NEET PG Eligibility Criteria: Check Age Limit and Marks Required

NEET PG 2026 is the national entrance exam for admission to MD (Doctor of Medicine)/ MS (Master of Surgery) and PG Diploma courses in India. In order to take the NEET PG 2026, candidates will have to satisfy the rigorous standards of eligibility that include academic performance, completion of an internship, registration as a registered medical practitioner, age restriction, and minimum marks.

Generally, the qualifying percentage of candidates of general categories is 50th percentile (around 275-300 of 800 marks), and for reserved categories, such as SC, ST, OBC, and EWS have qualifying percentile is 40th percentile (around 250- 270 marks). The applicants can only undergo the exam and the counselling rounds after fulfilling these criteria. 

Who Can Apply for NEET PG 2026?

The eligibility criteria are that NEET preparation 2026 is accessible to eligible candidates as dictated by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and National Medical Commission (NMC). It is the admission test of MD, MS, PG Diploma and DNB programs in India, both in government colleges and in private, deemed, and central colleges.

To apply for NEET PG 2026, a candidate should meet the following NEET PG eligibility criteria.

1. Nationality- Citizens of India and OCI (Overseas Citizen of India) cardholders can apply as Indian citizens. The FMGs need to have other requirements, such as certification by the Medical Council of India (MCI)/NMC and passing of the FMGE screening test.
2. Educational Qualification- The candidate should have an MBBS degree from a college accredited by NMC. Students with one year left in MBBS are also eligible, subject to fulfilling all conditions, such as having an internship before the eligibility deadline.
3. Internship Requirement- To be eligible to get NEET PG 2026, one will be required to complete a one-year compulsory rotatory internship. Applicants have to make sure that the internship is completed before the time stipulated in the official notification, which is before the counselling process commences. 
4. Registered nurse with Medical Council- To qualify as suitable applicants, the candidates should be permanently or provisionally registered by the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council.
5. Age Limit- The lower age limit is not defined yet; however, the applicants should have finished their MBBS diploma and internship. No upper age limit is prescribed in the official notification, and in the past, there has been no upper age limit applied for NEET PG.

When these eligibility criteria are met, the candidate will be allowed to attend the NEET PG 2026 examination and be a part of counselling for postgraduate medical seats. To be included in the admission list, applicants who do not satisfy any of these requirements will not be able to take the exam.

Also Check: How to Crack NEET PG in First Attempt?

What Academic Qualifications Are Required for NEET PG 2026?

In order to be eligible for NEET PG 2026, a candidate has to possess certain academic qualifications as required by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). These requirements guarantee that qualified and medically trained individuals are only applying for postgraduate medical admissions in India.

1. MBBS Degree- The candidates should possess an MBBS degree that is conferred by a registered medical college or university. The degrees earned in non-recognized institutions are ineligible for NEET PG.
2. Completion of Rotatory Internship- All candidates are required to fulfil the one-year compulsory rotatory internship. The final year MBBS candidates are also allowed to apply, though they have to have the internship prior to the NEET PG 2026 counselling.
3. Registered with Medical Council- A permanent or provisional registration certificate issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) or a State Medical Council to the candidates has to be submitted. This registration allows the candidate to be legally qualified to practice medicine in India, a requirement of post-graduate training.
4. Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs)- FMGs should have at least a primary medical qualification from the NMC. The applicants must complete the Foreign Medical Grade Examination (FMGE) before being allowed to take NEET PG 2026. The FMGs should also be registered provisionally or permanently by the NMC before the counselling process starts.

Also Read: Top 5 Benefits of Practising Previous Year’s NEET PG Question Papers

What Is the Minimum Marks Requirement for NEET PG 2026?

The NEET PG 2026 minimum marks requirement is set according to the cut-off percentile allotted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS). Students who want to pursue MD, MS or PG Diploma programs in India must meet the minimum mark requirement to be eligible. The marks needed change slightly every year based on the difficulties of the exam and performance of the candidates, but past trends can offer a reasonable estimate of the marks required in 2026.

NEET PG does not qualify based on the raw marks, as it uses percentiles. In order to qualify for counselling, the candidates need to meet the qualifying percentile. Having a high score above the minimum does not mean one will be accepted as the seats will be allocated based on the rank, category and availability of seats.

Those candidates who are in their final year of MBBS are also allowed, but their eligibility will be determined after completion of the internship. Students are advised to score many points higher than the cutoff to have higher chances of being accepted to the best MD/MS courses in both government and private institutions in India.

Also Check: Important Topics for NEET PG

Are Foreign Medical Graduates Eligible for NEET PG 2026?

A foreign candidate must meet some academic qualifications as mandated by the National Medical Commission (NMC) and the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to be eligible for NEET PG 2026. This is done by ensuring that only qualified and medically trained people apply for the postgraduate medical admissions in India. The following is the eligibility criteria for foreign medical graduates.

