NEET PG 2026: What to Study and What to Skip. Subject-wise | Complete Guide

CLINICAL SCENARIO

A 24-year-old intern is preparing for PG 2026. She has seven months to go. There are nineteen subjects to study. Over four hundred topics to cover. She spent two weeks studying the brachial plexus. She still cannot recall half of the branches when she is under pressure.

Her roommate, on the other hand, finished studying Pathology, Pharmacology, and half of Medicine in the same two weeks. Her roommate used a study and skip map to guide her. On the day of the exam, her roommate attempted one hundred and ninety questions with confidence.

Our intern only attempted one hundred and fifty-five questions. She was not sure about many of the options. The difference between the two was not about being smart or studying for hours. It was about knowing how to use each hour. This guide will give you a step-by-step study and a skip map.

This map is what separates the rank holders from the rest. We made this guide using data from PG 2025. We also used fifteen years of question analysis. We used the patterns we found from coaching over thirty batches of NEET PG aspirants.

QUICK ANSWER. STUDY vs. SKIP STRATEGY AT A GLANCE

The main idea is that not all nineteen subjects are equally important. You should allocate your time based on which subjects will give you the most marks per hour. The important subjects are Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pharmacology, Pathology, and PSM. The short subjects that are also important are Ophthalmology, ENT, Dermatology, and Forensic Medicine.

When we say skip, we do not mean skip the subject. We mean deprioritize the sub-topics that're not very important. From the data of PG 2025, we know that about forty-nine percent of the questions were clinical. Thirty percent were questions that were asked before. The exam date for PG 2026 is August 30, 2026. This article will help you a lot in your preparation for PG 2026.

NEET PG 2026. EXAM INTELLIGENCE

This strategy applies to all nineteen subjects. From the questions of PG 2025, we know that thirty-two percent of the questions were pure clinical vignettes. Twenty-one percent of the questions were integrated -subject questions. Eighteen percent of the questions were image-based. About twenty-nine percent of the questions were direct or one-liner questions.

We also know that OBG, PSM, Microbiology, and Ophthalmology were given weightage in NEET PG 2025 compared to NEET PG 2024. Most students found the paper to be moderate. They found Part B to be the Part C to be the toughest. 

The important thing to know is that seventy-eight percent of the students attempted one hundred and eighty or more questions. This means that the difference between the students is not about how much they know. It is about how accurate they are on the right topics.

For PG 2026, we predict that there will be more integrated clinical questions. There will be questions about health programs like NTEP, NPCDCS, and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY. There will be more image-based questions, from Radiology, Ophthalmology, and Dermatology.

What does the term "skip" mean when we talk about the PG exam?

Let me be straightforward: it is not possible to skip a whole subject in the NEET PG 2026 exam. The exam has 200 questions that cover 19 subjects. Even a subject that is considered a priority, like Forensic Medicine, will have around 8 to 10 questions, which is equivalent to 32 to 40 marks. This can actually change your ranking by around 1,000 to 2,000 positions.

So what do we mean by "skip" in this context? It means we need to prioritize topics over others within each subject. Every subject has a part that is tested most of the time, around 70 to 80 percent, and a not-so-important part that is tested very rarely, maybe once in 5 or 6 years.

Our goal is to be very good at the core part so that no matter what questions come up, we are well prepared. Then we should also know about the not-so-important part, but not spend too much time on it.

From my experience of teaching for 25 years, the mistake students make is spending equal time on all topics. For example, a student who spends 3 days studying "Histology of Salivary Glands" and ignores the Neoplasia chapter in Pathology is making a big mistake. They are basically giving up 8 to 10 questions for nothing. That is not a way to study; it is like taking a risk.

The Study-Skip Master Framework: All 19 NEET PG Subjects

Here is a guide for all 19 subjects. For each NEET PG subject, I have listed: how many questions we can expect, what to study in detail, what to just glance over, and what to safely leave for last.

• The number of questions we might get
•  What to study the parts deeply
•  What to just look at briefly
• What to deprioritize, the not-so-important parts

General Medicine (21–30 Qs with allied) — STUDY DEEPLY

Medicine is the undisputed king of NEET PG, especially when you include Dermatology, Psychiatry, and Venereology as allied questions. The NEET PG 2025 paper was heavily clinical in Medicine, with cardiology, endocrinology, and gastroenterology leading the question count per student recall data.

