NEET PG 2026: NBE scraps 'first come first serve' exam city allotment, makes 3 test state preferences mandatory
New Delhi: The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS, NBE) has scrapped the long-followed first-come, first-serve system for allotment of test cities and examination centres for NEET PG 2026. Unlike previous years, candidates will no longer have to rush to submit their application forms during registration in the hope of securing their preferred examination city.
Announcing the change in the NEET PG 2026 Information Bulletin, NBEMS clarified that the allocation of the test state, test city and test centre will not be based on the "First Come First Serve" principle.
"The allocation of Test City / Test Centre for NEET-PG 2026 shall not be based on “First Come First Serve” basis. Candidates may note that early submission of the application form does not confer any preferential right for allotment of any particular Test State, Test City or Test Centre," mentioned the NEET PG 2026 information bulletin.
"The allotment process shall be carried out through a computerized allocation methodology wherein candidates may first be arranged in a randomized sequence, after which allotment shall be undertaken by considering the preferences exercised by the candidates, subject to availability, administrative feasibility and operational requirements determined by NBEMS."
Three preferred test states mandatory
The board has also introduced a preference-based selection process. During registration, candidates will be required to choose three preferred test states in order of priority. Based on these preferences and administrative considerations, NBEMS will allot the examination state, city and centre.
At the time of online submission of the application form, candidates shall be required to select Three (03) preferred Test States for NEET-PG 2026. Out of the Three preferred Test States, the First Preferred Test State shall mandatorily be the State of the Correspondence Address furnished by the candidate in the application form.
The candidate may opt for the remaining two preferred Test States, preferably states neighbouring his/her correspondence state. NBEMS shall try to allot a test city in the corresponding state; however, a test city in the neighbouring state (as opted by the candidate) shall be allotted in case of unavailability.
An Example of allocation is as follows: -
If there is a candidate ABC who is from the state of Tamil Nadu and he/she has selected the following states:
Tamil Nadu (Mandatory - correspondence state)
Karnataka (2nd Choice)
Andhra Pradesh (3rd Choice)
How the new allocation will work:
Allocation protocol for candidate ABC in NEET-PG 2026 (using random sequence allocation, not on First Come First Served basis):
Allocate any Test City in 1 st Choice ie. Tamil Nadu (NBEMS will make every effort to allot a test city which is nearest to the correspondence address of the candidate, failing which in the other available test cities in the state of Tamil Nadu)
If test city is unavailable in Tamil Nadu → allot any available test city in Karnataka
If test city is unavailable in Karnataka → allot any available test city in Andhra Pradesh
If test city is unavailable in Andhra Pradesh → allot any available test city in all over India
The requirement of selecting the Correspondence State as the First Preferred Test State has been introduced to facilitate equitable geographical distribution of candidates, optimize examination infrastructure planning, reduce avoidable long-distance travel and ensure efficient allocation of test centres.
There is no test centre available in the UT of Chandigarh. For the allocation of the test state / city for NEET-PG 2026, candidates whose correspondence address is in Chandigarh will be considered as belonging to the correspondence state of Punjab.
