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NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026: Qualification, Age Limit, Attempts & Reservation

Updated on 25 Aug, 2026 by Sounak Pyne

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NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026 specify the academic qualification, internship, medical registration and other requirements candidates must meet to appear for the examination. Candidates must hold an MBBS degree or a provisional MBBS pass certificate from a medical college recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC). They must also complete the mandatory one-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship (CRRI) by September 30, 2026.

 

There is no upper age limit or restriction on the number of attempts for NEET PG 2026. Indian citizens, Overseas Citizens of India (OCI), Non-Resident Indians (NRIs), Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) and eligible foreign nationals can apply subject to their respective eligibility requirements.

 

Also read NEET PG 2026 for more related information.

 

Table of Contents
  1. NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights
  2. NEET PG Minimum Qualification 2026
  3. NEET PG Internship Eligibility 2026
  4. NEET PG Medical Registration Certificate 2026
  5. NEET PG Attempt Limit 2026
  6. NEET PG 2026 Eligibility for Indian, NRI, OCI and Foreign Candidates
  7. NEET PG Reservation Criteria 2026
  8. NEET PG Qualifying Cutoff 2026
  9. NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs

 

NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026: Highlights

Particular

Eligibility Requirement

Minimum Qualification

MBBS degree or Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate

Recognising Authority

National Medical Commission (NMC)

Internship

One-year Compulsory Rotatory Residential Internship

Internship Cutoff

September 30, 2026

Medical Registration

Permanent or provisional registration with NMC/State Medical Council

Age Limit

No upper age limit

Attempt Limit

No restriction

Foreign Medical Graduates

FMGE qualification and medical registration required

Foreign Nationals

Eligible subject to applicable registration and documentation requirements

 

NEET PG Minimum Qualification 2026

Candidates appearing for NEET PG 2026 must have completed their MBBS qualification from a medical college recognised by the NMC. A Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate is also accepted as specified in the eligibility requirements.

 

The minimum educational requirements are:

  • An MBBS degree recognised under the applicable NMC provisions.
  • A Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate, where applicable.
  • Completion of the required one-year internship by September 30, 2026.
  • Candidates awaiting their final MBBS result or who have not completed the required qualification are not considered eligible under the stated criteria.

 

NEET PG Internship Eligibility 2026

A one-year compulsory rotating internship is mandatory for NEET PG eligibility. Candidates must complete the internship from an institution recognised by the NMC and produce the internship completion certificate during counselling or admission.

Internship Requirement

Details

Internship duration

1 year

Type

Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI)

Institution

NMC-recognised medical college/institute

Completion deadline

September 30, 2026

Certificate

Internship Completion Certificate required during counselling/admission

Important: Candidates should enter their internship start and completion dates accurately in the NEET PG application form. Failure to complete the internship by September 30, 2026 makes the candidate ineligible for the admission cycle.

 

NEET PG Medical Registration Certificate 2026

Candidates must have a valid Permanent or Provisional Registration Certificate issued by the NMC, erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), or a State Medical Council (SMC). The registration number must also be entered in the NEET PG application form.

 

The registration certificate is required for verification during the examination and counselling process.

Candidate

Registration Requirement

Indian MBBS graduates

Permanent or provisional registration with NMC/SMC

Indian FMGs

FMGE qualification followed by NMC/SMC registration

Foreign Nationals

Registration with the competent authority in the home country

NEET PG application

Registration number must be provided

 

NEET PG Attempt Limit 2026

There is no maximum attempt limit for NEET PG 2026. Candidates can appear for the examination multiple times as long as they meet the eligibility requirements applicable to the respective admission cycle.

 

There is also no specified gap requirement between completing the MBBS degree and appearing for NEET PG. The eligibility criteria do not prescribe an upper age limit.

 

NEET PG 2026 Eligibility for Indian, NRI, OCI and Foreign Candidates

NEET PG 2026 allows candidates from different nationality categories to apply, subject to the applicable documentation and eligibility conditions.

Candidate Category

Major Documents/Requirements

Applicable Stage

Indian Citizens

Valid government-issued photo ID

Application/Counselling

NRIs

Passport, visa/resident or work permit, NRI certificate, as applicable

Counselling

OCI

OCI Card and passport

Counselling/Admission

PIO

Application under OCI category

Application/Counselling

Foreign Medical Graduates

FMGE Pass Certificate, NMC/SMC registration, internship certificate

Application/Counselling

Foreign Nationals

MBBS qualification, home-country registration, security clearance/NOC where applicable

Counselling

Note: PIO cardholders are required to apply under the OCI category as PIO cards are no longer issued by the Government of India.

 

NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Foreign Medical Graduates

Indian citizens who have completed their primary medical qualification outside India can apply for NEET PG after meeting the applicable FMG requirements. FMGs must qualify the FMGE or applicable screening test and obtain the required medical registration. The FMGE pass certificate must be produced as required during the NEET PG process.

Requirement

Eligibility Criteria

Medical Qualification

Primary Medical Qualification equivalent to MBBS

Recognition

Qualification must meet applicable NMC requirements

FMGE

FMGE or applicable screening test qualification required

Medical Registration

Registration with NMC or State Medical Council

Internship

Internship completed by September 30, 2026

Examination Document

FMGE Pass Certificate required

 

NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026 for Foreign Nationals

Foreign nationals can appear for NEET PG if they possess the required primary medical qualification and satisfy the applicable registration and documentation requirements. Foreign nationals do not need to complete a separate one-year internship in India if they have completed the required internship in their home country, according to the stated eligibility criteria.

