NEET SS Exam 2026

NEET SS (National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Super Specialty) is the single entrance examination for admission to various DM, MCh, and DrNB Super Specialty courses. Below are the key highlights for the 2026 session:

• Exam Name: NEET SS 2026
• Conducting Body: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
• Exam Level: National
• Frequency: Annual
• Mode of Exam: Computer-Based Test (CBT)
• Language: English

While the official notification is usually released a few months prior, here is the tentative schedule for NEET SS 2026:

• Online Registration Starts: July 2026
• Last Date to Apply: August 2026
• Admit Card Release: September 2026
• NEET SS 2026 Exam Date: September 29 - 30, 2026
• Declaration of Result: October 2026
• Commencement of Counselling: November 2026

NEET SS is a qualifying-cum-ranking examination prescribed as the single entrance examination for admission to various Super Specialty courses as per the Indian Medical Council Act. No other entrance examination, either at the state or the institution level, is valid for entry into DM/MCh or DrNB courses in India.

The full form of NEET SS is National Eligibility cum Entrance Test - Super Specialty. It is the gateway for medical professionals who have completed their post-graduation (MD/MS/DNB) to enter the highest level of specialized medical training in India.

Initially, Super Specialty admissions were handled by individual states or premium institutes like AIIMS and PGI. However, to streamline the process and ensure merit-based selection, the government introduced NEET SS. Over the years, the exam has transitioned from a multi-group paper to a single-paper format per specialty, making it more focused on the candidate's chosen field of expertise.

To be eligible for NEET SS 2026, candidates must fulfill the following criteria:

• Educational Qualification: Candidates must possess a recognized postgraduate degree (MD/MS/DNB) or an equivalent qualification.
• Registration: Must be registered with the National Medical Commission (NMC) or State Medical Council.
• Cut-off Date: Candidates must complete their PG degree on or before the specified cut-off date (usually September 15, 2026).

The application process is entirely online through the NBEMS official website:

1. Registration: Create a profile using a valid email ID and mobile number.
2. Application Form: Fill in personal, educational, and registration details.
3. Upload Documents: Upload scanned images of photograph, signature, and thumb impression.
4. Examination Fee: Pay the non-refundable fee (approx. ₹4250) via online payment gateways.
5. Print Confirmation: Save the system-generated application form for future reference.

The exam is conducted for various groups based on the broad specialty. Major subject groups include:

• Medical Group
• Surgical Group
• Pediatric Group
• Obstetrics and Gynaecology Group
• Orthopaedics Group
• Radiodiagnosis Group

The syllabus for NEET SS 2026 comprises topics from the Broad Specialty (MD/MS) curriculum. The questions are designed to test the candidate's knowledge and clinical competence in the respective PG subject that serves as the feeder for the Super Specialty course. For example, the Medical group paper will cover General Medicine and related sub-specialties.

The exam pattern for 2026 is expected to follow the standard structure:

• Total Questions: 150
• Question Type: Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs)
• Duration: 2 hours 30 minutes
• Marking Scheme: +4 for correct answer, -1 for incorrect answer, 0 for unattempted.
• Total Marks: 600

The admission process follows these steps:

1. Appear for the NEET SS Entrance Exam.
2. Qualify by securing the minimum percentile (usually 50th percentile).
3. Participate in the Online Centralized Counselling conducted by the MCC.
4. Seat allotment based on merit, choice filling, and availability.
5. Reporting to the allotted college for document verification and admission.

All private medical colleges, state universities, and deemed universities offering DM/MCh courses participate. Notable institutions include:

• Maulana Azad Medical College, Delhi
• Christian Medical College (CMC), Vellore
• King George’s Medical University, Lucknow
• Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham
• Various Government Medical Colleges across India

Note: AIIMS, NIMHANS, PGIMER, and JIPMER conduct their own entrance exams (INI-SS).

The results are declared on the NBEMS website in PDF format. Candidates can download their individual scorecards by logging into their accounts. The result includes the candidate's score out of 600 and their merit rank in the specific specialty group.

Once the results are announced, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) releases the schedule for the counselling process. Candidates must register on the MCC portal to participate in the seat allotment process based on their All India Rank (AIR).

The counselling is conducted in multiple rounds:

• Round 1: Registration, Choice Filling, and Seat Allotment.
• Round 2: For vacant seats and those seeking upgrades.
• Mop-up/Stray Vacancy Round: To fill any remaining seats.

Candidates must pay a security deposit and registration fee to participate.

The qualifying cut-off for NEET SS is generally the 50th percentile. Candidates scoring below this percentile are not eligible for the counselling process. NBEMS may lower the cut-off if a sufficient number of candidates do not qualify to fill the available seats.

Although the prompt mentions NTA, NEET SS is officially managed by NBEMS. For queries, students can contact:

• Website: natboard.edu.in
• Helpline: +91-011-45593000
• Email: helpdesknbe@natboard.edu.in
• Address: Medical Enclave, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi - 110029