NEET exam for PG is the entrance exam for admissions to various MD/ MS/ DNB and PG Diploma courses in various specialities after MBBS across the country. The examination is conducted annually in every January.
NEET for PG medical is a Computer Based Test (CBT) conducted in more than 500 centres in around 170 cities across India.
In 2022, all exams like NEET-PG, AIIMS, PGI, JIPMER, NIMHANS & FMGE (MCI Screening Exam for Foreign Medical Graduates) will be merged into NEXT: National Exit Test. NEXT: National Exit Test will be a common exit exam for MBBS, Indian as well as Foreign Medical Graduates.
Admissions to All India Quota (AIQ) through NEET exam for PG are conducted by Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). Admissions to PG seats in various states quota are conducted by respective state counselling authorities.
Total number of PG (MD/ MS/ DNB/ Diplomas) seats in India
The total number of PG seats in India has been increasing in recent years. Total PG seats in India are approximately close to 40,000 in Government & Private Medical Colleges taken together across all specialities.
Out of 40,000 PG seats in India, around 800 are filled by separate entrance exams by AIIMS, PGI, JIPMER, NIMHANS. Remaining PG seats are allocated through NEET exam for PG. NEET-PG 2021 will be conducted in January 2021.
Total PG seats in India (Government + Private)
| MD | MS | PG Diploma | FNB/ DNB | CPS Diploma | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
19,161 |
10,636 |
1967 |
8261 |
2432 |
42,457 |
Highest number of PG seats are in Karnataka followed by Maharashtra.
Around 1.6 lakh students appear NEET exam for PG. Although the total number of PG seats across all specialities is around 40,000 in India, the number of PG seats for every speciality are very low.
Total number of PG seats (Govt + Pvt) in India for some specialities
| Degree | MD Medicine | MD Radiology | MD Pediatrics | MS Orthopedics | MS Gynecology |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
|
No. of seats |
4050 |
1828 |
2578 |
2121 |
2951 |
Compare above seats with number of candidates appearing NEET exam for PG (1.6 lakhs).
NEET-PG qualifying cut-offs
In order to participate in the counselling process of admission to PG seats, students have to score certain minimum marks called as NEET-PG cut-off. Securing the minimum NEET-PG cut-off percentile does not guarantee admission to PG courses, it merely allows the candidate to participate in the PG admission process.
NEET-PG qualifying cut-off varies for different categories. For general category, aspirants need to secure at least the 50th percentile, while for SC/ST/OBC, it is the 40th percentile. If significant number of PG seats remain vacant after the completion of rounds of counselling, the Medical Council of India (NMC: National Medical Commission) in consultation with the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) may lower the NEET-PG cut-offs.
Students are usually interested in NEET PG cut-off for admission i.e. the last rank and marks at which admission to particular specialty under particular category will be closed. Predicting exact cut-off on which students may get which seat e.g. what will be cut-off for MD Medicine, MS Orthopaedics & other specialities is extremely difficult for following reasons:
- Complex reservation pattern
- Recent massive conversion of diploma seats to degree seats
- Disproportionately more increase in MBBS seats than PG seats
- Cancellation of July intake of DNB. Now there is only January session
- Unstable MCI (NMC) recognition status of CPS Diplomas.
The competition for NEET-PG is increasing every year due to following reasons:
- The number of MBBS seats are increasing disproportionately more than PG seats
- Students have started NEET-PG or NEXT exams preparation right from 1st year MBBS. So lot of students are far better prepared.
- Students completing MBBS abroad i.e. MBBS in Philippines, Russia, China, Georgia, Ukraine, Kyrgyzstan, Kazakhstan, Bangladesh, Nepal, etc. are becoming more aware of the importance of MD/ MS in medical career. Many such students join Bright EduWorld NEXT Online Coaching & start NEET-PG exam preparation right in the 1st year or in some cases on confirmation of MBBS admission abroad, even before actually going abroad for MBBS.
