Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda Announces Major Reforms for NEET UG/PG 2026
The final week of July and the first few days of August 2026 have seen a flurry of major announcements from the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare. Under the leadership of Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda, the ministry has introduced sweeping reforms targeting everything from medical entrance examinations to grassroots patient navigation in public hospitals.
Here is a comprehensive analysis of the biggest policy shifts announced by the Health Ministry this week.
1. Expansion of ‘Project SARATHI’ Across Hospitals
In a move to improve hospital management, Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda chaired a high-level meeting on August 1 to assess the expansion of Project SARATHI across medical institutions in the country.
The Goal: The initiative aims to improve the overall patient experience by deploying trained youth volunteers to assist patients and their attendants in navigating public healthcare facilities.
The Impact: Project SARATHI has already mobilized over 2,500 volunteers who have contributed over 1.5 lakh service hours. A study conducted by the Department of Community Medicine at PGIMER reported that the initiative successfully reduced patient navigation time by 26%.
Digital Integration: The project is being integrated with the MY Bharat initiative of the Ministry of Youth Affairs & Sports, utilizing digital platforms for volunteer registration, attendance, and patient feedback.
2. Tech-Driven Reforms in NEET UG Counselling 2026
Following a preparedness review for the upcoming NEET UG Counselling 2026, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) is introducing major student-centric, technology-driven reforms.
One-Time Physical Reporting: The counselling process will now feature a simplified one-time physical reporting system. Candidates who choose the “Float” option for seat upgradation can complete admission formalities online and will not need to physically report or pay fees until they secure their final seat.
Digital Resignations: An online resignation facility has been introduced, allowing candidates to submit requests through the MCC portal without having to physically visit the allotted institute.
PwBD Support: The ministry has significantly expanded support for Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) by increasing the number of designated disability assessment centres from 16 to 61 nationwide.
3. Strengthening NEET PG 2026 Security
Union Health Minister J.P. Nadda also conducted a major review of the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) ahead of the August 30 NEET PG 2026 examination.
To eliminate score normalization debates, the exam will be held in a single shift across more than 1,300 centres.
The total number of questions has been reduced from 200 to 180, while the total exam duration will remain unchanged at 210 minutes.
Security has been massively upgraded with mandatory Aadhaar-based authentication introduced for the application process and examination day. Furthermore, end-to-end question paper delivery has been reinforced through multiple layers of encryption and controlled digital decryption.
The Bottom Line
The common thread across these recent announcements is the heavy reliance on digital integration and systemic optimization. The sweeping technological reforms in NEET PG and UG counselling reflect the government’s urgent push to restore faith in national medical exams following recent leak controversies. Meanwhile, initiatives like Project SARATHI acknowledge a critical ground reality: clinical infrastructure is useless if patients cannot navigate the hospital system. Expanding volunteer networks to reduce navigation time by 26% is a highly practical, low-cost solution to a massive administrative bottleneck in government hospitals.
