specified in the current NBE notification (typically in the ₹3,500–₹4,750 range depending on category) |
NEET PG Exam Pattern
The NEET PG selection process runs through single computer-based test. Each stage has its own timing, marking scheme and qualifying rules, detailed below.
NEET PG (Single Paper)
| Section | Questions | Marks |
|---|---|---|
| All MBBS subjects, integrated (Pre-clinical, Para-clinical & Clinical) | 200 | 800 |
NEET PG Detailed Subject-Wise Syllabus
Below is the complete topic-wise NEET PG syllabus for every subject tested across all stages, with a short note on what each section actually rewards — use this to build a section-wise study plan rather than relying on generic topic summaries.
Pre-Clinical Subjects
Foundational but comparatively lower-weightage — solid revision without excessive depth is usually sufficient.
- Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
Para-Clinical Subjects
Pathology and Pharmacology carry meaningful weight — prioritise these two within this group.
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
- Community Medicine (PSM)
Clinical Subjects (typically highest weightage)
The single highest-leverage group — General Medicine and Surgery alone often account for a large share of total marks.
- General Medicine & allied specialities
- General Surgery & allied specialities
- Obstetrics & Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Ophthalmology
- Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
- Orthopaedics
- Dermatology, Psychiatry, Anaesthesia, Radiology (as per weightage in the current pattern)
Selection Process
- Single computer-based NEET PG examination.
- All India Rank based on normalised NEET PG score.
- Counselling — All India Quota seats via MCC, state-quota seats via respective state counselling authorities.
- Seat allotment based on rank, category, reservation, and choice-filling during counselling rounds.
Salary & Job Profile
NEET PG itself carries no salary since it's an entrance exam. PG medical students typically receive a stipend during their MD/MS/Diploma training (varying by state and institution), with substantially higher earning potential post-qualification depending on specialisation and practice setting.
Best Books for NEET PG Preparation
- Standard MBBS textbooks for each subject (Anatomy — BD Chaurasia; Physiology — Guyton; Pathology — Robbins, and similar)
- NEET PG-specific integrated review books — Marrow/PrepLadder/DAMS course material
- NEET PG Previous Year Solved Papers — various publishers
- Subject-wise high-yield notes covering all pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical subjects
Previous Cut-off Trends
Approximate — always verify officially
NEET PG qualifying percentiles and specialisation-wise/college-wise cut-offs shift meaningfully each cycle based on paper difficulty, applicant pool and seat availability, with premier institutes and competitive specialisations (Radiology, Dermatology, General Medicine, Surgery) requiring significantly higher scores than the bare qualifying threshold. Always check NBE's official cut-off release for the specific year and category.
Preparation Tips
- Prioritise clinical subjects (Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology, Paediatrics) given their consistently heavy weightage, without neglecting pre-clinical and para-clinical revision entirely.
- Use integrated, exam-focused review material rather than re-reading full standard textbooks cover-to-cover, given the sheer breadth of the MBBS curriculum being tested.
- Practise extensively with previous years' NEET PG questions and full-length mocks to build both speed and the specific application-based reasoning style this exam rewards.
- Revise recent guideline changes and practice-relevant updates in high-yield clinical topics, since NEET PG often tests current best-practice knowledge.
Exam Day Guidelines
- Carry the Document Checker and a valid original photo ID matching your application details exactly.
- Since it's a computer-based test, familiarise yourself with the on-screen navigation and marking-for-review tools beforehand via NBE's mock test link.
- No electronic devices are allowed inside the exam hall.
- Arrive well before reporting time for biometric verification, especially given the multi-shift format.
Frequently Asked Questions
NEET PG is a computer-based online test, unlike NEET UG which remains an offline, OMR-based pen-and-paper exam.
Yes, candidates generally need to have completed (or be very close to completing, per the specific cut-off date in the notification) their compulsory rotating internship to be eligible.
Clinical subjects — particularly General Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynaecology and Paediatrics — typically carry the heaviest weightage, though the exact distribution can shift by cycle.
All India Quota seats are allotted via MCC counselling based on rank, while state-quota seats are allotted through each state's respective PG medical counselling authority.
Related Exams
Back to Syllabus Hub — browse all government exam syllabus pagesSyllabus content on this page is compiled and reviewed against the official National Board of Examinations notification as of 16 May 2026. Exam patterns, vacancies, salary figures and cut-offs are subject to change — always cross-check with the official notification at nbe.edu.in / natboard.edu.in before applying.