Green Zone — Master These: 

Cardiology (ACS management, heart failure classification, ECG interpretation, rheumatic fever), Endocrinology (DKA vs. HHS, thyroid function tests, Cushing's syndrome workup, diabetes management updates including SGLT2 inhibitors), Nephrology (CKD staging, AKI vs. CKD, RTA differentiation, glomerulonephritis types), Gastroenterology (cirrhosis complications — portal hypertension, hepatorenal syndrome; IBD — Crohn's vs. UC differential; hepatitis B serology), Hematology (anemia classification, pancytopenia approach, DIC, ITP vs. TTP), Infectious Diseases (HIV staging and prophylaxis, malaria species differentiation, TB under NTEP)

Yellow Zone — Know Basics: Rheumatology (SLE diagnostic criteria, RA vs. OA differential), Pulmonology (COPD vs. asthma, pneumonia classification — know the causative organisms by setting), Neurology (stroke types and initial management, Guillain-Barré vs. myasthenia gravis)

Red Zone — Study Last: Rare autoimmune overlap syndromes, obscure vasculitis subtypes beyond Takayasu/Buerger/PAN, genetic metabolic myopathies, detailed pharmacokinetics of rarely tested drugs

NBEMS TRAP ALERT: In hepatitis B serology, students confuse the window period (isolated anti-HBc IgM positive) with early acute infection (HBsAg + anti-HBc IgM). NBEMS has used this distinction as a distractor repeatedly since 2019. Build a serology interpretation table and memorize it — this one table can save 4–8 marks across Medicine and Microbiology questions.

General Surgery - 23 questions, including Ortho

The 2025 paper had a lot of questions on GI surgery, neoplasia, and trauma. Most Surgery questions are vignettes now.

Green Zone: Master these topics

• GI Surgery, which includes the diagnosis of acute abdomen, differentiating between appendicitis and Meckel's intestinal obstruction, and complications of peptic ulcers.
• Hepatobiliary, which includes types of gallstones Courvoisiers law, surgical jaundice workup, and portal hypertension shunts.
• Breast, which includes TNM staging, triple assessment, FNAC, and sentinel lymph node biopsy.
• Thyroid, which includes the workup of thyroid nodules and types of thyroid cancers.
• Trauma, which includes ATLS protocol, burns, head injury, GCS, and fracture classifications in Ortho.
• Hernias, which include hernia anatomy and femoral hernia complications.

Yellow Zone: Know the basics of these topics:

• Urology, which includes types of stones and management, BPH scoring, and testicular tumors.
• Vascular surgery, which includes varicose veins and peripheral arterial disease staging.
• Pediatric surgery, which includes presentations of pyloric stenosis, intussusception, and Hirschsprung's.

Red Zone-Study last:

• vascular grafting techniques.
• Detailed operative steps of tested procedures.
• Complex hand surgery.
• Rare bone tumors beyond Ewing's and Osteosarcoma.

IMAGE ALERT: 

Surgery image-based questions are increasing. Expect CT abdomen (acute abdomen, pancreatitis, aortic aneurysm), X-ray (intestinal obstruction, fractures, foreign bodies), and clinical photographs (hernias, skin lesions, burn depth). The 2025 recall included specimen images — practice identifying surgical specimens alongside radiological images.

Also Read: AIIMS vs MAMC vs KEM vs JIPMER vs CMC — Best for PG?

Obstetrics and Gynecology-19  questions

In the year 2025, Obstetrics and Gynecology had a lot of questions, and these questions were really tough. The questions were about emergencies that happen in the labor room, the rules that doctors follow to take care of women, and cancers that affect women.

Green Zone: Topics that you must master. These are very important.

