NEET-PG 2026 exam pattern revised: Fewer questions, same duration, five timed sections

NEET-PG 2026 will feature a revised exam pattern with 180 multiple-choice questions instead of 200, while retaining the existing three-and-a-half-hour duration, National Medical Commission (NMC) Chairperson Abhijat Sheth announced ahead of the Aug 30 examination.

The postgraduate medical entrance exam will continue to be conducted in a single shift as a computer-based test.

This year, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has also introduced Aadhaar-based authentication and additional security measures, with the registration process already underway.

Explaining the changes, Sheth said the examination committee decided to reduce the number of questions after reviewing candidate feedback and audit reports from the previous two years, which showed that aspirants were finding it difficult to complete the increasingly clinical and problem-solving-oriented paper within the allotted time.

"The NEET-PG exam now includes more problem-oriented, problem-solving and clinically oriented questions, which are lengthy at times and require more time," he said.

Sheth said the reduction in questions is aimed at improving time management rather than lowering the difficulty level of the examination.

Instead of extending the overall duration, the committee chose to reduce the number of questions while keeping the exam length unchanged.

"By reducing 20 questions, students will get at least half an hour more to solve these 180 questions," he said.

He added that the revised format would give candidates more time to analyze each question without compromising the examination's standard or quality.

Under the new pattern, the paper will be divided into five sections of 36 questions each. Candidates will get 42 minutes to complete every section, after which the system will automatically move them to the next one. They will not be allowed to return to previous sections.

With less than two months remaining before the examination, Sheth also advised candidates to ignore misinformation and avoid unauthorized intermediaries.

"I must assure the students that they should stay away from rumours. They should stay away from agents and consultants," Sheth said.

"Since it is a computer-based examination, a lot of objective tools are there, and it is very unlikely that any problem should happen with the conduct of the examination," he added.

His remarks come amid increased scrutiny of entrance examinations following the NEET-UG 2026 paper leak, which led to the cancellation of the original test and a nationwide re-examination.

Sheth said the additional security measures introduced this year are intended to ensure a safe, secure, and transparent examination process.