NEET SS 2026 registration open till November 18; exam December 11-12
By Kabir SethiEducation Correspondent, Peepals Yuva
Representative image: fernandozhiminaicela / Pixabay
NBEMS opened NEET SS 2026 registration on 29 October 2026; doctors can apply on natboard.edu.in until 18 November, with the exam on 11 and 12 December.
What Happened
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has opened registration for NEET SS 2026, the national entrance test for super-speciality medical courses such as DM, MCh and DrNB. According to the information bulletin, applications opened at 3 pm on Thursday, 29 October 2026 on natboard.edu.in and close at 11:55 pm on Wednesday, 18 November 2026. The computer-based exam will be held on 11 and 12 December 2026, with results due by 12 January 2027.
Key Facts
- Conducting body: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS); applications only through natboard.edu.in.
- Registration window: 29 October 2026 (3 pm) to 18 November 2026 (11:55 pm).
- Application edit window: 20 to 23 November 2026.
- Admit cards: 7 December 2026; exam dates: 11 and 12 December 2026; results by 12 January 2027.
- Eligibility: a postgraduate medical degree (MD, MS, DNB or equivalent) in an eligible feeder speciality, and registration with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council, according to reports of the bulletin.
- Cut-off date for completing the qualifying MD/MS/DNB degree: 31 January 2027.
- Exam fee: Rs 3,500 for each question paper group chosen; the fee is not refundable and cannot be carried forward.
Why It Matters
NEET SS is the gateway to super-speciality training in India. After MBBS and a postgraduate degree such as MD in Medicine or MS in Surgery, doctors who want to become cardiologists, neurologists, gastroenterologists, neurosurgeons, urologists or paediatric surgeons must clear NEET SS to win a DM, MCh or DrNB seat. These are among the most competitive seats in medical education, because each speciality has a limited number of training posts.
The schedule had been awaited. NBEMS had earlier listed tentative December dates, and a doctors' body had urged it to announce a definitive schedule and start registration. The bulletin now gives candidates a firm calendar and about six weeks between the close of applications and the exam.
One date needs careful reading. Some reports gave 7 December as a registration deadline, but the bulletin lists that as the date for issuing admit cards. Registration closes on 18 November. Similarly, 31 January 2027 is not an application deadline: it is the date by which a candidate's MD, MS or DNB qualification must be complete, which matters for doctors still finishing their postgraduate course.
The fee works per group. Candidates who are eligible for more than one question paper group, depending on their postgraduate speciality, pay Rs 3,500 for each group they choose. Counselling after the results is run separately and carries its own fees.
What should candidates do next? Read the NBEMS information bulletin, check which question paper groups your postgraduate speciality makes you eligible for, register and pay before 11:55 pm on 18 November, and use the 20 to 23 November edit window only to correct mistakes. Then plan revision around the 11 and 12 December exam dates.
| NEET SS 2026 step | Date |
|---|---|
| Registration opens | 29 October 2026, 3 pm |
| Last date to apply | 18 November 2026, 11:55 pm |
| Edit window | 20 to 23 November 2026 |
| Admit card | 7 December 2026 |
| Exam | 11 and 12 December 2026 |
| Result | By 12 January 2027 |
Impact
Short-term: Postgraduate doctors across India have three weeks to apply. Those in the final year of MD, MS or DNB courses need to make sure they will complete their degree by 31 January 2027.
Long-term: A timely exam and result allow super-speciality courses to start on schedule, which affects the supply of specialist doctors in teaching hospitals and the wider health system.
Who is affected: Doctors who hold or are completing MD, MS or DNB degrees; medical colleges and hospitals offering DM, MCh and DrNB seats; and patients who depend on the steady training of new specialists.
Key Takeaway
NEET SS 2026 registration is open on natboard.edu.in until 11:55 pm on 18 November 2026, with the exam on 11 and 12 December and results due by 12 January 2027.
Questions and Answers
What is the last date to apply for NEET SS 2026?
The last date is 18 November 2026, up to 11:55 pm, according to the NBEMS information bulletin. Registration opened at 3 pm on 29 October 2026 on natboard.edu.in.
When is the NEET SS 2026 exam?
The exam will be held on 11 and 12 December 2026. Admit cards are due on 7 December, and results are expected by 12 January 2027.
Who can apply for NEET SS 2026?
Doctors holding an MD, MS, DNB or equivalent postgraduate degree in an eligible feeder speciality, registered with the National Medical Commission or a State Medical Council. The degree must be completed by 31 January 2027.
How much is the NEET SS 2026 application fee?
The exam fee is Rs 3,500 for each question paper group a candidate chooses. It is not refunded and cannot be carried forward to a later exam.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
By Kabir Sethi, Education CorrespondentCovers Education and more for Peepals Yuva. All stories by Kabir Sethi
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Kabir Sethi is a pen name of the Peepals Global Editorial Team, which researches, fact-checks and publishes every story. The portrait is an illustration.