Component

Requirement

Medical Qualification

Primary medical qualification equivalent to MBBS

Recognition

Qualification must meet applicable NMC requirements

Registration

Registration with the competent authority in the home country

Internship

One-year internship completed in the home country

Security Clearance

Required where applicable

NOC

NOC from the home country's medical council, wherever applicable

 

NEET PG Reservation Criteria 2026

The reservation policy is applied during the counselling and seat-allocation process. For the 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, reservation is provided to eligible OBC-NCL, EWS, SC, ST and PwD candidates as per the applicable policy.

 

NEET PG 50% AIQ Reservation

Category

Reservation

OBC-NCL

27%

SC

15%

EWS

10%

ST

7.5%

PwD

5%

Candidates claiming reservation must provide a valid category certificate during counselling.Candidates who obtained their MBBS degree from a medical college in Jammu and Kashmir are generally not considered for the 50% AIQ seats, subject to the specified central-pool nomination exception.

 

NEET PG 50% State Quota Reservation

The remaining seats are filled through the respective state counselling authorities. Reservation rules for these seats vary by state and Union Territory.

 

Candidates should check the relevant state counselling authority for:

  • State-specific reservation percentages
  • Domicile requirements
  • In-service eligibility, wherever applicable
  • Category certificate requirements
  • State-specific merit and admission rules

State and private institutions may also have their own eligibility and merit-list requirements.

 

NEET PG Qualifying Cutoff 2026

The qualifying cutoff determines whether a candidate meets the minimum percentile requirement for NEET PG. The source currently lists the following expected category-wise qualifying percentiles and score ranges.

Category

Expected Qualifying Percentile

Expected Score Range

General/UR

50th percentile

295–310

EWS

50th percentile

295–310

OBC-NCL

40th percentile

260–275

SC

40th percentile

260–275

ST

40th percentile

260–275

UR/EWS & PwBD

45th percentile

275–290

OBC & PwBD

40th percentile

260–275

SC & PwBD

40th percentile

260–275

ST & PwBD

40th percentile

260–275

Note: The cutoff figures above are presented as expected figures in the source material and should not be described as officially declared until NBEMS releases the final category-wise qualifying criteria.

 

NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026 FAQs

What is the NEET PG Eligibility Criteria 2026?

NEET PG 2026 candidates must have an MBBS degree or Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate from a recognised medical institution, fulfil the required medical registration criteria and complete the one-year compulsory internship by September 30, 2026.

Who can apply for NEET PG 2026?

Candidates who have completed their MBBS from a recognised medical institution and meet the registration and internship requirements can apply for NEET PG 2026. Eligible Indian citizens, OCI candidates, Foreign Medical Graduates and foreign nationals can apply subject to their respective requirements.

Is there an age limit for NEET PG 2026?

No. There is no upper age limit for NEET PG 2026. Candidates can appear irrespective of their age if they meet the other eligibility requirements.

How many attempts are allowed for NEET PG 2026?

There is no limit on the number of attempts for NEET PG. Candidates can appear multiple times as long as they fulfil the eligibility requirements for that admission cycle.

Can final-year MBBS students apply for NEET PG 2026?

Candidates can be considered eligible only if they fulfil the prescribed qualification and internship requirements within the specified timelines. Simply appearing in the final MBBS examination does not by itself satisfy all NEET PG eligibility requirements.

Can I apply for NEET PG 2026 if my internship ends after September 30?

No. For NEET PG 2026, the compulsory one-year internship must be completed on or before September 30, 2026. NBEMS notified September 30, 2026 as the internship completion cutoff.

Is NMC registration mandatory for NEET PG 2026?

Candidates must possess the prescribed permanent or provisional medical registration issued by the NMC, erstwhile MCI or a State Medical Council, as applicable. The registration details are required during the NEET PG process.

Can I appear for NEET PG after a gap year?

Yes. NEET PG does not prescribe a maximum age limit or a restriction based on the number of attempts. Candidates taking a gap year can appear provided they meet the eligibility conditions for the relevant admission cycle.

Can candidates already pursuing MD/MS apply for NEET PG 2026?

Candidates already pursuing a postgraduate course may apply for NEET PG, but admission can be subject to the rules of the university or institute where they seek admission. Such candidates should check the specific institutional requirements before applying.

Can foreign medical graduates apply for NEET PG 2026?

Yes. Foreign Medical Graduates can apply subject to the applicable requirements, including qualification of the FMGE or relevant screening test, medical registration and internship requirements.

Can foreign nationals appear for NEET PG 2026?

Yes. Foreign nationals can appear for NEET PG subject to the applicable medical qualification, registration and other requirements. They must be registered with the competent medical authority in their home country and fulfil the requirements for temporary registration in India after selection, where applicable.

Is FMGE required for NEET PG 2026?

FMGE is required for eligible Indian/OCI Foreign Medical Graduates who have obtained their primary medical qualification outside India, subject to the applicable rules. Foreign nationals follow separate eligibility and registration requirements.

Is there any minimum qualifying percentile for NEET PG?

Yes. The qualifying percentile is category-specific. The commonly prescribed minimum qualifying levels are 50th percentile for General/UR, 45th percentile for UR-PwD and 40th percentile for SC, ST and OBC candidates, subject to the cutoff notified for the relevant admission cycle.

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