What is MBBS?
MBBS is a professional degree regulated by the National Medical Commission (NMC). It follows the NMC's competency-based curriculum: a short foundation course, then three professional phases over 4.5 years, and finally a one-year Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) in hospital departments. After the internship you register with the NMC or a state medical council and can practise as a doctor.
You start with how the healthy body works (anatomy, physiology, biochemistry), move to how disease happens and is treated (pathology, pharmacology, microbiology), and spend the final years on wards and in outpatient clinics in medicine, surgery, obstetrics, paediatrics and their sub-specialties. Training in ethics and communication (AETCOM) and community postings run through the course.
Compared with BDS (dentistry) or AYUSH degrees such as BAMS and BHMS, MBBS gives the widest scope: it is the only degree that leads to MD/MS specialisation in modern medicine and to posts like government medical officer. It is also the most competitive course in NEET-UG.
Who is this course for?
- Students who score strongly in Biology and Chemistry and enjoy them
- People who want direct, hands-on responsibility for patients
- Those ready for a long training path (MBBS plus 3 years of MD/MS is common)
- Students who stay calm under pressure and can work night shifts
- Anyone motivated by public health and service in rural or government hospitals
- Learners who like lifelong study, since medicine keeps changing
What you study
- Phase I (Year 1)
- Foundation course
- Human Anatomy
- Physiology
- Biochemistry
- Early clinical exposure
- Community Medicine (introduction)
- Phase II (Year 2)
- Pathology
- Pharmacology
- Microbiology
- Introductory clinical postings
- Forensic Medicine (introduction)
- Phase III Part 1 (Year 3)
- Community Medicine
- Forensic Medicine and Toxicology
- Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)
- Ophthalmology
- Clinical postings in Medicine, Surgery and OBG
- Phase III Part 2 (final year)
- General Medicine
- General Surgery
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Orthopaedics
- Dermatology and Psychiatry
- Internship (1 year)
- Rotations in Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics
- Community Medicine posting
- Emergency and Casualty
- Orthopaedics, Psychiatry and electives
Specialisations and electives
MD General MedicineMS General SurgeryMD PaediatricsMS Obstetrics and GynaecologyMD RadiodiagnosisMS OrthopaedicsMD AnaesthesiologyMD DermatologyMD PsychiatryMD Community Medicine / Public Health
Eligibility & admission
- Passed Class 12 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English, passing each subject.
- At least 50% aggregate in PCB for General; 40% for SC, ST and OBC-NCL; 45% for General-PwD.
- Minimum age 17 years on or before 31 December of the admission year; no upper age limit.
- Must qualify NEET-UG (50th percentile for General, 40th for reserved categories, 45th for General-PwD).
- No lateral entry. State quota seats usually also require domicile in that state.
How admission works
- Register for NEET-UG on the NTA website (usually February–March) and sit the exam.
- Check your NEET-UG score and All India Rank when NTA publishes results.
- Register with MCC for All India Quota (15% of government seats) and central/deemed seats, and with your state authority for the 85% state quota and private seats.
- Fill and lock college choices; seats are allotted round by round by rank, category and preference.
- Report to the allotted college with your scorecard, Class 10/12 documents, category and domicile certificates, and pay fees.
Entrance exams
NEET-UGConducted by NTA; the only entrance for MBBS, including AIIMS and JIPMER. The 2026 exam was cancelled after a paper leak and re-held on 21 June 2026.
MCC UG counsellingAll India Quota, AIIMS, JIPMER, central universities, ESIC and deemed universities
State NEET counselling85% state quota in government colleges plus private college seats
AFMC (via NEET + MCC)NEET-qualified candidates also go through AFMC's own screening and interview
Planning to study MBBS?The AISEE merit scholarship can cover up to 100% of tuition fees at participating colleges. One online exam, results by rank.
