NEET PG 2021: Check Five major Changes in Exam Pattern, Timings, Application Fee

National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation 2025 ( NEET PG )

DeskCalelnderCounselling - 28 Oct '25 - 21 Nov '25

Updated on Feb 23, 2021 18:40 IST

NBA has released the application process along with the information brochure today for NEET PG 2021 exam. There are five major changes related to NEET PG 2021 exam pattern and timings. Read the article to know more.

The National Board of Examinations (NBE) has started the online application process for NEET PG 2021 exam on its official website. In an official notification released today, February 23, 2021, NBE announced that candidates seeking admission into various MD/MS and PG Diploma Courses, can submit NEET PG 2021 application form online at the official website, nbe.edu.in, from February 23, 2001(3 PM onwards) till March 15, 2021(till 11:55 PM). The NBE has also released an official information bulletin on its website comprising NEET PG 2021 eligibility criteria, fee structure, the scheme of the examination, and other details. Candidates must note that there are some major changes this time regarding the NEET PG 2021 exam pattern, application fee, number of test centers, and tie-breaking criteria.

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Conducted by NBE, NEET PG (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Post-Graduation) is the national level exam for admission to various MD (Doctor of Medicine)/MS (Master in Surgery) and PG Diploma courses across the country. The NEET PG 2021 examination, scheduled to be held on April 18, 2021, is conducted annually in computer-based mode to fill 10,821 MS seats, 19,953 MD seats, and 1,979 PG Diploma seats offered by various medical colleges in India. The result will be declared by May 31, 2021.

Table of contents
  • NEET PG 2021: Important Dates
  • NEET PG 2021: 5 major changes this time
  • NEET PG 2021 Exam Pattern: Key Highlights
  • NEET PG 2021: Marking Scheme
  • NEET PG 2021: Syllabus
  • NEET PG 2021: Subjectwise Distribution of Questions and Allocated Marks
  • NEET PG 2021 Eligibility Criteria
View More

NEET PG 2021: Important Dates

Aspirants must check dates of below mentioned key events starting from registration to result:

Events

Dates

NEET PG 2021 application form available

23-Feb-2021 (3 pm onwards)

Last date to fill the application form

15-Mar-2021(till 11:55 pm)

NEET PG correction window

19-Mar-2021 to 21-Mar-2021

Final Edit Window to rectify Deficient/Incorrect Images:

1. Photograph

2. Signature

3. Thumb Impression

02-Apr-2021 to 04-Apr-2021

Admit card release date

12-Apr-2021

NEET PG 2021 exam date

18-Apr-2021

Result announcement

By 31-May-2021

NEET PG 2021: 5 major changes this time

As per the official information brochure released by NBE on February 23, 2021, there are five changes this time. These are mentioned below:

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1. Application Fee: As per the official information brochure, the examination fee has hiked for all categories. The fee for general category candidates is increased from Rs. 3,750 to Rs 5,015 (including GST). For SC/ST and PwD candidates’ fee has been increased from Rs 2,750 to Rs 3,835 (including GST).

Hike in NEET PG 2021 Exam fee

Category

                                                                         Fee hike

Earlier fee in 2020

Revised fee in 2021

General

Rs. 3,750

Rs. 5,015

SC/ST and PwD

Rs. 2,750

Rs. 3,835

2. Number of NEET PG 2021 Exam Centres: The total number of NEET PG 2021 exam centers has been increased to 255. Earlier the total number of centers was 165.

3. NEET PG 2021 Exam pattern: There has been a major change in the NEET PG 2021 exam pattern as the total number of questions and marks obtained have been reduced this time. Candidates must note that there will be 200 MCQ questions in the NEET PG 2021 exam. With 200 questions to be answered in the exam, the total marks obtained also get reduced from a total of 1200 to 800.

NEET PG 2021 Exam Pattern: Key Highlights

 

Highlights

Exam Date

April 18, 2021

Mode

Computer-based mode

Number of Sessions

Single

Number of Questions

200

Total Marks

800

Language of question paper

English only

Exam Duration

210 Minutes

Type of Questions

MCQs

Sections

Three

NEET PG 2021: Marking Scheme

Here is a highlight of the NEET PG 2021 Marking scheme:

Response Type

Marks

Correct Answer

4

Wrong Answer

-1

Unanswered/ Unattempted Question

0

NEET PG 2021: Syllabus

NEET PG 2021 syllabus comprises subjects categorized into three sections A, B, and C: Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical, and Clinical. As per the existing pattern of NEET PG 2021, a total of 50 questions are asked from Section A, while Section B and C contain 100 and 150 questions respectively. Candidates must note that there could be a slight change in the NEET PG 2021 pattern this time as the total number of questions has been reduced. NBA is yet to release the official NEET PG 2021 exam pattern.

