Keeping track of the NEET PG 2026 schedule is crucial so that you don’t miss any deadlines. The official important dates will be announced in the NBEMS notification. Until then, here is an expected timeline based on previous years and current information:

Release of Information Bulletin and Application Form

Likely December 2025 or January 2026. (For NEET PG 2025, the information bulletin was released in April 2025 due to delays. For 2026, if the exam is earlier in the year, the notification might come out by end of 2025 or early 2026.) This will kick-start the online registration process.

Application Window

Tentatively, within 2–4 weeks of form release. Candidates will probably get around a 2-3 week window to submit the online application. For example, in 2025 the form submission was open from 17 April to 7 May 2025. For 2026, if the exam is scheduled mid-year, the application could be in Jan or Feb 2026 (to be confirmed). Keep an eye on the NBEMS website when 2026 applications are announced and don’t wait till the last day to apply.

Edit Window and Final Correction Window:

NBEMS usually provides an edit window shortly after applications close, allowing all submitted applicants to correct certain fields or upload missing documents. Then a final edit window is given especially to fix image discrepancies (photo/signature) as identified by NBEMS. These windows generally occur a week or two after the application deadline. (E.g., for 2025, a final image correction window was given in May 2025.)

Admit Card Issue:

Admit cards are typically released about 7-10 days before the exam. If NEET PG 2026 exam date is announced (say in March 2026 hypothetically), expect admit cards in early March 2026. NBEMS will notify candidates via email/SMS and put a notice on natboard.edu.in when admit cards are downloadable. You must log in and download the PDF admit card and print it out.

NEET PG 2026 Exam Date:

To Be Announced. As of now, NBEMS has not confirmed the exam date. Based on 2025’s case, one speculation is mid-year (some expect around July or August 2026 for the exam, but this is not official). Notably, the Supreme Court intervened to set NEET PG 2025 on 3 August 2025 due to delays. If NBEMS returns to a regular schedule, it might aim for earlier (like first half of 2026). In any case, mark your calendar tentatively for mid-2026 and be prepared for the exam date notice. Once the date is announced, it will likely be a single day exam (possibly with one or two shifts on that day).

Result Declaration:

Results are usually declared within 2-4 weeks after the exam. NEET PG results come in the form of a score card for each candidate and a merit list. For instance, NEET PG 2025 was held on Aug 3 and the results were published by 19th August 2025. So if NEET PG 2026 occurs in, say, July 2026, expect results by late July or August 2026. NBEMS will publish the qualifying cut-off scores (for each category) along with results. Candidates can download their individual scorecards from the official site using login credentials a few days after the merit list announcement.

Counselling Schedule:

After results, the counselling process begins. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) under DGHS will announce the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling schedule for 50% seats, and states will announce their state quota counselling schedules. Typically, AIQ Round 1 counselling starts around 1–2 weeks after result. In 2025, due to exam delays, counselling was pushed to late October 2025. For 2026, if exam/results are earlier, counselling might start by August or September 2026. MCC will release a detailed calendar for Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, etc., on its website (mcc.nic.in). State counselling authorities will have separate timelines (often parallel to AIQ rounds). Expect counselling registration for Round 1 to begin within 10-15 days of result declaration.

Commencement of Academic Session:

Once counselling allotments are done, the academic session for new PG entrants usually starts by September or October of that year. The goal (as per Supreme Court guidelines) is to wrap up admissions by a certain date so that courses begin without much delay. NEET PG 2026 aspirants who secure a seat can expect to join their MD/MS/DNB programs in late 2026 (exact date specified by respective institutes/authorities).

Note: All the above dates for 2026 are indicative. Always verify with official notifications. The NBEMS exam calendar or bulletins will give exact dates once released. Delays or changes can occur (for example, in 2023-2025 the schedule shifted due to the proposed introduction of NExT exam and other administrative decisions). Stay tuned to updates on NBEMS (natboard.edu.in) and MoHFW announcements to get the final confirmed schedule for NEET PG 2026.

Counselling Process

After the NEET PG 2026 results are out, the focus shifts to the counselling and admission process. Qualifying the exam (by scoring above the cutoff percentile) makes you eligible to participate in counselling, but does not guarantee a seat. Allotment depends on your rank and preferences. The counselling is conducted in a systematic online process involving multiple rounds. Here’s everything you need to know about NEET PG 2026 counselling:

All India Quota (AIQ) Counselling by MCC

MCC (Medical Counselling Committee), under the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), MoHFW, is responsible for 50% All India Quota counselling and certain other categories of seats. As per Supreme Court directives and common counselling regulations, MCC will conduct online counselling for:

