Best books for NEET PG 2024

A postgraduate degree is non-negotiable for those who want to move up the ladder in their medical career journey. To get into a good college for post-graduation in the field of medicine, aspirants need to take the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (Postgraduate), also known as the NEET-PG. Like the undergraduate course in medicine (MBBS), the competition for NEET PG is fierce. So, thorough preparation is the key to cracking the entrance. Choosing the right books is one of the most critical aspects of your NEET PG preparation. In this article, we will talk about some of the most recommended books for NEET PG 2024, helping you make informed choices to do well in this competitive exam.

Self-Assessment and Review of Anatomy by Rajesh K Kaushal

"Self-Assessment and Review of Anatomy'' is a pretty well-known book that explores the expansive realm of anatomy, including Embryology, Histology, Neuroanatomy, and Gross Anatomy covering surface and radiological aspects, and offers you the answers to NEET PG’s complex questions under the domain. By the end of this book, NEET PG aspirants will feel confident about the fundamental and advanced anatomy concepts.

Self-Assessment and Review of Biochemistry by Rebecca James Perumcheril

One of the most trusted biochemistry books ever, this one features almost all the important questions of the subject. In sync with the latest PG entrance examination patterns, the colored format of the Biochemistry Review Book by Rebecca James Perumcheril is now available in the market. To enhance the clarity of critical concepts, this book offers bullet points, detailed explanations, conceptual diagrams, flowcharts, mnemonics, tables, and image-based questions.

For the last-minute revisions, the key points are mentioned after each chapter. Further, symptom boxes are added to offer insights, providing a real-world perspective on the disorders.

Fun fact: 96% of recent questions asked in various exams in 2019-23 were sourced from this book!

Principles of Physiology by Debasis Pramanik

As far as physiology books go, this is one of the most preferred choices by NEET-PG aspirants. The book comes with a manual of practicals and MCQs, which offer students detailed answers to expected physiology questions. The latest edition of this book also contains a section called 'Advanced Topics,' specially designed to keep the students updated. There is also a separate segment dedicated to practical experiments, which comes in handy to simplify practical experiments along with theory. 

Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicology by Gautam Biswas

A comprehensive textbook covering various aspects of forensic medicine and toxicology, this one is super informative and, might we add, a fascinating repository for medical students. From an overview of the scope of forensic medicine to everything that comes under medicolegal autopsy, post-mortem changes, time of death estimation, and the analysis of factors that affect the decomposition of a human body, the book has everything NEET PG aspirants require to understand Forensic Medicine and Toxicology.

In addition, the Review of Forensic Medicine and Toxicologyby Gautam Biswas digs deep into the different kinds of injuries, including the science behind their outcomes. You will also find information on the examination of maternal and fetal remains and the various types of poisoning, e.g., poisoning resulting from drug overdoses, wild plants, and toxic substances.

Essentials of Medical Microbiology by Apurba Sastry & Sandhya Bhat

Remember terms like bacteria, viruses, fungi, and parasites? Like most medicine subjects, medical microbiology can be a complex topic, and this book does an excellent job of simplifying things. What are microorganisms? How many kinds of microorganisms exist in this world? What kind of roles do they play in human health and disease? The book answers questions like these with absolute detail and simplicity.

Essentials of Medical Microbiology by Apurba Sastry & Sandhya Bhat covers topics such as the history of microbiology, the importance of microbiology, microscopy techniques such as light microscopy and electron microscopy, and staining methods. The book also has dedicated chapters on the structure and morphology of bacteria, including cell wall composition and flagella; bacterial reproduction and growth, like binary fission and bacterial growth curves; and bacterial genetics, which touches upon the transfer of genetic material, plasmids, and genetic mutations.

Textbook of Pathology by Harsh Mohan

A popular textbook on pathology, this one offers an extensive and comprehensive overview of the pathology subject, throwing light on the importance of pathology and its role in the diagnosis of diseases. The book covers topics such as cell injury, cell death, and factors leading to cellular adaptations; factors causing inflammation and the process of tissue repair; and hemodynamic disorders, including blood flow obstructions, hemorrhage, thrombosis, and embolism.

The book also delves into the mechanics of various immune-related conditions, including hypersensitivity reactions and autoimmune diseases. The author has also detailed the workings of neoplasia while discussing the classifications of neoplasms and their growth. Questions and answers related to infectious diseases, environmental and nutritional diseases (malnutrition, deficiency, etc.), and blood-related diseases such as leukaemia and anaemia have also been covered.

Amazingly, the new edition comes with a free companion book for a quick review of the subject.

Essentials of Medical Pharmacology by K.D. Tripathi

Covering essential aspects of pharmacology, including the mechanisms of drug actions, drug interactions, and clinical application, this book is a must for every NEET PG aspirant. In it, you will find the fundamentals of pharmacology, reasons why the subject is essential, drug nomenclature, drugs affecting the autonomic nervous system, autacoids, such as histamines and prostaglandins, and drugs related to the respiratory and cardiovascular systems.

The book also has questions and answers covering drugs that act on the central nervous system (e.g., those related to depression or neurological disorders) and those that treat neuromuscular disorders and gastrointestinal disorders.

For anaesthesiology, we recommend Anaesthesia Essence by Pritesh Singh & Usica Chandan, and for radiology, Review of Radiology by Rajat Jain & Virendra Jain is a good pick. DK Taneja's Health Policies & Programmes in India by Bratati Banerjee has all the correct answers for questions related to community medicine.

Besides these books, you should also pick out books on Obstetrics and Gynecology, Ophthalmology, Orthopaedics, Pediatrics, and Otorhinolaryngology.

There are several books written by well-known experts for NEET PG aspirants. These were some of our top recommendations. We strongly advise you to get your hands on the latest editions of these books. All the best, everyone!