The Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has announced a series of major reforms for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET PG) 2026, aimed at improving transparency, candidate convenience, and examination security. The changes were announced after Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Jagat Prakash Nadda reviewed the preparations made by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the body responsible for conducting the examination.
The NEET PG 2026 examination is scheduled to be held on August 30 and, for the first time, will be conducted in a single shift across the country. The examination will take place at more than 1,300 centres spread across nearly 340 cities, ensuring a uniform assessment process for all candidates.
One of the most significant changes this year is the revision of the examination pattern. The number of questions has been reduced from 200 to 180, while the overall examination duration will remain 3 hours and 30 minutes (210 minutes). The revised pattern is expected to provide candidates with more time per question, enabling them to answer with greater accuracy and reducing exam-related pressure.
The ministry has also introduced greater flexibility in the choice of examination locations. Candidates can now select up to three preferred test states, along with corresponding cities, while submitting their applications. This move is expected to help candidates secure examination centres closer to their preferred locations and reduce travel-related inconvenience.
To further strengthen the security and integrity of the examination process, Aadhaar-based authentication has been made mandatory during both the online application process and on the day of the examination. If fingerprint authentication fails at the examination centre, candidates will undergo iris-based biometric verification as an alternative. These measures are intended to prevent impersonation and ensure that only genuine candidates appear for the examination.
The ministry also informed that the test-city intimation slip will be released approximately three weeks before the examination. This will allow candidates sufficient time to plan their travel, accommodation, and other logistical arrangements well in advance.
According to data released by the Press Information Bureau (PIB), 2,73,183 candidates have registered for NEET PG 2026, reflecting an increase of more than 12.5 percent compared to the previous year. The rise in registrations highlights the growing demand for postgraduate medical education in the country.
The latest reforms are expected to make NEET PG 2026 more transparent, secure, and student-friendly by ensuring a uniform examination process, enhanced biometric verification, improved time management, and greater convenience in selecting examination centres.
