NEET PG 2026: PwD assessment portal opens 1 October, and NMC’s new rules rename the certificate
MCC will assess PwD candidates for NEET PG round 1 from 1 to 9 October, with appeals from 5 to 12 October. Under NMC’s guidelines of 16 September, the disability certificate becomes an “Eligibility Certificate” decided on functional ability, not disability percentage.
PG medical counselling has not started yet, but disability assessment has. The Medical Counselling Committee said in a notice dated 28 September that the PwD portal for round 1 of PG counselling 2026 becomes active on 1 October.
MCC's assessment dates
| Board | Window |
|---|---|
| Primary Medical Assessment Board | 1 October to 5 pm on 9 October |
| Appellate Medical Assessment Board | 10 am on 5 October to 5 pm on 12 October |
MCC tells candidates to complete assessment inside these dates. The PG bulletin explains how to appeal for re-assessment. MCC's PG page still shows no round-1 schedule; it carries a note that the NMC and NBEMS seat matrices are awaited.
What NMC's guidelines change
On 16 September the National Medical Commission issued guidelines on assessing persons with benchmark disabilities for PG admission in 2026. The 39-page document says:
- Name: the certificate called a "disability certificate" will be known as the Eligibility Certificate. It will record one of three outcomes: eligible, eligible with reasonable accommodation, or ineligible.
- Threshold: a benchmark disability of at least 40% and a valid UDID card. A self-certified affidavit on functional abilities is also required.
- Functional test: the board decides on the candidate's ability to acquire the essential competencies of the course. A candidate cannot be declared ineligible only because of the diagnosis, the category or the percentage on the UDID card.
- Speciality tables: separate tables cover surgical-skill specialities, all other clinical specialities, pre-clinical and para-clinical branches. Each lists required functional abilities, accommodations and whether a disability category may be suitable. For the surgical group, upper-limb disability is shown as generally not suitable.
- Reasons in writing: an ineligibility finding needs a reasoned "speaking order". The appellate authority set up by DGHS also gives a reasoned order, which is final subject to court directions.
- Colleges: each must name a nodal officer and run a time-bound grievance process.
What to do
Keep your UDID card and diagnosis records ready, read the assessment instructions in the PG information bulletin, and plan around 9 October. If you are assessed as ineligible, ask for the written order and use the appeal window to 12 October.
CareerBox News Desk — reporting on the Medical Counselling Committee notice of 28 September 2026 on PwD assessment for PG round 1 and the National Medical Commission’s guidelines of 16 September 2026 on assessment of persons with benchmark disabilities for PG admission. Official portal: mcc.nic.in. Dates and eligibility change; confirm them on the official portal before you act.