MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is the basic degree to become a doctor of modern medicine in India.
Class 12 (or an equivalent examination) from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Biotechnology, along with English. The NEET UG bulletin also allows these subjects to be studied as additional subjects after Class 12, with documents as proof.
Admission to all MBBS seats is based on NEET UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Colleges cannot admit students on their own test.
Overview
MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery) is the basic degree to become a doctor of modern medicine in India. It is regulated by the National Medical Commission (NMC). You study the human body, disease and patient care in classrooms, laboratories and hospital wards, and then spend a year as an intern before you get the degree. Admission to every MBBS seat in India is through one national exam, NEET UG. The seats are then filled by counselling: the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) for all-India and central seats, and state authorities for state seats. Rules for private, deemed and NRI seats differ, so read the notice of the authority you apply through.
At a glance
Eligibility
Typical pattern. The official notice for the current year is final.
- Class 12 (or an equivalent examination) from a recognised board with Physics, Chemistry and Biology or Biotechnology, along with English. The NEET UG bulletin also allows these subjects to be studied as additional subjects after Class 12, with documents as proof.
- Minimum age: 17 years completed on or before 31 December of the year of admission. In the NEET UG 2026 bulletin there is no upper age limit.
- You must qualify NEET UG. In the 2026 bulletin the qualifying mark is the 50th percentile for General and General-EWS, 40th for SC, ST and OBC (non-creamy layer), and 45th for General with benchmark disability. It can be lowered for a year.
- A student whose Class 12 result is awaited can take NEET UG, but cannot take a seat unless the Class 12 pass is shown by the first round of counselling.
- There is no limit on the number of NEET UG attempts in the bulletin. Confirm this in the bulletin of the year you apply.
- Rules for NRI, OCI and foreign candidates, and the documents they need, are set by the state or institution. The NEET UG bulletin asks NRI and OCI candidates to upload a certificate from the Indian diplomatic mission.
- Domicile and category rules for state seats are set by each state and change from year to year.
Entrance exams for this course
Entrance and counselling
- Admission to all MBBS seats is based on NEET UG, conducted by the National Testing Agency (NTA). Colleges cannot admit students on their own test.
- The Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) under the Directorate General of Health Services runs counselling for the 15% all-India quota of government colleges, central institutions and universities, ESIC colleges and deemed universities.
- State governments run counselling for the state quota seats of government colleges and for private college seats, under their own domicile, reservation and eligibility rules.
- AIIMS and JIPMER seats are also filled through NEET UG scores, with their own arrangements. Armed Forces Medical College has an additional screening stage after MCC registration.
- Private and deemed colleges can have a management or NRI quota. These seats are also filled through NEET UG scores, but the fee and the process are decided by the state or the institution.
- Reservation for SC, ST, OBC, EWS and persons with disability follows the central or state policy that applies to the seat.
- Counselling is done in rounds. Choices, seat allotment, reporting and the last dates are in the notice of the counselling authority.
- Colleges cannot take admissions after the closing date set by NMC for the year. A seat obtained after that date can lead to the student being discharged.
Admission process
The usual journey, step by step. Dates and rules for the current year are on the official notice.
- 1Check eligibilityConfirm subjects, marks and age against the NEET UG bulletin and NMC notice
- 2Apply for NEET UGRegister online on the NTA site, upload documents and pay the fee shown there
- 3Appear for the examTake the pen and paper test on the date set by NTA
- 4Get the score and rankNTA declares the result and All India Rank. Check the qualifying percentile for your category
- 5Register for counsellingCreate your account on the MCC portal and on your state portal, and pay the registration fee shown there
- 6Fill and lock choicesList colleges in order of preference and lock them before the date given
- 7Seat allotment and reportingAccept the seat, report to the college with original documents and complete admission before the last date
Documents
- Class 10 and Class 12 marksheets and certificates
- NEET scorecard and admit card
- Photo ID (Aadhaar / passport)
- Passport-size photographs
- Domicile / residence certificate (for state quota)
- Category, EWS or PwD certificate, if applicable
- Migration / transfer / school-leaving certificate
- Medical fitness certificate, when asked
- Counselling registration, choice-filling and allotment letters
- Fee payment receipts
Read the document preparation guide →
What you study
- Human anatomy: structure of the body, learned partly through dissection
- Physiology: how organs and systems work
- Biochemistry: chemistry of the body and of disease
- Pathology, microbiology and pharmacology: how disease arises, the germs that cause it and how medicines act
- Forensic medicine and toxicology: medical law, injuries, poisons
- Community medicine: public health, prevention, family visits and village outreach
- General medicine and general surgery, with allied subjects such as skin diseases, psychiatry, orthopaedics and anaesthesia
- Obstetrics and gynaecology, and paediatrics (child health)
- Eye and ENT (ear, nose and throat) diseases, and radiology
- AETCOM (attitude, ethics and communication) modules, run through all the years
Year by year
- Starts with a foundation course of about two weeks that introduces you to the course
- Anatomy, physiology, biochemistry, an introduction to community medicine, AETCOM and early exposure to patients
- University examination at the end of the phase. A student must pass all Phase 1 subjects before moving to Phase 2
- Pathology, pharmacology and microbiology
- Forensic medicine and toxicology, and an introduction to clinical subjects such as medicine, surgery and obstetrics
- Clinical postings in hospital wards begin, and family follow-up under community medicine continues
- Community medicine, forensic medicine, eye, ENT, medicine, surgery, paediatrics, obstetrics and gynaecology, radiology and anaesthesiology
- More time in hospital postings, with university examination at the end of the year
- Medicine and allied subjects (psychiatry, skin diseases), surgery and allied subjects (orthopaedics), obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics
- A short elective period of about one month and continued clinical postings
- Final university examination
- Compulsory rotating internship in different departments of a recognised hospital
- The degree is awarded after the internship is complete
Skills you build
Careers and next steps
- Practising doctor in a government or private hospital, after registration with the state medical council or National Medical Register
- Medical officer in a primary or community health centre
- Postgraduate study (MD or MS) in a clinical or non-clinical subject, through the postgraduate entrance route that applies when you finish
- Diploma and DNB courses for specialist training
- Armed forces medical services, railways and other public services that recruit doctors
- Teaching and research in a medical college after postgraduate study
- Public health, with further study such as MPH, working with health departments or global health bodies
- Roles in hospital management, medical writing, health technology and clinical research
Is it for you?
