# General Medicine tops NEET PG 2026 choices again, 46% pick it

2026-11-03T00:24:04+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 1 independent outlet

General Medicine has remained the top choice for NEET PG 2026 counselling candidates for the fifth consecutive year, with 233 of the top 501 students opting for it. Radiology came second. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has so far allocated 28,723 seats in the ongoing counselling process. Candidates who chose General Medicine cite the option to later pursue super-specialities such as cardiology and neurology, and the ease of starting a clinic after the three-year MD course. The trend also reflects a shift away from Radiology, driven by concerns about artificial intelligence's impact on diagnostic fields. The first round's reporting and joining deadline ended on 2 November 2026. The Medical Counselling Committee will release the second round result on 14 November, with registration open from 6 to 11 November. Total postgraduate medical seats have risen to 58,000 for 2026-27, up from 52,173 last year. Of these, 33,088 are in government colleges, 21,892 in private colleges and 8,197 in deemed universities.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

General Medicine's dominance in NEET PG 2026 counselling reflects a strategic career preference: its three-year MD degree opens pathways to super-specialities such as cardiology and neurology, and allows graduates to start a clinic with limited equipment. The shift away from Radiology, flagged by 46% of the top 501 candidates choosing General Medicine, suggests students are factoring in the impact of artificial intelligence on diagnostic fields. The rise in total seats, 58,000 this year against 52,173 last year, does not keep pace with 2,73,096 registrants, leaving thousands to compete in the second and third rounds. The next concrete event is the second round's registration window from 6 to 11 November 2026.

## Coverage

- bhaskar.com <https://www.bhaskar.com/career/news/neet-pg-counseling-general-medicine-top-choice-students-139570490.html>
  Leads with counselling data and student trends, no government praise or criticism

This brief was synthesised by AI from the source linked above.

Tags: General Medicine, MCC, NBEMS, NEET PG, NMC
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