NEET PG 2026 evaluation: calls for transparency grow after alleged score discrepancies

Concerns over alleged discrepancies in NEET PG 2026 scores have emerged following the declaration of results by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on September 24, 2026. Doctors and medical student associations across India are now calling for increased transparency in the evaluation process and a review of examination security measures.

The NEET PG 2026 examination, conducted on August 30, 2026, saw 273,183 candidates register, marking an increase of over 12.5 per cent compared to the previous year. The examination is crucial for admission to MD, MS, DNB, DrNB (Direct 6 Years Courses), and PG Medical Diploma courses for the 2026-27 admission session.

Alleged Score Discrepancies and Demands for Transparency

Following the result declaration, numerous NEET PG 2026 candidates reported significant differences between their expected and actual scores. Some candidates claimed discrepancies of nearly 100 marks, leading to widespread concern among the medical student community.

Dr. Mohammad Momin Khan, President of AIMSA J&K, stated that he received over 100 direct messages from candidates detailing these alleged discrepancies. He emphasized the demand for complete transparency in the evaluation process, asserting that for an examination affecting thousands of doctors’ careers, transparency should be a standard, not a demand. Dr. Prince Jain, State President of IMA-MSN Madhya Pradesh, also highlighted the growing calls for greater transparency from candidates.

Examination Security and NBEMS Response

The issue has prompted a dual focus on both transparency in evaluation and the protection of examination security, according to Dr. Rohan Krishnan, Chief Patron of FAIMA. While acknowledging the demand for releasing the question paper and answer key, Dr. Krishnan noted that publicly releasing the complete question paper for NEET-PG, which operates within a relatively limited question bank, could compromise the confidentiality and integrity of the question bank and affect future examination security.

Regarding individual response sheets, Dr. Krishnan stated that every candidate should have reasonable access to their own response sheet to understand their evaluation, but sharing one candidate’s response sheet with another would raise privacy concerns. He urged focusing on practical measures that improve transparency without affecting examination security or individual privacy.

The Union Health and Family Welfare Minister, Jagat Prakash Nadda, had previously reviewed NEET-PG 2026 preparations, focusing on strengthening examination security, transparency, and candidate support. He urged candidates not to rely on rumours or fraudulent claims regarding examination papers, stating that any claim of prior access to the question paper is false and intended to mislead.

Planned Release of Answer Key and Verification Process

NBEMS has announced that it will publish the answer key for NEET PG 2026 on its website on or after October 1, 2026. Candidates will be able to access their Question ID numbers, correct answer key IDs, response IDs marked, and scores awarded for each question through their individual applicant login on the NBEMS website.

Dr. Amit Vyas of the Democratic Medical Association (DMA) emphasized that NBEMS should provide candidates with question-wise correct answers, recorded responses, and marks awarded as scheduled. He stressed that the evaluation methodology and normalization, wherever applicable, should be clearly explained, allowing candidates a meaningful opportunity to independently verify their scores. He added that any genuine discrepancy established through official records should be investigated and corrected, ensuring that counselling proceeds with maximum transparency and confidence among candidates.

Security Measures Implemented for NEET PG 2026

The NEET PG 2026 examination was conducted across approximately 340 cities and more than 1,300 examination centres nationwide, with over 60,000 examination personnel deployed. Candidates were required to indicate preferences across three states for examination centres, with their correspondence state as the mandatory first preference. Information about allotted examination cities was provided approximately three weeks before the examination date.

Security measures included Aadhaar-based authentication during both the application process and on the examination day, with iris-based biometric verification used as an alternative where fingerprint verification was unsuccessful. Other measures included advance sealing and inspection of examination centres, CCTV surveillance, biometric identification checks, candidate screening procedures, signal jammers, and dynamic computer systems. Examination activities were monitored through central and regional command centres with support from independent observers and evaluators. The question paper preparation and distribution process was strengthened through multiple layers of encryption, secure offline preparation, and time-bound digital decryption. NBEMS also introduced a dedicated email mechanism for reporting incidents related to cheating, fraud, or other irregularities.

Further reading

• NEET PG 2026 results: medicos seek answer key, response sheets amid score discrepancy claims
• NEET PG 2026 result rank mismatch reported by aspirants, NBE to release answer key on October 1
• NEET PG application form: eligibility, dates and how to apply Next step
• INI CET July 2026 session online seat allocation schedule released
• FMGE October 2026 registration closes today: apply by 11:55 PM
• Ladakh Central Pool MBBS/BDS: Apply by Sep 10 for 2026-27 single merit list Applications open

Written by Nishit Kumar

Nishit Kumar is a senior EdTech industry leader with over a decade of experience in building and scaling education platforms, shaping their product, content, and growth strategy. At FindMyCollege, Nishit oversees content and editorial strategy, guiding topic selection and content frameworks to ensure accuracy, relevance, and student-first value across the website.

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