Know this. You sit the paper group of your broad specialty (for example the Medical group after MD Medicine), and one group can open several DM/MCh branches, so choose the group with an eye on the branches you want.
- Run by
- National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS)
- Admits you to
- DM and MCh super-specialty courses at government and private medical colleges and DrNB super-specialty courses (except the direct six-year DrNB). Under the NMC Act, 2019 it is the single entrance for super-specialty seats, except at AIIMS New Delhi, PGIMER Chandigarh, JIPMER, NIMHANS and Sree Chitra Tirunal.
- Who can sit
- A recognised MD, MS or DNB (or equivalent) in the feeder specialty for the question-paper group you choose, held or expected by the cut-off date in that year's bulletin.
- Pattern
- Computer-based test in specialty groups (Medical, Surgical, Paediatric, ENT and others). The 2025 paper had three time-bound sections of 50 questions and 50 minutes each, with no going back to a finished section; +4 for a correct answer and 25% negative marking. You qualify at the 50th percentile or above within your paper group.
- When
- Recent cycles have been held in late December (the 2025 exam was in December 2025, result in January), with common counselling afterwards.
- Limits
- No attempt or age limit is set in the bulletin.
Courses it leads to
Sources, checked 2026-09-28: natboard.edu.in · nbe.edu.in