• You should know about something called Postpartum Hemorrhage. This is when a woman bleeds a lot after giving birth. You should know how to treat this condition step by step. The steps are: first give oxytocin, then methylergometrine, then carboprost, then do a B-Lynch procedure, and finally do a hysterectomy if nothing else works. You should also know the causes of this condition, which are remembered by the "4 Ts".
• You should know about Pre-eclampsia and Eclampsia. These are conditions that can happen to women and can be very dangerous. You should know how to diagnose these conditions and how to treat them. You should know about magnesium sulfate regimens, like the Pritchard and Zuspan regimens, and how to manage toxicity.
• You should know about Ectopic Pregnancy. This is when a woman gets pregnant. The baby grows outside the womb. You should know how to diagnose this condition and how to treat it. You should know about treatment, like methotrexate and surgical treatment.
• You should know about Antenatal Care. This is the care that pregnant women receive before they give birth. You should know about the schedule of screenings and ultrasounds that pregnant women should have. You should also know about Rh isoimmunization.
• You should know about Labor. This is the process of giving birth. You should know about the stages of labor and how to read a partograph. You should know about the Bishop's score. When a cesarean section is necessary.
• You should know about Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. This is a condition that affects women and can cause problems with their ovaries. You should know about the Rotterdam criteria. How to manage this condition.
• You should know about Contraception. This is the way to prevent pregnancy. You should know about the methods of contraception and how to choose the right method for each patient. You should know about IUCD types and emergency contraception.

Yellow Zone: Topics that you should know the basics about.

• You should know about cancers. These are cancers that affect women. You should know about cancer, endometrial cancer, and ovarian cancer.
• You should know about Infertility. This is when a woman cannot get pregnant. You should know about the workup for this condition.
• You should know about disorders. These are problems that women have with their periods. You should know about the PALM-COEIN classification.

Red Zone: Topics that you can study last

•  You should know about uterine anomalies. These are conditions that affect the uterus. You should know about the classification.
• You should know about IVF protocols. This is a way to help women get pregnant.
• You should know about gestational trophoblastic disease subtypes. This is a condition that affects pregnant women.
• You should know about obstetric forceps classifications. This is a way of helping women give birth.

Also Read: Top AIIMS Colleges in India 2026: Ranking, Seats, Cut-Off & Courses

Contraindications: Be careful when using medicines.

• Methylergometrine should not be used in patients with high blood pressure, pre-eclampsia, or heart disease. This is very important. Can be a question on the test.
•  Misoprostol should not be used in patients who have had a section before. This is also very important. Can be a question on the test. Knowing these two facts can help you get eight marks on the test.

Pathology:14 to 25 questions.

Pathology is like a bridge that connects all the subjects. The 2025 paper had a lot of integrated vignettes, which means you get a question with a histopathology image or lab findings, and you have to find the pathological diagnosis and then think about the treatment.

Different sources say there are 14 to 25 questions in Pathology, depending on how you count the questions that are related to subjects.

Green Zone. You should master these topics:

•  Neoplasia has been the tested topic in Pathology for a decade. You should know about tumor markers, grading versus staging paraneoplastic syndromes, and IHC markers like CD20, CD3, HER2, S-100, and desmin
• Hematology, you should know about ALL versus AML, CML with Philadelphia chromosome, Auer rods, Hodgkin's versus NHL, and how to approach bleeding disorders
• Glomerulonephritis, you should know about nephrotic syndrome, histopathology of each type, like membranous, minimal change, RPGN, and crescents
• General Pathology, you should know about inflammation types, amyloidosis, like AL versus AA granulomatous inflammation causes, and embolism types
• Bone Marrow findings in pancytopenia differentials. Pathology is a subject that you need to study

Yellow Zone. You should know the basics of:

• Hemodynamic disorders, like shock types, DIC pathogenesis
• Genetic disorders, like autosomal dominant versus recessive lists Turner versus Klinefelter basics.
•  Immunopathology, like hypersensitivity types, transplant rejection classification Pathology covers all these topics

 Red Zone. You can study these topics last:

• Exhaustive molecular genetics of cancers
• Uncommon storage diseases beyond the five, like Gaucher, Niemann-Pick, Tay-Sachs, Fabry, Hunter/Hurler
•  Rare vasculitis histopathology

Toppers Edge:

Immunohistochemistry markers are very important. Now, you should know about the tables on IHC in the 10th edition of Robbins.

You should know about CD20, which is used for B-cell lymphoma; CD3 is used for T-cell, HER2/neu is used for breast cancer; S-100 is used for melanoma and schwannoma; Desmin is used for rhabdomyosarcoma; Vimentin is used for sarcomas; and CK is used for carcinomas.

