NEET PG 2026 Scorecard & Answer Key Released: What You Need to Know

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has released the NEET PG 2026 scorecard and answer key on October 1, 2026, following a Supreme Court directive on transparency. Over 2.65 lakh candidates who appeared for the exam on August 30 can now download their individual scorecards, view their marked responses, and verify their scores against the official answer key. The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has simultaneously announced the counselling schedule and released the seat matrix showing 58,000 total MD, MS, and PG Diploma positions across India — an 11% increase from the previous year. This marks a critical juncture for MBBS doctors: the transition from exam results to the formal admission process.

How to Download Your NEET PG 2026 Scorecard and Answer Key

NBEMS has made both the scorecard and answer key available through the official portal at natboard.edu.in. Each candidate can access their individual scorecard by logging in with their application number and password. The scorecard is a system-generated document and will remain available for download for exactly six months from the date of release. After this six-month window closes, NBEMS will not issue replacement scorecards through post, email, or any other method.

When you log in, you will see your question ID numbers, the correct answer key for each question, your marked or recorded response for each question, and the score awarded for that specific question. This granular breakdown allows you to understand exactly how your marks were calculated and to cross-check your performance against the official answer key. The answer key itself does not include the full question paper — NBEMS follows a non-disclosure policy and does not release question papers alongside answer keys.

• Visit natboard.edu.in and click the NEET PG answer key or scorecard link
• Log in using your application number and password
• View your question-by-question breakdown: question ID, correct answer, your response, and marks awarded
• Download the PDF for your records
• Scorecard is valid for six months only; download immediately

NEET PG 2026 Cutoff Marks: What Score Do You Need?

The qualifying cutoff marks for NEET PG 2026 have been lowered across all categories compared to the previous year. For general and Economically Weaker Section (EWS) candidates, the cutoff is 262 out of 720 marks, based on the 50th percentile. Candidates with disabilities in the general category need 244 marks (45th percentile), while SC, ST, and OBC candidates — including those with disabilities in these categories — must score at least 226 marks (40th percentile).

These lower cutoffs reflect the overall difficulty level of the 2026 exam and the distribution of candidate performance. If you have scored at or above your category's cutoff, you are eligible to participate in MCC counselling for the 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats, central universities, deemed universities, and ESIC institutes. State counselling for the remaining 50% state quota seats is managed separately by each state's medical education authority.

• General/EWS: 262 marks (50th percentile)
• General PwBD: 244 marks (45th percentile)
• SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD): 226 marks (40th percentile)
• Cutoffs are lower than the previous year
• Qualifying candidates are eligible for MCC and state counselling

NEET PG 2026 Seat Matrix: 58,000 MD, MS, and Diploma Positions Available

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released the official seat matrix for NEET PG 2026, showing a total of 58,000 postgraduate medical seats across MD, MS, and PG Diploma programmes. This represents an 11% increase from the previous year's 52,173 seats, indicating expansion in postgraduate medical education capacity across India. The distribution is not uniform: Karnataka leads with 8,323 seats, followed by Maharashtra (6,992), Tamil Nadu (6,306), and Uttar Pradesh (6,082).

Of these 58,000 seats, 50% are managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for All India Quota (AIQ) allocation across central universities, deemed universities, and ESIC institutes. The remaining 50% are state quota seats, managed by individual state medical education authorities through their own counselling portals. This dual structure means you may be eligible for counselling through both MCC and your state's portal, depending on your domicile and category status.

• Total PG seats: 58,000 (11% increase from 52,173 in 2025)
• 50% AIQ seats managed by MCC (central, deemed, ESIC institutes)
• 50% state quota seats managed by state authorities
• Karnataka has the highest seats (8,323), followed by Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Uttar Pradesh
• Seats span MD, MS, and PG Diploma programmes

MCC Counselling 2026: Registration, Fees, and Timeline

The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has opened the counselling registration portal for Persons with Disabilities (PwD) candidates on October 1, 2026. General category candidates will have their registration window opened in subsequent phases. Registration fees vary by category and institution type: AIQ and central university candidates in the general category pay Rs. 1,000, while SC/ST/OBC and PwD candidates pay Rs. 500. Candidates applying for deemed university seats pay a higher fee of Rs. 5,000.

The counselling process is conducted in multiple rounds. Each round involves registration, choice filling (where you rank your preferred colleges and specialties), and seat allotment based on your rank and choices. You must have your NEET PG scorecard, admit card, MBBS degree or provisional certificate, internship completion certificate, medical registration certificate, and valid photo ID ready before registration. If you belong to a reserved category or have a disability, bring the relevant certificate as well.

• PwD candidate registration: October 1, 2026 onwards
• General category registration: dates to be announced by MCC
• AIQ/Central University (General): Rs. 1,000 registration fee
• SC/ST/OBC/PwD: Rs. 500 registration fee
• Deemed University: Rs. 5,000 registration fee
• Multiple counselling rounds with choice filling and seat allotment

Documents You Must Have Ready for MCC Counselling

Before you register for MCC counselling, gather all required documents. The list is comprehensive and includes your NEET PG scorecard or rank details, admit card, MBBS degree or provisional degree certificate, MBBS marksheets, internship completion certificate, and permanent or provisional medical registration certificate from the Medical Council of India or your state medical council. You will also need a valid government-issued photo ID (Aadhaar, passport, or driving license), proof of date of birth, and recent passport-size photographs.

