Archive · 3 Aug 2026
NEET PG 2026: Major Exam Reforms Announced for
The NEET PG exam is a big test that doctors in India take to get a job.
This year, the government is changing how the test works.
They will ask 180 questions instead of 200, giving students more time for each one.
Students must pick three states where they want to sit, and the first choice must be the state where they live.
The test city will be told three weeks before the exam, so students can plan better.
The exam will be very secure, with special locks on the paper, cameras, and checks with fingerprints or eye scans.
Over 2.7 million students signed up, making it the biggest test ever.
Exam will have 180 multiple‑choice questions over 210 minutes, down from 200 questions.
Candidates must list three preferred states; first preference is mandatory based on correspondence address.
Test city information will be released nearly three weeks before the exam, scheduled for August 30, 2026.
Security upgrades include multi‑layer encryption, biometric ID checks, and a single‑shift format across 1,300+ centres.
Over 2.73 million candidates registered, making it the largest NEET PG edition yet.
- Who
- Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare and National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences
- What
- Reforms to the NEET PG 2026 exam pattern, centre allocation, and security
- When
- Exam scheduled for August 30, 2026; reforms announced in 2025
- Where
- India, across approximately 340 cities and 1,300 examination centres
- Why
- To improve exam experience, fairness, and security
- Exam date
- August 30, 2026
- Number of questions
- 180
- Duration
- 210 minutes
- Registered candidates
- 2,73,183
- Test cities
- 1,300+ across 340 cities