If you memorize one table, you can solve 3 to 4 questions across Pathology, Surgery, and Medicine. Pathology is a subject that you need to study.

Also Read: Top Medical Colleges in Mumbai 2026: Government & Private Colleges, Fees, Ranking & Cut-Off

Pharmacology (14–20 Qs) — STUDY DEEPLY

Pharmacology is unique — it doesn't just generate its own questions, it infiltrates every clinical vignette. A correct drug of choice answer in a Medicine vignette is, at its core, a Pharmacology mark. The 2025 paper tested mechanisms, adverse effects, and drug interactions prominently.

Green Zone — Master These: 

Drug of Choice lists (this is the single highest-yield investment in all of NEET PG — compile one master list covering all subjects), Antimicrobials (spectrum, resistance mechanisms, specific drugs for specific organisms), Antiepileptics (selection by seizure type, pregnancy-safe options — levetiracetam/lamotrigine), Antihypertensives (selection by comorbidity — ACEi in diabetic nephropathy, beta-blockers in heart failure), Drug Interactions (CYP450 inducers: rifampicin, phenytoin, carbamazepine; inhibitors: ketoconazole, erythromycin, cimetidine), Adverse Drug Reactions (pathognomonic ones: gray baby syndrome–chloramphenicol, SLE-like–hydralazine/procainamide, ototoxicity–aminoglycosides), Mechanisms of Action (just the key ones NBEMS tests — not every drug)

Yellow Zone — Know Basics: 

Chemotherapy agents (classified by mechanism — alkylating, antimetabolites; known major adverse effects), Autacoids (prostaglandins, histamine receptors — tested as OBG or Allergy crossovers), Pharmacokinetics (zero-order vs. first-order kinetics, volume of distribution concept)

Red Zone — Study Last: 

Detailed receptor pharmacology beyond what's clinically relevant, obscure drug metabolite pathways, experimental drugs not in KDT 9th edition, exhaustive kinetic calculations, historical drugs no longer in clinical use

NBEMS TRAP ALERT:

 Rifampicin, as a CYP450 inducer, is the single most tested drug interaction concept. It reduces the efficacy of OC pills, warfarin, cyclosporine, and protease inhibitors. NBEMS frames this as: "A transplant patient develops rejection after starting ATT..." or "A woman on OC pills becomes pregnant after starting anti-TB treatment..." The answer is always rifampicin. This concept crosses Pharmacology, Medicine, OBG, and Microbiology — one fact, four subjects, potentially 16 marks.

PSM / Community Medicine (15 to 25 questions) 

You should study this subject deeply because it has a return on investment. PSM is an important subject for NEET PG. It had around 15 questions in PG 2025. Some people think it has 25 questions if we include questions from other subjects. Most of the questions are direct or related to clinics. Have a very high repeat rate of around 40%. The marks you get for the time you study are very good.

You should master these topics:

• Biostatistics, which includes sensitivity, specificity, PPV, NPV, likelihood ratios, study designs like RCT, cohort, case-control, statistical tests like chi-squared test, ANOVA, and how to understand p-value and confidence interval.
• National Health Programs, which include NTEP, NVBDCP, NPCDCS, NMEP, NPCB, NACP, and you should know the terms that are used now instead of old terms like RNTCP, DOTS categories, and MDR-TB regimen.
• Epidemiology, which includes how diseases are transmitted, how to investigate outbreaks, incidence versus prevalence, and attack rate.
• Vaccines that are given under the Universal Immunisation Program, including the schedule and new vaccines like PCV, RVV, MR vaccine, and IPV.
• Demography, which includes TFR, NRR, GRR, IMR, MMR, and you should know the data from NFHS-5.
• Screening, which includes the criteria for a screening test, lead-time bias, and length bias.

You should know the basics of these topics:

• Nutrition, which includes how to classify protein-energy malnutrition and diseases caused by a lack of vitamins.
• Sanitation, which includes methods to purify water, and the Horrocks apparatus.
• Occupational health, which includes diseases that should be reported and types of pneumoconiosis.

You can study these topics. last:

• A detailed history of health movements.
• Rare environmental toxicology.
• Theory of health management and planning, and detailed demographic transition model stages.