If you belong to a reserved category (SC, ST, OBC), bring your category certificate. If you have a disability, bring your PwBD certificate issued by a competent authority. If you are an NRI or have NRI status, bring relevant documents such as passport and proof of NRI status. Some colleges or MCC may request additional documents during the counselling or admission process, so keep your file organized and be prepared to provide any document on short notice.

• NEET PG scorecard/rank details
• NEET PG admit card
• MBBS degree or provisional degree certificate
• MBBS marksheets
• Internship completion certificate
• Permanent/provisional medical registration certificate
• Valid government-issued photo ID
• Date of birth proof
• Recent passport-size photographs (typically 4–6 copies)
• Category certificate (if SC/ST/OBC)
• PwBD certificate (if applicable)
• NRI documents (if applicable)

Understanding Your Rank and Cutoff Trends Across Top Colleges

To gauge your chances of admission to a particular college and specialty, compare your NEET PG rank against the opening and closing ranks from the previous year's counselling. For example, in MD General Medicine for AIQ seats, the top-ranked government colleges show highly competitive cutoffs: ABVIMS and Dr. RML Hospital in New Delhi opened at rank 1 and closed at rank 15, while MAMC Delhi opened at rank 34 and closed at rank 62. Mid-tier colleges like VMMC New Delhi (opening 30, closing 74) and LHMC Delhi (opening 75, closing 83) also attract strong candidates.

As you move down the rank list, colleges like GMC Kozhikode (opening 2, closing 129) and GSMC Mumbai (opening 44, closing 125) become accessible to candidates in the 100–200 rank range. Colleges further down, such as IMS-BHU (opening 124, closing 176) and GMC Kottayam (opening 71, closing 200), are reachable for candidates ranked 150–250. Remember that these are previous-year figures; your actual chances depend on the number of candidates, the difficulty of the current exam, and the total seats available. Use these as a reference, not a guarantee.

• Top colleges (ABVIMS, MAMC, VMMC, LHMC): ranks 1–100
• Mid-tier colleges (GMC Kozhikode, GSMC Mumbai, LTMMC Sion): ranks 100–200
• Accessible colleges (IMS-BHU, GMC Kottayam, IPGME&R Kolkata): ranks 150–300
• Previous-year cutoffs are a reference; actual cutoffs vary year to year
• Use a college predictor tool to estimate your chances based on your rank

Concerns About Result Discrepancies and Transparency

Some candidates have raised concerns on social media about discrepancies between their expected marks (based on self-assessment or coaching institute predictions) and their actual NEET PG 2026 ranks, with alleged differences of 50–100 marks. These candidates have also demanded that NBEMS release the full question paper alongside the answer key to allow independent verification of the evaluation process. NBEMS has clarified that it follows a non-disclosure policy and does not release question papers with answer keys.

If you believe there is an error in your scorecard or marking, you can review your question-by-question breakdown through your login and cross-check against the official answer key. If you identify a genuine discrepancy, document it and contact NBEMS through the official portal. However, minor differences between your self-assessment and your actual score are common and often reflect differences in how you marked answers during the exam versus how you recall marking them. Focus on verifying your score against the official key rather than your memory.

• Some candidates reported 50–100 mark discrepancies between expected and actual scores
• Candidates requested full question papers for independent verification
• NBEMS follows a non-disclosure policy; question papers are not released
• Review your question-by-question breakdown to verify your score
• Contact NBEMS if you identify a genuine marking error
• Minor differences from self-assessment are common

What Happens Next: Timeline and Key Dates

Now that scorecards and answer keys are live, the next critical milestone is MCC counselling registration. PwD candidates began registration on October 1, and general category candidates will follow in subsequent phases. The exact dates for each phase will be announced by MCC on its official website. Once registration closes, the choice-filling window opens, during which you rank your preferred colleges and specialties in order of preference. Seat allotment follows, and you will be offered a seat based on your rank, your choices, and the availability of seats.

Simultaneously, state counselling portals will open for state quota seats. If you are domiciled in a state, you may be eligible to participate in both MCC and state counselling. Coordinate your choices carefully: if you are allotted a seat in MCC counselling, you may forfeit your state counselling slot, or vice versa, depending on the rules of your state. Keep monitoring MCC's official website and your state medical education authority's portal for updates on dates and procedures.

• October 1: PwD candidate registration opens; general category dates to follow
• Choice filling: after registration closes
• Seat allotment: after choice filling
• Multiple counselling rounds: stray round and special stray round may follow
• State counselling: runs parallel to MCC counselling
• Reporting and document verification at allotted college

Frequently asked questions

Download your NEET PG 2026 scorecard and answer key immediately from natboard.edu.in; verify your marks against the official key; and prepare all required documents for MCC counselling registration, which has already begun for PwD candidates. Monitor the MCC website and your state medical education authority's portal closely for general category registration dates and counselling timelines.