Nagaland NEET PG Counselling 2026: Nagaland does not yet have a medical college of its own offering postgraduate (MD/MS) courses – its first-ever medical college, Nagaland Institute of Medical Sciences and Research (NIMSR), Kohima, only began MBBS admissions in 2023 and has no PG program.
Instead, what is referred to as “Nagaland NEET PG Counselling” is a small annual sponsorship/nomination scheme run by the Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DHFW), Government of Nagaland, which nominates a limited number of Nagaland-domiciled and in-service candidates each year for PG seats at the Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal, in neighbouring Manipur.
This article explains how the DHFW Nagaland sponsorship scheme actually works, eligibility for Sponsored and Open category seats at RIMS Imphal, how Nagaland candidates can also access the regular NEET PG AIQ pool through MCC, registration, documents required, and cutoff.
Quick Facts
| Features | Specifications |
|---|---|
| Name of Examination | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (PG) or NEET PG |
| Conducted by | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
| PG Medical College in Nagaland | None – NIMSR, Kohima offers only MBBS |
| Nagaland’s PG Route for Domicile Candidates | Sponsorship/nomination quota at RIMS Imphal, Manipur, via DHFW Nagaland |
| Nagaland Sponsoring Authority | Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DHFW), Government of Nagaland, Kohima |
| Host Institute | Regional Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS), Imphal |
| Typical Annual Sponsored Seats | Approx. 7-9 seats across specialities (varies year to year) |
| NEET PG 2026 Exam Date | 30th August, 2026 |
| NEET PG 2026 Result | Declared on 24th September, 2026 |
| MCC AIQ NEET PG 2026 Counselling starting date | Official schedule awaited; expected October–November 2026 |
| Level of NEET Examination | National-level |
Nagaland NEET PG 2026 Dates (Expected)
DHFW Nagaland has not released its 2026 sponsorship notification yet. Based on past cycles, the notification and counselling typically follow a few months after the NEET PG result, once RIMS Imphal’s own vacancy position is known.
| Events | Dates (Expected) |
|---|---|
| NEET PG 2026 Result | Declared on 24-09-2026 |
| DHFW Nagaland Sponsorship Notification | Expected November–December 2026 |
| Application Submission Window | To Be Announced |
| RIMS Imphal Counselling (Physical) | To Be Announced |
| Mop-Up Round (if seats remain vacant) | To Be Announced |
Eligibility Criteria
- NEET PG: Candidates must have qualified NEET PG 2026 (minimum 50th percentile for General, 45th for General PwBD, 40th for SC/ST/OBC).
- Age Limit: There is no age limit for admission to PG (MD/MS) courses.
- Educational Qualification: Candidates must hold an MBBS degree or a recognized certificate from the National Medical Commission (NMC).
- Internship: Candidates must complete their one-year internship or have the original certificate by the cut-off date.
- Registration Certificate: Candidates must have a permanent or provisional MBBS registration certificate issued by the NMC or a State Medical Council.
- Nationality: Candidates must be citizens of India.
- For Sponsored Category: Must be an in-service doctor under Nagaland Health Services or a contractual employee of the State/NHM/NACO/NHAK, OR a permanent domicile doctor of Nagaland not employed by the State Government.
- For Open Category: Must be a graduate of RIMS, Imphal.
How Nagaland Candidates Can Also Access AIQ Seats
The DHFW sponsorship scheme covers only a handful of seats at one institute (RIMS Imphal). Nagaland-origin candidates are not restricted to it; like candidates from any other state, they can also register for:
| Route | Conducted By |
|---|---|
| 50% All India Quota (AIQ) seats nationwide (except J&K) | Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) |
| Central Universities and central institutes | MCC |
| Deemed universities | MCC |
| ESIC and Armed Forces Medical Services seats | MCC |
Registration Process
| Steps | Description |
|---|---|
| Step 1: Watch for the DHFW Notification | DHFW Nagaland issues a notification each cycle listing available Sponsored and Open category seats at RIMS Imphal, through the Directorate’s office and ipr.nagaland.gov.in. |
| Step 2: Application Submission | Submit the application along with required documents to DHFW Nagaland (for Sponsored category) or directly via RIMS Imphal’s academic section (for Open category), as specified in the notification. |
| Step 3: Counselling at RIMS Imphal | Eligible candidates attend physical counselling at RIMS, Imphal, where seats are allotted from the State-wise NEET PG merit list for the available specialities. |
| Step 4: Document Verification | Verify original documents at the time of counselling/reporting. |
| Step 5: Reporting and Admission | Complete admission formalities at RIMS Imphal within the specified timeframe. |
| Step 6: Mop-Up Round (if applicable) | A mop-up round may be held for seats that remain vacant after the first round. |
Documents Required
- MBBS Degree Certificate / Provisional Certificate
- MBBS 1st, 2nd & 3rd-year Mark Sheets
- Medical Registration Certificate (NMC/State Medical Council)
- Internship Completion Certificate
- NEET PG 2026 Admit Card and Scorecard
- Photo ID Proof (Passport/Aadhaar/PAN/Driving License or attested certificate from last institution)
- Birth Certificate (if DOB is not on the HSC certificate/mark sheet)
- Sponsoring authority’s nomination/sponsorship letter (for Sponsored Category candidates)
- Proof of RIMS Imphal graduation (for Open Category candidates)
- Nagaland domicile proof, for permanent domicile (non-employed) Sponsored Category applicants
- Passport-size photographs (as specified in the notification)
NEET PG 2026 Cutoff
| Category | Minimum Qualifying/Eligibility Criteria | Cut-Off Scores (Out of 720) |
|---|---|---|
| General/EWS | 50th percentile | 262 |
| General PwBD | 45th percentile | 244 |
| SC/ST/OBC (including PwBD of SC/ST/OBC) | 40th percentile | 226 |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Q. Does Nagaland have its own medical college for PG courses?
A. No. Nagaland’s only medical college, NIMSR Kohima, started MBBS admissions in 2023 and does not yet offer any postgraduate (MD/MS) course.
Q. Who conducts Nagaland’s PG counselling, then?
A. The Directorate of Health & Family Welfare (DHFW), Government of Nagaland, nominates a limited number of Sponsored and Open category candidates each year for PG seats at RIMS Imphal, in Manipur, not a “Directorate of Technical Education” process as sometimes reported.
Q. How many PG seats does Nagaland get through this scheme?
A. It varies year to year based on RIMS Imphal’s vacancies – typically around 7 to 9 seats split across several specialities, far fewer than a full state quota in states with their own medical colleges.
Q. Who is eligible for the DHFW sponsorship scheme?
A. Sponsored Category is for in-service Nagaland Health Services doctors, contractual state/NHM/NACO/NHAK employees, or permanent Nagaland-domiciled doctors not employed by the state. Open Category is restricted to RIMS Imphal’s own graduates.
Q. Can a Nagaland candidate who isn’t selected under the sponsorship scheme still get a PG seat?
A. Yes. Nagaland-origin candidates can register for the standard 50% All India Quota (AIQ), deemed university, and ESIC/AFMS seats through MCC, exactly like candidates from any other state.
Q. What is the NEET PG 2026 cutoff?
A. The qualifying cutoffs are 262 for General/EWS (50th percentile), 244 for General PwBD (45th percentile) and 226 for SC/ST/OBC (40th percentile), out of 720 – the same national cutoffs used for both AIQ and the RIMS Imphal sponsorship seats.