You should remember these data points:

• The total fertility rate is 2.0 according to NFHS-5.
• The infant mortality rate is 28 per 1000 live births, according to SRS 2022
• The maternal mortality rate is 97 per lakh according to SRS 2018-20.
• India was declared polio-free in 2014.
• The Measles-Rubella vaccination campaign is under the Universal Immunisation Program. You can find all these data points in Parks' edition.

Microbiology - 12 to 20 questions( moderate to high yield)

Students who took the PG 2025 exam said that Microbiology was given more importance.

The questions were made to look like life scenarios. For example, a question about pneumonia would test the students' knowledge of the causative organism, what the Gram stain would show what culture medium would be used, and how sensitive the organism is to antibiotics, all in one question.

Green Zone

• Bacteriology includes knowing the difference between Gram-negative bacteria and knowing what culture media to use. Like LJ for TB, Thayer-Martin for gonococcus, TCBS for Vibrio, and MacConkeys.
• It also includes Mycobacteriology, which is the study of Mycobacteria, including how to diagnose TB under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme and how to classify leprosy.
• Parasitology is another part, which includes knowing about the species of malaria like P. Falciparum and P. Vivax and knowing the difference between amoebic and bacillary dysentery.
• Virology is also included, which is the study of viruses, including HIV. What the window period is, how to diagnose it according to the National AIDS Control Organisation, and how to understand hepatitis serology.
• Immunology is also part of the Green Zone, which includes knowing about the types of hypersensitivity, how the complement pathways work, and how to classify immunodeficiencies.

Yellow Zone 

• Mycology, which is the study of fungi like Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus, and Muco, is especially important in people who have weakened immune systems.
•  Helminthology, including the lifecycle of hookworms, the basics of hydatid disease, and cysticercosis.

Red Zone

Detailed information about rare rickettsia that goes beyond the Weil-Felix reaction, the genetics of bacteriophages, old systems of classification, and parasites that are not commonly found in India.

Anatomy-15-17 question

People thought Anatomy was really tough in the PG 2025 test, but here is the important thing to know: now it is mostly tested with questions that have pictures and are related to other subjects.

Green Zone includes Neuroanatomy, which is the study of the nerves in the brain, such as what happens when a nerve in the brain is damaged or which artery supplies blood to the brain.

It also includes Embryology, which is the study of how babies develop, like what can go wrong and cause problems, such as issues with the heart or kidneys.

You should also study the nerves in the arms and legs. How can they get hurt, like the nerves in the hands?

You should know about the Abdomen, like the area where hernias happen, and the Head and Neck like the triangles that surgeons need to know about.

The Yellow Zone is not as important as it includes the Thorax, which is the chest area, and the Pelvis, which is the hip area, and how the organs are related to each other.

You should also know a little about sectional anatomy, which is related to Radiology.

The Red Zone is where you can skip. It includes a lot of details about bones, like the names of all the bumps on the bones and the details of how muscles and organsre connected, which is not really important for the test.

The National Board of Examinations is trying to trick you by making you think you need to know all the details of Anatomy. Really, you should focus on Neuroanatomy and Embryology because they are what will give you the most points on the test.

Physiology-15 to 17 questions. It is a good idea to study it selectively.

Physiology is still pretty important because it is used a lot in medical subjects. The heart and lungs are popular topics in physiology, and this has been the case for a long time.

Green Zone: The important topics in physiology are:

•  The heart, including how it works and how to read electrocardiograms, which is also related to medicine
• The kidneys, including how they filter waste and balance acids and bases
• The lungs, including how they take in oxygen and release carbon dioxide
• The nerves, including how pain works and how nerves talk to each other
• The digestive system, including how the stomach makes acid and how the body breaks down bilirubin
• Some other topics in physiology are also important. Not as much. These include:

Yellow Zone—The system, which is like a network of glands that make hormones, and the reproductive system, which includes the menstrual cycle and how hormones control it.

Red Zone-How the body works during exercise or in extreme environments like space or underwater, or really detailed calculations about how we hear, or complicated physics of how cells work. Physiology is about how the body works, and these topics are all part of physiology.

