NEET SS Syllabus 2026: Paper Groups and Subject-wise Syllabus
Content Writer | Updated On - Oct 26, 2026
The NEET SS syllabus depends on the question-paper group, not only on the super-specialty course a doctor wants to join. The latest NBEMS syllabus scheme had 15 paper groups. Thirteen groups tested the main feeder broad specialty at postgraduate exit level, while Critical Care Medicine and Medical Oncology had their own subject papers.
NBEMS has not released the NEET SS 2026 bulletin. The 2025 group-wise syllabus below is the latest official guide. The 2026 bulletin will confirm whether the group names, feeder specialties or syllabus rules change.
- 15 question-paper groups were used in 2025.
- 13 papers followed the PG exit-level syllabus of the main feeder specialty.
- Critical Care Medicine and Medical Oncology had separate subject papers.
- The paper covered general, basic and sub-specialty parts of the tested subject.
- NBEMS did not publish fixed chapter-wise weightage.
How NBEMS Decides the NEET SS Syllabus
Most NEET SS papers are built around one broad postgraduate medical subject. As per the 2025 bulletin, the questions were set at PG exit level and covered the general, basic and sub-specialty parts of that subject. This means a paper was wider than the name of one desired DM or MCh course.
For example, the Medical Group tested General Medicine. A doctor seeking Endocrinology, Cardiology or another course placed under that group had to prepare the Medical Group syllabus, not only the final super-specialty. The same idea applied to Surgical Group, Paediatric Group and the other broad-specialty papers.
Source: NEET SS 2025 information bulletin. Values show the number of paper groups.
NEET SS 2026 Paper Groups and Subjects
The table shows the latest official group structure from 2025. A candidate could take more than one group only when their feeder qualification made them eligible for those groups.
| Paper group | Subject tested in 2025 |
|---|---|
| Medical | General Medicine |
| Surgical | General Surgery |
| Orthopaedics | Orthopaedics |
| Paediatric | Paediatrics |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | Obstetrics and Gynaecology |
| Anaesthesia | Anaesthesiology |
| Radiodiagnosis | Radiology |
| Respiratory Medicine | Respiratory Medicine |
| Microbiology | Microbiology |
| Pathology | Pathology |
| Psychiatry | Psychiatry |
| Pharmacology | Pharmacology |
| ENT | ENT |
| Critical Care Medicine | Critical Care Medicine |
| Medical Oncology | Medical Oncology |
The group name is important because ranks and course choices are handled group-wise. A score from one group is not treated as the score for another group.
Why Critical Care Medicine and Medical Oncology Are Different
The Critical Care Medicine and Medical Oncology papers did not follow a General Medicine PG syllabus. NBEMS treated each as a separate paper based only on that super-specialty subject.
This matters because several feeder specialties could lead to the same course. Critical Care Medicine accepted doctors from General Medicine, Paediatrics, Respiratory Medicine, Anaesthesiology and Emergency Medicine in the 2025 scheme. All of them took the same Critical Care Medicine paper. The paper tested the destination subject rather than the syllabus of one feeder degree.
Medical Oncology worked in the same way. Eligible applicants took the Medical Oncology paper, not a general Medical Group paper. The 2026 bulletin will confirm the feeder list and whether these two separate papers continue unchanged.
How to Match a Course with the Correct Paper
Three details must agree: the candidate's PG specialty, the super-specialty course and the paper group assigned by NBEMS. The desired course name alone is not enough to identify the paper.
| PG specialty | Course example | Paper to prepare | Main syllabus |
|---|---|---|---|
| Paediatrics | Endocrinology | Medical Group | General Medicine |
| General Surgery | Head and Neck Surgery | ENT Group | ENT |
| Anaesthesiology | Critical Care Medicine | Critical Care Medicine | Critical Care Medicine |
The full feeder list is part of the official bulletin. It also decides which course choices become available during counselling. Preparing a paper without checking the feeder rule can lead to a score that cannot be used for the intended course.
What the Syllabus Covers
NBEMS described the 13 broad-specialty papers as PG exit-level examinations. The syllabus included the general or basic part of the subject and its sub-specialty systems. It did not give a fixed number of questions for individual topics or chapters.
The syllabus should therefore be read as the full PG subject covered by the group. A Medical Group applicant needs the General Medicine base and its systems. A Surgical Group applicant needs the General Surgery base and related sub-specialty areas. The same reading applies to Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, Radiology and the other broad-specialty groups.
The paper had 150 multiple-choice questions in three sections. The sections were time blocks, not separate syllabus units. Each section could contain questions from the paper group's subject. More details are available on the NEET SS exam pattern page.
No Official Chapter-wise Weightage
NBEMS did not publish an official chapter-wise split for the 2025 paper. Topic counts reported by coaching websites may describe recalled questions, but they are not the official syllabus. The bulletin and the feeder-group table remain the main sources for deciding what belongs in the paper.
Things to Remember
- The course name and paper name may be different.
- The candidate's PG specialty must be an accepted feeder for the selected course.
- The 13 main groups test a broad PG subject, not only one DM or MCh branch.
- Critical Care Medicine and Medical Oncology use their own subject syllabus.
- The 2026 bulletin will replace the 2025 group list if NBEMS announces any change.
Related pages: eligibility, exam pattern, application process and counselling.
Official source: NBEMS NEET SS 2025 information bulletin.
NEET SS Syllabus 2026 FAQs
Has NBEMS released the NEET SS 2026 syllabus? +
No. The 2026 bulletin is not available yet. The 2025 paper-group syllabus is the latest official guide.
Is the NEET SS syllabus the same for every course? +
No. The syllabus depends on the paper group assigned to the course and the accepted feeder qualification.
Does the Medical Group test only the chosen super-specialty? +
No. The 2025 Medical Group paper tested General Medicine at PG exit level, including its general and sub-specialty areas.
Which NEET SS papers have their own super-specialty syllabus? +
Critical Care Medicine and Medical Oncology had their own subject papers under the 2025 scheme.
Does NBEMS give chapter-wise weightage for NEET SS? +
The 2025 bulletin did not give a fixed chapter-wise question split. It defined the subject and level of each paper group.
*The article might have information for the previous academic years, please refer the official website of the exam.
