Who is eligible to appear in NEET PG 2026? Check complete criteria

According to the bulletin, NEET PG 2026 will be conducted for admission to MD, MS, PG Diploma, Post MBBS DNB, Direct 6-year DrNB, and NBEMS Diploma courses. Candidates must satisfy the prescribed eligibility conditions before applying, while the final verification of documents and eligibility will be carried out by the respective counselling and admission authorities.

The eligibility criteria to appear in NEET-PG 2026 are as follows-

1 ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR INDIAN MEDICAL GRADUATES

Candidates who have completed their MBBS from India must-

Possess an MBBS degree or Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate recognised as per the provisions of the NMC Act, 2019 and the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023,

AND

Possess Permanent or Provisional registration certificate of MBBS qualification issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) / the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) or State Medical Council,

AND

Have completed one year of internship or are likely to complete the internship on or before 30 September 2026.

Candidates found to be ineligible at any stage of NEET-PG 2026 will not be permitted to appear in the examination and/or counselling. In an unlikely event of any ineligible candidate appearing and/or being successful in the NEET-PG 2026, the results/candidature of such candidate shall be cancelled and/or deemed to be cancelled.

Requests for appearing in NEET-PG 2026 from candidates completing internship after 30-09-2026 or having qualifications that are not recognised as per the NMC Act, 2019 and the repealed IMC Act, 1956 shall be summarily rejected. Candidates are further advised not to canvass for the same.

The dates indicated by candidates with regard to 12 months Compulsory Rotating Resident Internship in the application form (i.e. internship starting and completion date) shall be treated as final and candidates will be required to submit the original Compulsory Rotatory Internship completion certificate at the time of counselling/admission in allotted Medical College / Institute.

The cut-off dates for the recognition of the Medical Colleges, from where the candidates have passed their MBBS Degree Course and completed compulsory rotatory Internship for the year 2026 will be as prescribed by the NMC. The Colleges recognised after the cut-off date prescribed by the NMC will not be considered.

Registration with the National Medical Commission (NMC) / the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) or State Medical Council is necessary and its documentary proof should be furnished by the candidates on the day of examination and at the time of counseling/admission.

Some of the Universities / Institutions have regulations that candidates who are already pursuing the PG Course in their University or in another University are not eligible for admission till they complete the course. The candidates who are already pursuing PG Courses either through All India Quota or State Quota and are applying for a seat under All India Quota / State quota seats may confirm the eligibility conditions of that University in this regard. NBEMS / MoHFW / Designated Counselling Authority shall not be responsible if such candidates are refused admission. Such candidates may opt for the speciality/course and the college at their own risk and cost.

The definition of NRI for admission to Deemed University shall be as per Hon’ble Supreme Court order dated 22/08/2017 in WP 689/2017.

Eligibility of candidates issued admit card for the examination shall be purely provisional. Appearance in NEET-PG 2026 does not confer any automatic rights upon the candidate for admission to Postgraduate MD / MS / DNB / Direct 6 years Super Speciality / NBEMS Diploma courses.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FOREIGN MEDICAL GRADUATES

Indian Citizens or Overseas Citizens of India who have obtained their Primary Medical Qualifications from Medical Colleges outside India should have qualified the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (Screening Test) as per Screening Test Regulations, 2002, which is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). Further, they should have been registered with the NMC / the erstwhile Medical Council of India or State Medical Council and should have completed their internship or be likely to complete their internship on or before 30 September 2026.

ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA FOR FOREIGN NATIONALS

1 Their basic Medical Qualification, equivalent to MBBS, should be recognised by the NMC.

2 Foreign Nationals desirous of appearing in NEET-PG 2026 and those who are required to have security clearance as per the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) requirements, shall obtain the security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs, Govt. of India before applying for NEET-PG. The security clearance shall be required to be submitted while applying for NEET-PG.

3 The NMC may, on payment of the prescribed fee for registration, grant temporary registration for the duration of the Post Graduate course limited to the medical college/institution to which he/she is admitted for the time being exclusively for pursuing postgraduate studies. Provided further that temporary registration to such foreign national shall be subject to the condition that such person is duly registered with appropriate registering authority in his own country where from he has obtained his Basic Medical qualification, and is duly recognized by the corresponding Medical Council or concerned authority and Permission / No Objection Certificate (NOC) from the medical council of that country to allow undertaking Post Graduation in India has also been obtained.

Candidates are advised not to canvass with NBEMS for eligibility in NEET-PG 2026 or issuance of admit card. Queries, if any, can be submitted through the Communication Web Portal only. Canvassing in any form shall invite rejection of the application.

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