The Ministry of Health announced several reforms on Saturday for candidates appearing for NEET PG 2026. Ahead of the ‘National Eligibility cum Entrance Test’ for postgraduate admissions (scheduled for August 30), Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Jagat Prakash Nadda reviewed the preparations of the conducting body, the ‘National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences’ (NBEMS), and announced measures to facilitate the candidates.
This year, NEET PG Exam 2026 will be conducted in a single shift across more than 1,300 exam centers in approximately 340 cities nationwide. In a major relief for candidates, the Ministry has modified the options regarding test city selection; candidates can now choose three test cities and their corresponding states in their order of preference.
Ministry has Also Revised the NEET PG Exam Pattern
An intimation slip regarding the test city will be released on the official website approximately three weeks before the exam, allowing candidates to plan their travel and accommodation arrangements. The Ministry has also revised the NEET PG exam pattern, reducing the number of questions from 200 to 180, while maintaining the total exam duration at three hours and 30 minutes (210 minutes). This change will provide candidates with more time to answer each question.
NEET PG Exam 2026 Upcoming Schedule & Key Dates
| NEET PG Exam 2026 | Schedule |
| Exam Date | August 30, 2026 |
| Admit Card Release | Last week of August |
| Result Declaration | By September 30, 2026 |
To verify candidate identity and strengthen exam security, Aadhaar-based authentication will be utilised during both the application process and on the day of the exam. If fingerprint authentication fails, exam centers will use iris-based biometric verification.
According to data released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), a total of 2,73,183 candidates have applied for NEET PG 2026. This is an increase of more than 12.5 percent in registrations compared to last year.