Biochemistry (12–15 Qs) — Selective Study

Biochemistry questions are moderate in number but often integrated with Pathology (storage diseases) and Pediatrics (inborn errors of metabolism). Metabolic pathways and molecular biology are the two big testing zones.

Green Zone: Metabolic pathways (glycolysis — enzyme deficiencies, TCA cycle, urea cycle disorders, fatty acid oxidation), Storage diseases (Gaucher's, Niemann-Pick, Tay-Sachs, Fabry, Hurler/Hunter — enzyme + substrate + inheritance), Molecular biology (DNA repair, PCR types, blotting techniques — Southern/Northern/Western), Vitamins (deficiency diseases with clinical correlation — especially B12, folate, vitamin D, vitamin K)

Yellow Zone: Amino acid metabolism (phenylketonuria, maple syrup urine disease, alkaptonuria), Porphyrias (AIP — key features), Lipid metabolism (familial hypercholesterolemia basics)

Red Zone: Exhaustive enzyme kinetics calculations, detailed protein structure beyond clinical relevance, rare metabolic pathways not linked to disease states, historical experiments in biochemistry

Short Subjects — Your Secret Weapon for Quick Marks

This is where smart students steal 40–50 marks with minimal time investment. The question patterns in short subjects are remarkably repetitive — the same core topics cycle every 2–3 years. A focused 10–14-day revision of all short subjects combined can lock in more marks than spending the same time on a deep dive into one major subject.

Ophthalmology (8–10 Qs)

Study: Glaucoma (types, management, drugs — timolol, latanoprost), Retinal detachment, Diabetic retinopathy (grading), Squint (types, cover test), Cataract (types by age, surgery — phaco vs. SICS), Trachoma (WHO grading — tested under PSM crossover), Conjunctivitis (differential by discharge type)

Skip Last: Rare orbital tumors, detailed optics calculations, uncommon corneal dystrophies

ENT (8–10 Qs)

Study: CSOM — safe vs. unsafe (cholesteatoma), Hearing loss (Rinne/Weber interpretation, audiogram reading), Nasal polyps (ethmoidal vs. antrochoanal), Tracheostomy (indications, technique), Epistaxis (Little's area, treatment), Laryngeal cancer (staging, treatment), Acute otitis media (management)

Skip Last: Rare laryngeal lesions, detailed cochlear implant specifications, uncommon temporal bone fracture variants

Dermatology (5–8 Qs)

Study: Pemphigus vs. Pemphigoid (Nikolsky sign, IF pattern), Psoriasis (types, management ladder, Auspitz sign), Hansen's disease (Ridley-Jopling classification, treatment — MDT regimens per WHO), Fungal infections (dermatophytes, Candida, tinea types), Sexually transmitted infections (syphilis stages, chancroid vs. LGV)

Skip Last: Rare genodermatoses, uncommon photo-dermatoses, esoteric nail disorders

Forensic Medicine (8–10 Qs)

Study: Rigor mortis (timeline, Nysten's rule), Postmortem changes (early vs. late), Asphyxia (types — hanging vs. strangulation), Medicolegal sections (IPC 304A, 304B, 375, 376, 302 — tested as direct one-liners), Poisons and antidotes (organophosphorus–atropine/PAM, opioid–naloxone, paracetamol–NAC, arsenic–BAL/DMSA), Wounds (medico-legal classification) Skip Last: Rare toxicology beyond classic poisons, detailed forensic ballistics, obscure legal procedures

Pediatrics (10–12 Qs)

Study: Neonatal jaundice (physiological vs. pathological, exchange transfusion criteria), Immunization schedule (UIP — with recent additions PCV, RVV), Growth milestones (major ones by age), Respiratory infections (croup vs. epiglottitis, bronchiolitis), Congenital heart diseases (cyanotic vs. acyanotic — Tetralogy of Fallot, VSD, PDA), Neonatal resuscitation (NRP algorithm) 

Skip Last: Rare genetic syndromes beyond the classic ones, uncommon pediatric malignancies, detailed neonatal metabolic screening protocols

Psychiatry (5–6 Qs)

