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MBBS — Bachelor of Medicine and Bachelor of Surgery — Step-by-Step Roadmap

Your journey, phase by phase

  1. Phase 1 · Class 11–12 Class 11–12 subjects and eligibility Science with Physics, Chemistry, Biology and English is required.
    • You need Class 12 with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology and English from a recognised board.
    • Minimum marks in PCB: 50% for General, 40% for SC/ST/OBC and 45% for General-PwD.
    • The minimum age is 17 years on or before 31 December of the admission year.
    • Choose PCB or PCMB in Class 11 so that Biology is available.
    Subjects
    PCB + English
    Min. marks
    50% (General)
    Min. age
    17 years
  2. Phase 2 · Class 12 year NEET-UG exam and admission cycle NEET-UG is the single national entrance for MBBS, held once a year by the NTA.
    • Register on the official NEET-UG portal when applications open (usually in the first quarter of the year); fill in your Class 12 details, upload photo, signature and documents, and pay the fee.
    • The exam is a single pen-and-paper test of 180 questions with 720 marks in Physics, Chemistry and Biology (Botany and Zoology); correct answers earn 4 marks and wrong answers lose 1 mark.
    • The exam is held in May and results come out in June; the NTA publishes an All India Rank and a category rank.
    • Qualifying percentile: 50th percentile for General, 40th for SC/ST/OBC and 45th for General-PwD candidates.
    • Every year’s notification on the NTA site is the final authority on dates, syllabus and fees.
    Exam
    NEET-UG (NTA)
    Marks
    720 (180 questions)
    Marking
    +4 correct, −1 wrong
    Frequency
    Once a year
    • Tip: Keep NCERT Class 11–12 Biology and Chemistry as your core; most questions come directly from them.
  3. Phase 3 · June–September Counselling and seat allotment MCC runs counselling for 15% All India Quota and central institutes; states run counselling for their own seats.
    • Register on the MCC portal for 15% All India Quota seats, AIIMS-linked central universities, deemed universities and ESIC/AFMC seats, as applicable.
    • Register separately on your state’s medical counselling portal for state quota, management and NRI seats.
    • Counselling usually has Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up round and Stray vacancy round; choice filling and locking are done online.
    • On allotment, report to the college with the original documents, pay the fee and complete admission before the deadline.
    AIQ
    15% seats via MCC
    State quota
    State counselling
    Rounds
    1, 2, mop-up, stray
  4. Phase 4 · Year 1–4.5 MBBS academic years (about 4.5 years) Three professional phases under the NMC competency-based curriculum.
    • Phase I (about 1 year): Foundation Course, Anatomy, Physiology and Biochemistry.
    • Phase II (about 1.5 years): Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine and Community Medicine, with early clinical exposure.
    • Phase III Part I and Part II (about 2 years): Medicine, Surgery, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Psychiatry, Dermatology and more.
    • University professional exams are held at the end of each phase, with theory, practical and viva components.
    Phases
    I, II, III (Part 1 & 2)
    Curriculum
    NMC CBME
  5. Phase 5 · Year 5–5.5 Compulsory rotating internship and registration A 12-month paid internship (CRMI) in a teaching hospital, then state or NMC registration.
    • After passing the final MBBS exam you complete a 12-month Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship in medicine, surgery, obstetrics and gynaecology, paediatrics, community medicine and other postings.
    • You receive a monthly stipend as per your institute and state norms.
    • After internship you receive a provisional and then a permanent registration with the State Medical Council or the NMC.
    • You are now a registered medical practitioner and can work as a doctor.
    Internship
    12 months, paid
    Registration
    State Medical Council / NMC
  6. Phase 6 · After internship After MBBS: PG, exams and careers Specialise, practise or take government roles.
    • Postgraduate: NEET-PG for MD/MS and DNB seats; the proposed NExT (National Exit Test) may combine licensing and PG selection.
    • Super-speciality: NEET-SS after PG.
    • Government jobs: state medical services, ESIC, railways, armed forces and AIIMS positions.
    • Other routes: public health, hospital administration, medical research or practice abroad through exams like USMLE or PLAB.
    PG entrance
    NEET-PG
    Abroad
    USMLE, PLAB

Verify on the official source

Exam dates, fees, paper patterns and eligibility rules are revised by the regulator from time to time. Treat this roadmap as your map, and confirm the current rules on the official site before you register or pay any fee.

NEET-UG (NTA)MCC counsellingNational Medical Commission Full MBBS career guide