• 50% AIQ seats in all government medical colleges of states (these are the seats contributed to the central pool, open to candidates from all over India).
• 100% seats of Deemed Universities (these are private universities with deemed status. All their MD/MS seats are filled through central counselling).
• 100% seats of Central Universities/Institutions (like DU, AMU, BHU, AIIMS* if AIIMS were included, but note: AIIMS, PGIMER and such use INI-CET exam, not NEET PG; for NEET PG counselling, central institutes mainly refer to VMMC, ABVIMS, etc., under Central govt).
• DNB (Diplomate of National Board) seats. All Post-MBBS DNB broad specialty seats nationwide are also allotted via MCC’s counselling for All India quota. (This is a newer inclusion: from recent years, NBEMS has entrusted DNB seat allotment to MCC to ensure common counselling).
• Diploma seats (if any two-year postgraduate diploma seats under NBEMS. T hough most have been converted to DNB or MD/MS).
• Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutions. Actually AFMS conducts its own counselling for those who apply, but they use NEET PG scores. MCC may not handle AFMS; instead, candidates register separately with AFMS if interested in Army hospitals.

The MCC will announce a detailed counselling scheme. Typically, there are 4 rounds of AIQ counselling: Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up Round, and a Stray Vacancy Round (the stray round is to fill any leftover seats and is usually conducted by MCC by allotting seats to remaining candidates without fresh choice filling). This 4-round scheme (introduced from 2021 onwards) ensures that no AIQ seats are returned to states. All India quota seats are carried through all rounds by MCC.

Key steps in MCC’s AIQ Counselling:

1. Registration: Qualified candidates need to register on the MCC website (mcc.nic.in) during the specified registration window for each round. You’ll enter details like NEET PG roll no., All India Rank, etc., and pay a counselling fee + security deposit online. (For AIQ, fees last year were e.g. ₹1000 counselling fee for AIQ + ₹25,000 security for general, ₹10,000 for SC/ST/OBC, and higher for deemed universities, around ₹2 lakh. These details will be given in MCC’s info bulletin).
2. Choice Filling & Locking: After registration, you can fill choices of courses and colleges in order of preference. All AIQ participating institutes’ seats will be listed (e.g., MD Medicine in XYZ College). You can choose as many options as you like. During choice filling period (few days), you can reorder or modify your choices. Finally, you lock your choices before the deadline. If you forget to lock, your last saved choices might be auto-locked. This step is crucial. Arrange choices carefully because seat allotment is based on this preference list.
3. Seat Allotment Result: MCC processes the choices using merit (NEET PG rank) and reservation criteria. The allotment is done by a software that allocates seats in order of rank. The Round 1 result will be published on MCC site as a list of allotted candidates to colleges. You will also be able to see your allotment by logging in (and download an allotment letter if you got a seat).
4. Reporting or Upgradation: If you are allotted a seat in a round, you have options:
   • Accept the seat: and go to the allotted college to complete admission formalities (document verification, fee payment) within the reporting deadline.
   • Opt for upgradation: If you are happy with the seat but still want to try for a better choice in Round 2, you typically should report to the college, take admission, and indicate willingness for upgradation. If upgraded in next round, the Round 1 seat gets vacated. (MCC’s rules outline when free exit is allowed. For AIQ Round 1, if you don’t like your seat, you usually can “free exit”. Not join and still be eligible for Round 2. But after Round 2, rules become stricter.)
   • Do nothing: If you neither report to accept the seat nor cancel in time, you may lose security deposit and be ineligible for further rounds (depending on rules).
   Those who don’t get any seat in Round 1 can directly participate in Round 2 (no need to re-register; choice filling happens again).
5. Round 2: Similar process. Fresh choice filling (optional; you can also carry over choices or alter them) and allotment. Note: In Round 2 of AIQ, if you are allotted a seat, it’s usually compulsory to either join or lose security deposit (no free exit in Round 2 as per rules). After Round 2, candidates who have joined a seat are not allowed to participate in state counselling for those seats (as per common counselling rules).
6. Mop-Up Round: After AIQ Round 1 & 2, a Mop-Up Round is conducted for AIQ seats remaining (mainly for Deemed Univ, Central Univ, DNB, as usually 50% state gov seats are filled by then or transferred to states if vacant after Round 2. However since 2021, even those go to mop-up by MCC). New registrations might be allowed for mop-up (for those who didn’t register before) except those who already hold seats. Choice filling is done again. Allotments are made and candidates join allocated seats.
7. Stray Vacancy Round: If any seats remain vacant after mop-up (especially in deemed universities), MCC will conduct a stray vacancy allotment. Often no fresh choices, just allotting the leftover seats to remaining candidates in order of rank. Candidates don’t physically participate; MCC releases a final list.

