Will NExT Replace NEET PG 2026 This Year? Medicos Seeks Clarity on NEET PG Dates & Schedule
Will NExT replace NEET PG 2026 is a common question among medical aspirants waiting for NEET PG 2026 exam dates and schedule. Reportedly, NMC has deferred the implementation of the National Exit Test, meaning NEET PG 2026 scores will be accepted for MD, MS and PG Diploma courses.
National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has delayed NEET PG 2026 registration this year. Students who are seeking admission to PG medical courses, i.e. MD, MS and DNB courses, are asking when will NEET PG registration 2026 begin.
A few medicos are also asking —Will NExT replace NEET PG 2026? The answer is no. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has made it clear that NEET PG will be continued for the session 2026 for PG medical admission. NMC has deferred the implementation of NExT exam for PG medical admission at least till the 2028–29 academic cycle.
This means candidates seeking admission to MD, MS and PG Diploma programmes in 2026 will have to appear for NEET PG. Now, students seeking admission to PG medical courses are seeking NEET PG 2026 dates and schedule. The NEET PG 2026 registration has been delayed this year. This will further delay the counselling and admission session. Resultedly, there is likely to be a shortage of medicos in the hospitals.
Why Has NExT Been Deferred?
The following are the reasons for NExT exam deferral:
- The academic infrastructure is not yet completed.
- Stakeholders had expressed concerns regarding the new examination structure
- Curriculum and assessment changes take time
NEET PG 2026 Exam Date
Commonly asked questions
NEET PG 2026 exam notification is available online. The authority will conduct the NEET PG exam on August 30, 2026. The registration process started on July 1, 2026.
NEET PG 2026 exam will be held in single session from 9 am to 12: 30 pm on August 30, 2026. The Candidates can refer the table given below for NEET PG 2026 exam timing.
Events |
Shift 1 (Timing) |
|---|---|
Reporting time for candidates |
07: 00 AM |
Entry closes |
08:30 AM |
Candidate gets access to log in window |
08:45 AM |
Exam starts |
09:00 AM |
Exam ends |
12: 30 PM |
NEET PG stands for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate courses, conducted by National Board of Examinations (NBE) for admission to MD/MS/PG Diploma courses in India. NEET PG, a postgraduate level entrance exam is mandatory for admission to all medical colleges in India.
NBEMS will conduct NEET 2026 exam on August 30, 2026. It is expected that NEET PG registration 2026 will begin soon at natboard.edu.in for students seeking admission PG medical courses.
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Mayank Uniyal is an MCom graduate in International Business. He has over 7 years of experience in content writing. He has been working in the education domain since the beginning of his career. He covers news and up
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