NEET PG · NMC
MD / MS
Doctor of Medicine / Master of Surgery
- Duration
- 3 years (postgraduate residency)
- Governed by
- National Medical Commission
What is MD / MS?
MD (Doctor of Medicine) and MS (Master of Surgery) are the primary postgraduate medical degrees in India, qualifying an MBBS doctor in a clinical specialty. MD covers medical specialties (General Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Dermatology, Radio-diagnosis and others); MS covers surgical specialties (General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, Obstetrics & Gynaecology). The 3-year program involves clinical residency with progressive responsibility.
Specialist qualification in the chosen discipline. Eligibility for DM/MCh super-speciality or DNB diplomate pathways. Eligibility for teaching and faculty positions at NMC-approved medical colleges.
Eligibility at a Glance
Requirements as per National Medical Commission and NTA guidelines. Always verify with the official prospectus.
- Entrance Exam
- NEET PG — mandatory for all MD/MS admissions. Separate from NEET UG.
- Minimum Percentile
- Minimum 50th percentile (General). 40th percentile (SC/ST/OBC). Qualifying scores are announced each year.
- Age Requirement
- No upper age limit for NEET PG. Must hold a valid MBBS degree and have completed the compulsory rotating internship.
- Required Subjects
- Valid MBBS degree from an NMC-recognised institution. Completion of 12-month compulsory rotating internship before NEET PG counselling round commencement.
- Attempts
- No restriction on the number of NEET PG attempts.
- Category-wise Cutoffs
- Category eligibility for AIQ PG seats follows central government OBC list. State quota seats use state-issued certificates.
Admission Pathways
Multiple routes exist. North-East students often qualify for state quota and special category seats — check each pathway carefully.
AIQ PG — MCC Centralised Counselling
50% of MD/MS seats in government medical colleges nationally
50% of MD/MS seats in government medical colleges are pooled under AIQ PG and allotted by MCC through centralised online counselling. Open to MBBS graduates of any state. Highly competitive — top NEET PG scorers from across India compete for government MD/MS seats.
NE Advantage: NE India MBBS graduates can participate in AIQ PG for MD/MS seats in any government college in any state. Choice-filling strategy for NE students often involves prioritising GMCH Guwahati, RIMS Imphal, NEIGRIHMS Shillong and other NE government college seats before considering out-of-region colleges.
State PG Quota — NE State Counselling
50% of MD/MS seats in NE state government medical colleges
50% of MD/MS seats in NE state government medical colleges are reserved for domicile MBBS graduates and allotted through state PG counselling by the respective State DME.
NE Advantage: NE domicile MBBS graduates have access to state PG quota seats at GMCH Guwahati, RIMS Imphal, NEIGRIHMS Shillong and other NE government colleges. Competing only against domicile candidates significantly improves access to preferred government PG seats in the region.
Management Quota — PG
Typically 50% of private medical college MD/MS seats
Private medical colleges offering MD/MS programs allocate a share of seats through Management Quota, allotted via the state counselling authority (or the MCC for Deemed Universities) alongside government PG quota seats — not by applying directly to the college. Fees are significantly higher than government seats. FRC-regulated in most states.
NE Advantage: NE students who do not secure government PG seats through AIQ or state quota can pursue Management Quota MD/MS at private medical colleges in open states. Fees range from ₹15–50 lakh or more per year depending on the specialty and college.
Management Quota MD/MS fees vary significantly by specialty and college. Cardiology, Radiology and Dermatology typically attract higher fees than core clinical branches.
Find your MD / MS pathway
No registration required. Your data is not stored. This tool shows which pathways exist — it does not predict admission chances.
Career Scope
What you can do after completing MD / MS.
Specialist Clinical Practice
An MD/MS degree qualifies a doctor for specialist practice in their chosen field. Specialists in high-demand branches — General Medicine, Paediatrics, Anaesthesia, Radiology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology — are in short supply across NE India, commanding significant earnings in private hospitals.
Government Medical College Faculty
MD/MS is the minimum qualification for assistant professor appointments at NMC-approved medical colleges. Faculty positions carry defined pay scales, research time and administrative responsibility. In NE India, where specialist doctors are scarce, MD/MS faculty positions are competitively placed.
Super-Speciality (DM / MCh)
After MD or MS, further specialisation through DM (Doctor of Medicine, for 3-year super-specialities like Cardiology, Nephrology, Neurology) or MCh (Magister Chirurgiae, for Neurosurgery, Cardiovascular Surgery, Urology) is possible through INI-CET or designated entrance exams.
Government Specialist Service
NE state governments and central services (ESIC, Armed Forces, Railway Health Service, CGHS) recruit specialists through open rolls. Specialist appointments attract rural and tribal service allowances in NE states.
Frequently Asked Questions
Exam Calendar
Upcoming Exam & Counselling Dates
- 30 Aug 2026
NEET PG 2026 — Exam date
NEET PG · Exam