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Top colleges for MBBS
| College | City | Why it stands out |
|---|
| All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) | New Delhi | Central government; NIRF 2025 Medical rank 1 |
| Christian Medical College (CMC) | Vellore | Private, minority institute; NIRF 2025 Medical rank 3 |
| JIPMER | Puducherry | Central government institute; NIRF 2025 Medical rank 4 |
| Institute of Medical Sciences, Banaras Hindu University | Varanasi | Central university; NIRF 2025 Medical rank 6 |
| King George's Medical University (KGMU) | Lucknow | State government university; NIRF 2025 Medical rank 8 |
| Amrita School of Medicine (Amrita Vishwa Vidyapeetham) | Kochi | Deemed university; NIRF 2025 Medical rank 9 |
| Kasturba Medical College | Manipal | Private (MAHE); NIRF 2025 Medical rank 10 |
| Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) | Pune | Defence college; graduates serve in the Armed Forces Medical Services |
| Maulana Azad Medical College | New Delhi | Delhi government college, among the largest public teaching hospitals |
Ranks are from the NIRF 2025 India Rankings where shown. Check each college’s official website for this year’s seats, fees and cut-offs.
Careers & salary
Junior Resident / Medical OfficerTreats patients in government or private hospitals straight after MBBS and internship.
Specialist (after MD/MS)Practises a specialty such as medicine, surgery, paediatrics or radiology after NEET-PG and three years of residency.
General PractitionerRuns a clinic or family practice, giving first-contact care to a local community.
Central/State Health Services DoctorJoins government service through the UPSC Combined Medical Services exam or state PSC recruitment.
Armed Forces Medical OfficerServes in Army, Navy or Air Force hospitals as a commissioned officer.
Public Health SpecialistWorks on disease control, health programmes and policy with government, WHO or NGOs.
Clinical Research / Medical Affairs DoctorSupports drug trials, safety monitoring and medical communication in pharma companies.
Medical TeacherTeaches and does research in a medical college after postgraduate qualification.
Top recruiters & sectors
AIIMS and central government hospitalsState health departments and district hospitalsESIC hospitalsIndian Railways Health ServiceArmed Forces Medical ServicesApollo HospitalsFortis HealthcareManipal HospitalsMax HealthcareNarayana HealthPharmaceutical and clinical research companiesTelemedicine and health-tech platforms
Salary
Interns receive a stipend set by the state or institute. After MBBS, a junior resident or medical officer usually earns about ₹6–12 LPA (approx.); central government posts and some states pay at the higher end once allowances are added. Doctors with MD/MS typically earn about ₹12–25 LPA (approx.) early in their specialist career, and experienced consultants in big private hospitals or established practices can earn much more.
Pay depends mainly on postgraduate specialisation, city, government versus private sector, and whether you run your own practice. Figures vary; check current placement reports and recruitment notices.
Scope & higher studies
India is steadily adding medical colleges: the NMC's final seat matrix showed about 1,29,026 MBBS seats for 2025–26, up from about 1.18 lakh the year before. Even so, doctor shortages remain in rural areas, district hospitals and specialties such as anaesthesia, radiology and emergency medicine, so demand for qualified doctors stays strong.
Growth in government insurance schemes, new AIIMS institutes, private hospital chains and telemedicine is widening options. Students should note that the planned National Exit Test (NExT) has been deferred, and NEET-PG continues for now; watch NMC notices for changes.
After this course
- MD/MS (3 years) through NEET-PG
- DNB through the National Board of Examinations
- Super-specialty DM/MCh after MD/MS (via NEET-SS)
- Master of Public Health (MPH) or hospital administration
- MBA in Healthcare Management
- USMLE/PLAB for practice abroad
MBBS FAQs
How long is the MBBS course in India?
MBBS takes 5.5 years: 4.5 years of academic study in three phases and a one-year compulsory rotating internship. You can register as a doctor only after finishing the internship.
Can I get MBBS admission without NEET?
No. NEET-UG is compulsory for every MBBS seat in India, including AIIMS, JIPMER, private and deemed colleges. Indian students who want to study MBBS abroad and practise in India also need to qualify NEET-UG.
What happened to NEET-UG 2026?
NTA cancelled the May 2026 exam after paper-leak allegations and re-held it on 21 June 2026, with no fresh registration needed. Results were declared in July 2026 and counselling followed.
How many MBBS seats are there in India?
The NMC's final seat matrix for 2025–26 listed about 1,29,026 MBBS seats, roughly split between government and private colleges. Numbers change every year, so check the NMC and MCC seat matrix for the current session.
Is MBBS from a private college valid?
Yes, if the college and its seats are approved by the NMC. Always check the NMC list of recognised colleges and the official fee before taking admission.
What can I do after MBBS without MD/MS?
You can work as a medical officer, join government service through UPSC CMS or state recruitment, start a general practice, or move into public health, research or hospital management.
AISEE - 2027 Online Scholarship Application Available 