Correspondence address proof required:
Candidates are required to submit ANY ONE of the following documents as a valid proof of his/her Correspondence Address:
Government photo ID / address proof
• Aadhaar Card (with address)
• Voter ID (EPIC)
• Passport
• Driving License
• Ration Card
• Domicile / Residence / Permanent Resident Certificate issued by the competent State authority
Medical-profession documents
• State Medical Council (SMC) Registration Certificate
• MBBS Degree / Provisional Degree Certificate from a State university / medical college
• Internship Completion Certificate from the medical college
• Appointment / Posting / Joining Order as Medical Officer (Govt or institutional)
• Service Certificate / NOC from employer stating place of posting
• Hospital / Institution Employee ID Card
• Latest Salary Slip showing employer's address
Supporting / residence documents
• Recent utility bill — electricity / water / landline / piped gas (within last 3 months)
• Bank passbook or statement showing address • Registered Rent / Lease Agreement
• Post Office account statement / India Post address card
• Police tenant / residence verification certificate issued by local police
• Letter from the landlord + landlord's electricity/property-tax document as backing
• Hostel / PG / accommodation allotment letter from the institution or warden's certificate Property Tax receipt • Hostel / PG / accommodation allotment letter from the institution or warden's certificate
• Allotment letter of Govt/institutional accommodation (not older than 3 years)
• Notarised affidavit / self-declaration of residence on stamp paper
• Address certificate on letterhead with photo issued by an MP / MLA / MLC / Gazetted Officer / Tehsildar, or by a Village Panchayat head (rural areas)
• Signed address-cum-photo letter on letterhead from a recognised bank, registered company, or educational institution
• Vehicle Registration Certificate, Insurance policy, or Income-Tax assessment order showing the current address
• Passport / Aadhaar of spouse or parents with same address (where co-residing)
Candidature of the candidate shall be deemed to be cancelled, if at any stage it is found that the correspondence address proof submitted by the candidate is forged / invalid
The allotted test city shall be available for viewing through candidate login at NBEMS website on or after 11-08-2026. Information regarding the allotment of the examination city will be provided to the candidate via email. Candidates are advised to regularly monitor their registered Email ID, including Spam/Junk folders, and applicant login dashboard for updates regarding allotment of Test City.
The exact venue will be informed to the candidates through admit cards on or after 27-08-2026. The Candidates shall make their own arrangement for travel / boarding etc.
Candidates may kindly note that the Correspondence Address and Test State preferences furnished in the application form SHALL NOT BE EDITABLE during the Edit Window. Candidates are advised to carefully select their preferred Test States and ensure that the Correspondence Address furnished by them in the application form is correct and complete before final submission of the application form.
Please note that if the correspondence address and the permanent address of the candidate are the same, editing the permanent address in the 'edit window' will also not be permitted.
Every effort shall be made by NBEMS to allot a Test City within one of the preferred Test States opted by the candidate and, as far as feasible, in accordance with the order of preferences exercised by the candidate, subject to availability of examination infrastructure, security considerations, administrative feasibility and operational requirements.
The selection of preferred Test States by the candidate does not confer any automatic right to be allotted a Test Centre in the preferred Test States.
During the process of allotment of Test City/Test Centre, reasonable accommodation shall be provided to PwBD candidates in accordance with applicable rules / guidelines. The sequence for processing of applications for allotment purposes may be randomized through a computerized process and shall not be linked to the order or timing of submission of the application form.
The decision of the NBEMS regarding the allotment of the Test City / Centre for NEET-PG 2026 shall be final. Requests for change of testing centre / city shall not be entertained on any ground. Candidates are advised not to canvass for the same.
In extraordinary circumstances, if any Test Centre allotted by NBEMS cannot be utilized for conduct of examination due to security audit observations, logistical constraints, operational challenges, unforeseen circumstances, or inadequate number of candidates, the candidates allotted to such Test Centre may be accommodated at another Test Centre in nearby city / cities or at any other available Test Centre, as deemed appropriate by NBEMS.
Such change(s), if any, shall be communicated to the concerned candidates through Email in advance. NBEMS reserves its absolute right to add or remove any Test City / Test Centre due to administrative, logistical, security, operational or any other exigencies. Candidates are advised to regularly check their registered email account and the NBEMS website for any updates, notices or communications issued by NBEMS up to the completion of the examination process.
Further, NBEMS reserves its right to allot a Test Centre anywhere in India, irrespective of the Test State preferences exercised by the candidate in the application form, in order to maintain the sanctity of the examination and / or ensure administrative and operational feasibility.
NBEMS reserves its right to defer, reschedule, cancel, shift or modify the examination process, allotment of Test City / Test Centre or any examination-related activity due to force majeure events, natural calamities, law and order situations, Government / Hon’ble Court directions, technical failures, public health emergencies or any other circumstances beyond its reasonable control. The decision of NBEMS in such matters shall be final and binding upon the candidates.
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