Throughout the AIQ counselling, reservation rules are followed: 27% OBC and 10% EWS (in Central institutes and AIQ seats as applicable), 15% SC, 7.5% ST, and 5% horizontal PwD reservation in AIQ. MCC will have candidates upload relevant category certificates during registration or at admission. One important thing: All India counselling is “domicile-free”. Any eligible candidate from any state can compete for any AIQ seat. The MCC website provides all details including seat matrices (number of seats in each college/course) and a detailed counselling FAQ.

State Quota Counselling by States

State counselling is conducted for the remaining 50% seats of state government colleges, and 100% of seats in private colleges (except deemed universities) in that particular state. Each state has its own State Counselling Authority (often the respective state’s Directorate of Medical Education or a designated university). The state quota seats usually have domicile requirements. E.g., only candidates who have residency or studied in that state may be eligible for government college state quota seats (rules vary by state). Private colleges may be open to all or have domicile quotas depending on state policy.

Key points for state counselling:

• Separate Registration: Even if you participated in MCC AIQ counselling, you must separately register for each state’s counselling if you want to be considered for state quota or private colleges in that state. The registration process and fees differ for each state. Check the official website of the state’s medical counselling (for example, Karnataka’s KEA, Maharashtra’s State CET Cell, etc.) for notifications after NEET PG results.
• Merit List: States will release their own merit list or rank list of candidates who applied for that state counselling, often a state rank based on NEET PG score, after verifying eligibility. For instance, a state may require you to verify documents in-person or upload for eligibility (like proof of domicile, etc.) before publishing a merit list.
• Choice Filling & Allotment: Similar to AIQ, state counselling involves filling choices of colleges/courses available in that state. The allotment is done in rounds (usually 2 rounds + mop-up for states; some states might have more rounds). You will be allotted based on state rank, category reservation (including any state-specific reservations like for in-service doctors, rural service bond candidates, etc.), and choices.
• AIQ vs State Participation: You can participate in both AIQ and state counselling simultaneously to keep more options open. However, if you secure a seat through AIQ in Round 2 or later and join it, you may need to forfeit the state seat or you might be ineligible to continue in state counselling as per rules (to avoid seat blocking). Generally, candidates take part in AIQ first two rounds and state rounds concurrently, and then decide which seat to retain.
• In-Service Quota: Some states offer a percentage of seats reserved for in-service candidates (doctors working in government service in that state). These candidates often have a separate quota and sometimes a separate counselling conducted by the state (or a separate merit list). If you are an in-service doctor, check your state’s policy (e.g., some states like Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, etc. have in-service reservations and bonds).
• Document Verification: State counselling usually involves rigorous document verification. You must produce MBBS certificates, internship completion, medical registration, identity proof, and if claiming reservation. Valid category certificates, domicile proof, etc., as required by that state. Make sure to read the state’s information brochure carefully for the list of required docs and formats.
• Seat Allotment and Joining: If allotted a seat, you’ll need to follow the state’s instructions to download allotment order and report to the college to confirm admission by paying fees. Similar upgrade rules apply. You can opt for upgradation in next round if available, or exit as per conditions in round 1.
• Mop-Up and Stray in States: After main rounds, states will conduct mop-up rounds for any vacant state quota or private college seats. If seats remain even after mop-up, sometimes colleges themselves do a last stray vacancy round (especially for private colleges, under supervision of the state authority).

Important: You cannot occupy two PG seats at once. So if you get a desirable seat in any counselling (AIQ or state) and complete admission, you should exit other counselling processes as per rules. Also note that if you leave a seat after a certain round, you might have to pay a penalty (especially with state bond service seats or if you resign very late). Always read the fine print of the allotment letter.

The All India counselling and State counselling are interconnected to an extent. Data is shared to prevent overlap as mandated by Supreme Court. From 2023 onward, there is a push for common counselling, meaning all should follow a combined schedule so that a candidate can decide one seat. MCC even asks for surrender of AIQ seats in time so states know what’s vacant, and vice versa.

MCC Counselling vs State Counselling

• MCC (All India) covers: 50% Govt seats from each state, All deemed university seats, Central institutions, DNB seats, AIIMS/JIPMER (if they were under NEET PG, but currently they use INI-CET), etc. It is nation-wide open merit.
• State covers: 50% Govt seats reserved for that state’s domiciled candidates, and private colleges in that state (often open to all-India or a portion to domicile, depending on state). Some states also fill leftover AIQ seats returned (if any, though ideally none after 4 rounds).

Candidates should follow MCC’s website (mcc.nic.in) for AIQ updates and their respective State DME websites for state counselling updates. The counselling is as important as the exam. Many good rankers miss out on a desired seat due to lack of proper counselling form fill or not understanding the process. So, once results are out, devote time to carefully plan your preference order and be mindful of all deadlines (registration dates, choice filling dates, reporting dates, etc.).