Study: Schizophrenia (Schneider's first-rank symptoms, drug of choice — typical vs. atypical antipsychotics), Depression (diagnostic criteria, SSRIs, ECT indications), Bipolar disorder (lithium monitoring, toxicity), Substance abuse (alcohol withdrawal timeline, delirium tremens management), Anxiety disorders (OCD — drug of choice, panic disorder)

Skip Last: Rare personality disorders in detail, uncommon paraphilias, detailed psychotherapy techniques

Anesthesia (3–5 Qs)

Study: ASA classification, Malignant hyperthermia (drug of choice — dantrolene), Local anesthetic toxicity, Spinal vs. Epidural anesthesia (level, complications), Pre-anesthetic assessment (Mallampati classification)

Skip Last: Detailed ventilator modes beyond basics, uncommon regional blocks, advanced ICU protocols

Radiology (5–8 Qs)

Study: Common radiological signs (silhouette sign, air bronchogram, ground glass opacity, bird-beak sign), Modality selection by clinical scenario (USG vs. CT vs. MRI indications), Contrast reactions and contraindications, Basic X-ray interpretation (chest, abdomen, bones). 

Skip Last: Detailed interventional radiology procedures, rare imaging artifacts, nuclear medicine physics

Master Comparison — Study vs. Skip by Subject

HIGH-YIELD RAPID RECALL — LOCK THESE IN

One-Liner Bank — The "Never Skip" Facts

• Drug of choice for MRSA → Vancomycin (linezolid as alternative)
• Most common cause of PPH → Uterine atony (tone — the first "T")
• Investigation of choice for pulmonary embolism → CT Pulmonary Angiography
• Gold standard for TB diagnosis → Culture on LJ medium (but CBNAAT/GeneXpert for rapid diagnosis under NTEP)
• Pathognomonic finding in CML → Philadelphia chromosome t(9;22)
• Most common cancer in Indian males → Lung cancer (overtaking oral cavity per recent ICMR)
• Contraindicated in G6PD deficiency → Primaquine, dapsone, sulfonamides
• Drug of choice for status epilepticus → IV Lorazepam → then IV Phenytoin/Fosphenytoin
• Earliest sign of diabetic nephropathy → Microalbuminuria
• Most sensitive test for iron deficiency → Serum ferritin

Here is what I think about studying smart.

The STUDY SMART method is really helpful.

It stands for:

S. I think short subjects are a place to start because they can get you quick marks, so revise them early.

T. Tables and differentials are also very important because they can help you win in vignettes.

U. You should make a schedule using the UIP schedule and national programs; these things are non-negotiable.

D. Drug of choice lists are very useful; they are the highest-yield investment.

Y. I think yield-based allocation is an idea you should spend hours studying based on marks' potential, not the chapter length.

S. Serology tables like the ones for Hepatitis B and HIV are very important because they cross 3–4 subjects.

M. Mastering images from Radiology, Ophthalmology, Dermatology, and Pathology is an idea.

A. You should apply everything clinically because NBEMS does not test recall anymore.

R. Repeating past year questions is very useful 30% of the paper is variations of past themes.

T. Timing your practice is also important; you should time yourself for 42 minutes per section. Don't go back.

Here are some key numbers to remember:

• The Parkland formula is 4 mL × kg × %TBSA; this is for the 24 hours from the time of burn.
• MgSO4 toxicity can cause DTR loss if it is more than 8 mEq/L, and it can cause respiratory arrest if it is more than 12 mEq/L the antidote is Calcium gluconate.
• A Bishop's score of 6 or more means the cervix is favorable for induction.
• If the CD4 count is then 200, it is AIDS-defining, and you should start PCP prophylaxis using cotrimoxazole.
• A GFR of than 15 mL/min means it is CKD Stage 5 and you should consider dialysis.
• The target SpO2 in COPD is 88–92%, not 94–98%.
• A serum-ascites albumin gradient of more than 1.1 g/dL means there is portal hypertension.

