A PG degree/diploma is necessary for MBBS doctors to excel in the medical and surgical professions. Applications could now be submitted for NEET-PG 2025 (National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test – Post Graduate 2025), the qualifying examination for admission to a majority of the MD, MS and PG diploma programmes in the country. The test, conducted by NBE (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences), will take place on June 15. The websites to apply are www.nbe.edu.in / www.natboard.edu.in.

Application process
Admissions to the following MD, MS and PG diploma programmes for 2025-26 will be conducted exclusively based on the NEET-PG 2025 score:

1) 50 per cent all-India quota seats in all states and union territories and state quota seats.

2) All private medical colleges, institutions, universities and deemed universities.

3) Institutions under Armed Forces Medical Services.

4) Post-MBBS DNB courses, six-year Doctor NB (DrNB) courses after plus-two and post-MBBS NBEMS diploma courses.

However, admissions to the PG seats in the following institutions are not covered by NEET-PG:

1) AIIMS at New Delhi and other locations.

2) PGIMER, Chandigarh.

3) JIPMER, Puducherry.

4) NIMHANS, Bengaluru.

5) SCTIMST (Sri Chitra), Thiruvananthapuram.
These institutions select their PG students through an entrance exam named INI-CET. (Website: www.aiimsexams.ac.in)

All-India counselling
Counselling for the following categories of seats for 2025-25 will be conducted by MCC (Medical Counselling Committee) under the Director General of Health Sciences of the Central Government. (Website: www.mcc.nic.in Phone: 0120-4073500. Email: mccpostgraduate@gmail.com)

1) 50-percent seats in all states and union territories set apart for the all-India quota.

2) 100-percent seats in deemed and Central universities.

3) 100-percent all-India open DNB seats.

Other conditions to apply
1) Applicants must complete their internship after MBBS by July 31, 2025.

2) They should produce the registration document issued by NMC (National Medical Council) or other medical councils during college admission.

3) Foreign MBBS graduates should have gained eligibility in FMGE.

Details regarding application
Applications could be submitted online on the website www.natboard.edu.in until 11.55 pm on May 7. If necessary, the applications could be edited online from May 9 to 13. Additionally, changes could be made in photograph, signature and thumbprint from May 17 to 21 in the first phase and May 24 to 26 in second phase.

A candidate can submit only a single application. The exam fee is Rs 3,500, except for differently-abled applicants, who have to pay Rs 2,500. The fee could be paid online.

Candidates seeking admission to 10 institutions under AFMS (Armed Forces Medical Services) have to mention it in the application. A separate notification will be issued regarding admission to these institutions. (website: http://www.afmcdg1d.gov.in)

Admit cards could be downloaded from June 11. Candidates should carry the admit card and a valid ID (identification document) to the examination, which will take place on June 15 in two shifts – 9 am to 12.30 pm and 3.30 pm to 7 pm. Results will be published around July 15. Candidates can practise the computer-based exam method with the demo-test on the website from June 5.

NEET-PG 2025 will have 200 multiple-choice questions of MBBS level with negative marks. Marks obtained by candidates in each of the two three-and-a-half hour shifts will be normalised before ranking.

Candidates belonging to general and EWS (economically weaker section) categories should obtain at least the 50th percentile to take part in the counselling process. The minimum percentile for Scheduled categories is 40 and for differently-abled in the general category 45.

The test will be conducted at 179 centres across India, including Thiruvananthapuram, Kollam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kottayam, Ernakulam, Thrissur, Palakkad, Malappuram, Kozhikode, Kannur and Kasaragod in Kerala. The site will display only centres where seats are available while submitting the application and allocation of the centre will be done on receiving the application.

Time limit
A special feature of the exam is the time limit for various sections. NEET-PG 2025 question paper will be divided into five sections – A, B, C, D and E – of 40 questions each. Only 42 minutes will be allotted to answer each section. Once the time limit of a section lapses, the question paper will automatically move to the next section. Candidates will not be able to return to a previous section to check or correct their answers.

Helplines
Contact address: The Executive Director, National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, Medical Enclave, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi – 110029.
Helpline: 7996165333.
Candidates can also contact the National Board through the ‘Help desk tab’ by logging in to their account. All details regarding the exam, including the application process, are given in the information bulletin.