1. MBBS Degree- The candidates are expected to have a degree of MBBS awarded from a registered medical college/university. The degrees received at non-recognized institutions are not eligible for NEET PG.
2. NMC Screening / FMGE Certificate- FMGs have to pass the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) administered by the NMC. A valid FMGE pass certificate is required to attend the NEET PG counselling.
3. Compulsory Internship- Every applicant must meet the one-year mandatory internship.  Applications can also be made by the final year MBBS students, but they must have the internship completion certificate before they are counselled through NEET PG 2026.
4. Medical Registration- FMGs will need a permanent or temporary registration certificate from the NMC to be eligible. Registration guarantees that the candidate has a legal right to practice medicine in India.
5. Other Requirements- FMGs also have to meet all general qualification standards, such as age, and minimum academic qualifications, just like Indian MBBS graduates. They should also submit all the required documents like FMGE pass certificate, internship completion certificate and degree verification documents.
6. FMGs have an opportunity to compete with AIQ seats, Deemed Universities, and central institutions; however, they should meet the NMC recognition and FMGE conditions. The qualification of NEET cutoff percentile is required, as in the case of Indian graduates. FMGs counselling is also combined with the All India Quota (AIQ) counselling of the MCC.

Also Read: Which Branch has the Highest Cutoff in NEET PG?

What Documents Are Required to Prove Eligibility?

In order to take part in NEET PG 2026 counselling and secure admission, the applicants will have to present certain documents that will confirm their academic qualifications, medical registration, and category eligibility. When reporting takes place in the allotted medical college, these documents are verified, and in case of missing or wrong documents, then the seat may be cancelled.

The following is a list of documents required to prove eligibility for NEET pg 2026.

• NEET PG 2026 Admit Card
• NEET PG 2026 Scorecard
• MBBS Degree Certificate or the Provisional Certificate.
• MBBS Mark Sheets
• Compulsory Rotatory Internship Completion Certificate
• Permanent or Provisional Medical Registration Certificate.
• Photo Identity Proof
• Category Certificate 
• PwD Certificate 
• Seat Allotment Letter
• Passport-Size Photographs
• Receipt of Counselling Fee Payment

The candidates are expected to bring both original and multiple copies of each document. Paperwork should be genuine, readable, and recent. Outdated or unfinished papers might result in their disqualification. The FMGs have also been required to bring their FMGE pass certificate and degree verification by the NMC.

Also Check: List of Colleges for NEET PG Rank 1 to 1000

How Can Candidates Verify Their Eligibility Before Applying?

Eligibility verification of NEET PG 2026 before taking the application is important to make sure that applicants are not disqualified in the future from the examination or counselling process. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) have established tough eligibility standards with respect to academic qualification, completion of internship, registration, and also in terms of age. Before a candidate makes an application, he or she must ensure that they satisfy all the requirements.

Here are the steps to verify eligibility before applying for NEET PG 2026.

1. Check Educational Qualifications- You must possess an MBBS degree or a provisional college or university certificate that is recognized by NMC. Ensure that your mark sheets are proper for all MBBS professional years.
2. Confirmation of Internship Completion- All final year MBBS students need to ensure that their one-year mandatory compulsory rotation internship is done within the deadline required by NBEMS. Unrecognized institutions or incomplete rotations are invalid, and those internships are not accepted.
3. Check Medical Registration- You must have an NMC or a State Medical Council permanent registration certificate or a provisional one. In the case of Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs), FMGE-approved clearance and NMC-registered.
4. Check Age Criteria- Make sure that you are of the minimum age required and not above the set age; otherwise, you may not be able to take the NEET PG 2026.
5. Check Category-Based Criteria- When you are claiming a reservation under SC, ST, OBC, or EWS/ PwD, make sure that you have a valid category certificate in the prescribed format.
6. Cross-Check Documents-  Make sure that the supporting documents like degree certificates, internship completion certificates, registration certificates, and identity proof, are valid, current, and able to be submitted.
7. Refer to Authoritative Notices- Also refer to the NEET PG 2026 official data bulletin published by NBEMS that has detailed eligibility criteria and guidelines.

Conclusion

The NEET PG eligibility conditions are designed to prioritise only competent individuals with medical qualifications and the ability to undertake training in postgraduate training in India. The main criteria are the MBBS degree obtained in an institution recognised by the NMC, completion of the mandatory one-year internship period, valid medical registration, the required minimum percentage/marks, and per category requirements.

FMGs are also required to pass the FMGE and have their NMC registration to be eligible. By fulfilling all the requirements, not only can one be eligible to participate in NEET PG 2026, but one will also increase the possibility of admission into some of the best postgraduate courses in India.

Also Check: NEET PG Marks vs Rank 2026: Expected Trends, Predictions & Complete Analysis