NEET PG 2021: Subjectwise Distribution of Questions and Allocated Marks

Subject

Marks Allocated(In Number)

Section A-Pre-Clinical

Biochemistry

16

Physiology

17

Anatomy

17

Total

50

 

Subject

Marks Allocated(In Numbers)

Section B-Para Clinical

Microbiology

20

Pharmacology

20

Social and preventive medicine

25

Forensic medicine

10

Pathology

25

Total

100

 

Subject

Marks Allocated(In Numbers)

Section C-Clinical

General Medicine including Dermatology & Venereology & Psychiatry

45

ENT

10

General Surgery including Orthopedics, Anaesthesia & Radiodiagnosis

45

Obstetrics and Gynaecology

30

Pediatrics

10

Ophthalmology

10

Total

150

* Note: Candidates must note that NBA has yet not officially released the weightage against a particular subject area. The above list will be updated soon.

4. NEET PG 2021: Exam Timings

As per the official notification, the timing for NEET PG 2021 has been changed. Now the NEET PG 2021 exam will be held from 2 pm to 5:30 pm. Previously, the exam used to be conducted from 3:30 pm to 7 pm.

5. NEET PG 2021: Tie-breaking Parameters

If two or more candidates obtaining the same score in the NEET PG 2021 exam, the merit position of candidates will be decided by four tie-breaking criteria factors, as per the NBA. Earlier, these candidates were judged on the basis of eight such factors. These four factors are more number of correct responses, less number of negative responses, older candidate, and higher aggregate marks (in percentage).

NEET PG 2021 Eligibility Criteria

Candidates are advised to check eligibility criteria before filling in details in the application form on the official website. The NEET PG 2021 eligibility criteria have been summarised below:

  • Aspirants must possess an MBBS degree/provisional Pass Certificate which is recognised as per the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act 1956 

  • They should also possess a permanent/ provisional registration certificate of MBBS qualification issued by the Medical Council of India or State Medical Council

  • They must have completed the duration of their internship on or before June 30, 2021

  • Aspirants found ineligible at any stage will not be permitted to take the exam or appear for counseling (as applicable)

  • The result or candidature of ineligible candidates will be cancelled

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Student Forum

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Answered a month ago

Yes. MCC had started round-1 registration for NEET PG 2025 counselling on October 17, 2025. Registration had to be done at mcc.nic.in. Last date to registration and choice filling was November 5, 2025. Later, MCC extended choice filling till November 21, 2025. Round-1 counselling result will be anno

...Read more

N

Nishtha Choudhury

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

NEET PG 2025 counselling involves different steps starting with registration. Only those who qualify the exam can participate in counselling process. After registration, candidates ahve to declare choices. Thereafter seat allotment result is announced based on choices, reservation criteria, NEET PG

...Read more

A

Anushree Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Answered a month ago

NEET PG 2025 counselling is delayed possibly due to two reasons. One reason is Nationaal Medical Commission has to add some colleges and seats for 2025-26 session and second is the pending court case. NEET PG 2025 answer key transparency plea is scheduled for hearing in Supreme Court on October 28.

P

Pragati Saxena

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

MCC had activated registration link for NEET PG 2025 counselling on October 17, 2025. Deadline for round-1 registration and choice filling was November 5, 2025. Later, MCC extended choice filling for round-1 counselling till November 21, 2025. Seat allotment result will be uploaded online on Novembe

...Read more

A

Abhishek Divya

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes. Candidates will have to declare preferences of choices for each round of NEET PG counselling after registration. It must be noted registration and choices can be declared online. At the same time, choices must be locked in the given deadline otherwise it gets locked automatically. Based on decl

...Read more

A

Abhishek Shukla

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes. If you will be allotted seat in round-2 NEET PG counselling, your round-1 allotted seat will be automatically get cancelled. In case you don't get allotted seat in round-2, then round-1 seat will not be cancelled. Candidates have to register online and declare preferences of choice for NEET PG

...Read more

B

Bhumika Chauhan

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

The merit list for Tripura NEET PG 2025 will be released online tentatively by the second week of October 2025. DMER Tripura will release separate merit lists for each round. Candidates have to download the merit list from the official website or from Shiksha.com. The merit list will include informa

...Read more

P

Pooja Kalra

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Yes. NBE uploaded NEET PG 2025 scorecards on August 29, 2025. candidates who qualified NEET PG 2025 exam can download scorecards from official website, nbe.edu.in. They will have to enter login details in registration page to download scorecards for NEET PG 2025. The scorecard PDF comprises details

...Read more

M

Mukul Kumar Mishra

Contributor-Level 10

Answered 2 months ago

Yes. NBE released NEET PG 2025 merit list for 50% All India quota seats on August 27, 2025. the merit list was uplaoded online in PDF format, comprising deatials such as NEET PG 2025 rank, AIR rank, AIR category etc. NBE has already released NEET PG 2025 result on August 19, 2025. 

A

Abhishek Rastogi

Beginner-Level 5

Answered 2 months ago

Neet PG SCORE 455, AIQ, general category 

D

DAUD ALI KHAN

Beginner-Level 1