PYQ THEME TRACKER. STUDY vs. SKIP PATTERNS

I looked at the PG papers from 2020 to 2025 and found the themes that come up the most. These are the things you should definitely study:

• Drug of choice and Investigation of choice. These are tested around 15 to 20 times in each paper, so you can be sure you will get marks from these
• diagnosis tables, like nephrotic vs nephritic or Crohn's vs UC or type 1 vs type 2 diabetes. These are tested around 10 to 12 times, and they are always in the form of a patient's story
• National Health Programs. These are tested around 6 to 8 times, and you just need to remember the facts
• Contraindication-based negatives like "All EXCEPT...”. These are tested around 8 to 10 times, and you need to know the answers for sure
• Image interpretation, like reading ECG, X-ray, or CT, or looking at histopathology or clinical photos. In 2025, there were around 36 questions on this topic

Now, what can you skip? The things that hardly come up, like:

• space physiology
• Exhaustive osteology markings
• Rare toxicology agents
• Obscure historical medical instruments
• Theoretical pharmacokinetic derivations that are not used in clinics
• Enzyme kinetics that are not relevant to patients

Detailed health economics models

For 2026, I think NBEMS will keep focusing on integrated questions. So the best way to prepare is to think about each topic as a patient's story. Not what is the cause, but "a patient has these symptoms, what is the most likely cause, and how do you treat them?" The topics that can be asked in this way are the ones that will give you the marks. The topics that are about remembering facts are less important.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I skip an entire subject in NEET PG 2026?

No. Every subject has at least 3 to 10 questions, which is 12 to 40 marks. If I skip a subject, I will lose marks that can change my rank by thousands. So what I should do is focus on the parts of each subject that are not as important, not skip the whole subject. I should study every subject in PG 2026 to get good marks.

What should I study first if I have only 6 months left?

Start with Pathology — it integrates with every clinical subject and builds your foundation for Medicine, Surgery, and OBG vignettes. Follow with Pharmacology (DOC lists), then Medicine and Surgery simultaneously. Reserve the final 3–4 weeks for short subjects and rapid revision of PSM.

How do I decide what to skip within a subject?

Apply the "vignette test": Can this sub-topic be framed as a clinical vignette or image-based question? If yes, study it. If it can only be tested as an obscure, isolated fact with no clinical anchor, it's safe to deprioritize. Also, check PYQ frequency — topics tested 0 times in 6 years are red-zone candidates.

Are pre-clinical subjects worth studying in detail for NEET PG 2026?

Study them selectively. The 2025 paper tested Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry almost exclusively through applied clinical questions. Focus on Neuroanatomy, Embryology, Cardiac/Renal physiology, and Metabolic pathways. Skip detailed histology, osteology, and theoretical biophysics.

Which subjects have the highest marks-per-hour-of-study ratio?

PSM, Pharmacology (drug of choice lists), Forensic Medicine, and Ophthalmology offer the highest return on time invested. PSM has a ~40% PYQ repeat rate with mostly direct questions. Pharmacology's DOC lists cross every clinical subject. Short subjects are finite and repetitive.

Is biostatistics important to study for NEET PG 2026?

Biostatistics is really important because the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has been including Biostatistics questions every year. You can expect Biostatistics to have around 5 to 8 questions. These questions can give you 20 to 32 marks. You need to learn about Sensitivity, Specificity, Positive Predictive Value, Negative Predictive Value, study designs, and how to interpret p-value.

Should I study recent advances and guideline updates for NEET PG 2026?

Yes — NBEMS reserves a portion of questions for recent updates. For 2026, focus on: SGLT2 inhibitors (dapagliflozin/empagliflozin in HFrEF), NTEP updates (new MDR-TB regimens), newer UIP vaccines (PCV, RVV), revised WHO classifications (2024–2025 publications), and Ayushman Bharat PM-JAY scheme details. These are prime "new question" material.

CLINICAL PEARL

The student who tries to study everything finishes with no knowledge. The student who studies things deeply gets a good rank.

In my experience of coaching students for the PG exam for over twenty years, I have seen that students who get a rank below one thousand have one thing in common: they are very careful about what they do not study. They are just as careful about what they do not study as they are about what they want to master.

They know that one hundred and twenty to one hundred and thirty questions out of two hundred come from areas that are easy to predict and give high scores across all nineteen subjects.

These students know these areas well, so that no matter how tricky the questions are, they can answer them easily. Then they focus on areas to get a little more score. They do not waste their time on areas that're not so important.

This is not because they are lazy; it is because they have a plan. On August 30, 2026, having a good plan is what will make some students get a good rank.