A good fit if
- You are ready to study for around ten years in total if you plan to become a specialist
- You are comfortable with biology, memory-heavy subjects and long hours in hospitals
- You want to work directly with patients and take responsibility for their care
- You can handle seeing illness, injury and death calmly
- You are willing to move to a college that is away from home, as seat allotment is by counselling
Think twice if
- You are mainly attracted by the title or by family pressure and not by the work
- A single NEET UG attempt may not give you the seat you want, and many students take more than one attempt. Plan the year honestly
- Seats in private and deemed colleges can carry high fees. Learn the full course fee and the rules before you accept a seat
- Postgraduate seats are limited, so reaching a specialty takes further exams and years of study
- The course is demanding. Shortage of attendance or failing a phase can delay your progress
Common mistakes to avoid
- Locking choices without checking fees, bond and quota conditions
- Missing a reporting or registration deadline
- Ignoring state domicile and category rules
- Not keeping attested copies and a spare document set ready
- Trusting rumours or social media instead of the official notice
- Paying anyone for a "guaranteed seat"
Colleges to explore
Listings show name and location. Fees and cut-offs are shown only when verified from official sources.
AIIMS New Delhi
New Delhi, Delhi
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Bhopal
Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Bhubaneswar
Bhubaneswar, Odisha
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Jodhpur
Jodhpur, Rajasthan
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Patna
Patna, Bihar
Institute of National ImportanceAIIMS Raipur
Raipur, Chhattisgarh
All Medical & Health Sciences colleges →
Official sources to check
- NTA NEET (UG) 2026 Information Bulletinneet.nta.nic.in
- National Medical Commission: CBME curriculum for MBBSoldnmc.nmc.org.in
- National Medical Commissionwww.nmc.org.in
- Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)mcc.nic.in
Frequently asked questions
Is NEET UG compulsory for MBBS?
Yes. Under the National Medical Commission Act, admission to MBBS in all medical institutions is through NEET UG. This includes private, deemed and NRI quota seats, and AIIMS and JIPMER.
What is the age limit for MBBS?
You must be 17 years old on or before 31 December of the year of admission. The 2026 NEET UG bulletin states there is no upper age limit. Check the bulletin of the year you apply.
How many years is MBBS?
The NMC curriculum has 4.5 years of study in four professional years, followed by a one-year compulsory rotating internship. Count about 5.5 years in total.
Who conducts counselling?
MCC conducts counselling for all-India quota, central institutions, deemed universities and ESIC colleges. State authorities conduct counselling for state quota and private seats of their state.
Can I take NEET UG with Class 12 results awaited?
Yes. But you can take a seat only if you have passed Class 12 with the required subjects by the first round of counselling, as stated in the bulletin.
Is there a limit on the years to finish MBBS?
NMC rules say a student should not graduate later than ten years from joining, including internship. Phase 1 must be cleared within four years, and attempts at the Phase 1 exam are limited.
What after MBBS?
Many graduates work as doctors, prepare for postgraduate entry, or take up public health or other roles. The postgraduate route is planned to change to a national exit test. Follow NMC notices for the current rule.
Can I do MBBS abroad?
Indian citizens who plan to study medicine abroad also need to qualify NEET UG, as stated in the NEET UG bulletin. The rules for licence to practise in India afterwards are set by NMC. Read the current NMC notice before you decide.
Does Padhaidekho guarantee admission?
No. Admission depends on the official counselling authority, your eligibility and merit. We guide you, verify information against official notices and keep you on track.
How Padhaidekho helps
We review your eligibility against the current official notice, build a ranked options list, keep your documents and deadlines on track and stay with you through every round. Fees and service scope are shared in writing before you enrol.
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Content checked against the official sources above in 2026-10. Rules, dates and eligibility change every cycle: always confirm on the official notice. This page is general guidance, not legal advice or an admission guarantee.