NEET-PG 2026: Aadhaar, iris verification for 2.7 lakh medical graduates

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has registered over 2.7 lakh medical graduates for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) 2026, marking an increase of more than 12.5% from the previous year. The examination is scheduled to be held on August 30, with the board introducing enhanced authentication measures and candidate-friendly initiatives.

As part of the new security protocol, candidates will undergo Aadhaar-based authentication during the registration process and again on the day of the examination. In cases where fingerprint authentication is unsuccessful, iris-based biometric verification will be used as a fallback. The board has also asked candidates to indicate three preferred states for the allotment of exam centres, with the correspondence state as the mandatory first preference.

The test city information will be issued nearly three weeks before the examination date, allowing candidates to plan their travel and accommodation well in advance. The question paper will consist of 180 questions to be answered in 210 minutes, providing candidates with more time per question while keeping the overall exam duration unchanged.

Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda reviewed the preparations for the examination on Saturday and directed officials to ensure its smooth, transparent and technology-enabled conduct while maintaining the highest standards of security and integrity. He also urged candidates not to fall prey to rumours or fraudulent claims regarding question paper leaks. The final question paper, he said, is selected through a highly encrypted, time-bound process shortly before the exam, making any claim of prior access entirely false.

Officials said the exam will be conducted under a multi-layered security framework that includes CCTV surveillance, biometric authentication, candidate frisking, signal jammers, dynamic computer allocation, live monitoring through central and regional command centres, and independent observers. More than 60,000 exam personnel will be deployed to oversee the process at various centres across the country.

The end-to-end question paper preparation and delivery process has also been reinforced through multiple layers of encryption, secure offline preparation, time-bound finalisation of the paper shortly before the exam, and controlled digital decryption at the scheduled commencement of the test. This is intended to ensure the confidentiality of the question paper and prevent any leakage.

In addition, NBEMS has operationalised a dedicated email address for reporting impersonation, touting and other unfair practices. The board has been issuing regular advisories to candidates to stay alert against fraudulent agencies and to rely only on official communications.

The NEET-PG examination is the gateway for admission to postgraduate medical courses in India. The increase in the number of registered candidates this year reflects the growing interest in postgraduate medical education. The new measures are aimed at ensuring a fair and secure examination process for all candidates, while also addressing concerns about travel and logistics through early notification of test cities and centre preferences.