DNB Branch List: 29 Specialities & Duration

Last verified: 6 October 2026 against NBEMS DNB Broad Specialty page.

Quick Answer

NBEMS offers DNB broad-speciality courses in 29 disciplines. The course is 3 years after MBBS (via NEET-PG and MCC counselling), or 2 years after a recognised 2-year PG diploma in the same specialty (via DNB-PDCET), in the 14 specialities marked below.

Which DNB broad specialities does NBEMS offer?

#	Speciality	3-year post-MBBS	2-year post-diploma
1	Anaesthesiology	Yes	Yes
2	Anatomy	Yes	No
3	Biochemistry	Yes	No
4	Community Medicine	Yes	No
5	Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy	Yes	Yes
6	Emergency Medicine	Yes	No
7	Family Medicine	Yes	No
8	Forensic Medicine	Yes	No
9	General Medicine	Yes	No
10	General Surgery	Yes	No
11	Geriatric Medicine	Yes	No
12	Hospital Administration	Yes	No
13	Immunohematology and Blood Transfusion	Yes	No
14	Maternal and Child Health	Yes	No
15	Microbiology	Yes	No
16	Nuclear Medicine	Yes	Yes
17	Obstetrics and Gynaecology	Yes	Yes
18	Ophthalmology	Yes	Yes
19	Orthopaedics	Yes	Yes
20	Otorhinolaryngology (ENT)	Yes	Yes
21	Paediatrics	Yes	Yes
22	Palliative Medicine	Yes	No
23	Pathology	Yes	Yes
24	Pharmacology	Yes	No
25	Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation	Yes	Yes
26	Physiology	Yes	No
27	Psychiatry	Yes	Yes
28	Radiation Oncology (previously Radio Therapy)	Yes	Yes
29	Radio Diagnosis	Yes	Yes
30	Respiratory Medicine	Yes	Yes

Source: the NBEMS DNB Broad Specialty page, which marks the post-diploma specialities with an asterisk. Whether a seat exists in a given year depends on the seat matrix; see the seat matrix guide.

How do you get a DNB seat?

1.Post-MBBS (3 years). Qualify NEET-PG. MCC (DGHS, MoHFW) runs merit-based counselling for these seats along with MD / MS / PG diploma seats. See NEET PG counselling.
2.Post-diploma (2 years). Qualify DNB-PDCET, held annually by NBEMS, which also runs the counselling.
3.Registration. After you choose a seat, NBEMS registers you as a DNB trainee and sends a Letter of Provisional Registration to you and your training institution.

How do DNB and MD / MS compare?

Same 3-year length, different awarding body and training setting. The recognition rule for teaching posts, the exit exam and seat terms are covered on the DNB vs MD/MS page. To choose between clinical, para-clinical and pre-clinical branches, use the NEET PG branch guide.

Every post-MBBS DNB seat is allotted by NEET-PG rank. Practise with NEET-PG and INI-CET previous-year papers and timed tests on Kinase — start free.

Frequently Asked Questions

How many DNB broad specialities are there?▼

NBEMS runs DNB broad-speciality courses in 29 disciplines of modern medicine through its accredited institutions. The full list is on this page.

What is the duration of DNB?▼

3 years for post-MBBS candidates. Candidates who have completed a recognised 2-year PG diploma in a specialty can do a 2-year post-diploma DNB in the same specialty, available in 14 of the 29 disciplines.

How do I get admission to DNB after MBBS?▼

Qualify NEET-PG, conducted by NBEMS. Counselling for the 3-year post-MBBS DNB seats is run by MCC (DGHS, MoHFW) together with the MD / MS / PG diploma counselling. NBEMS then registers you as a DNB trainee.

How do I enter the 2-year post-diploma DNB?▼

Through DNB-PDCET, an NBEMS entrance examination held annually, followed by counselling run by NBEMS. It is open to candidates who completed a recognised 2-year PG diploma in the same specialty, and only in the specialties marked in the table.

Do DNB trainees get a stipend?▼

NBEMS says all DNB trainees are paid a minimum stipend as per NBEMS guidelines. The NBEMS page does not state an amount, so check the offer from your hospital.

Is DNB equivalent to MD / MS?▼

NMC's 2025 faculty regulations treat a broad-speciality DNB as equivalent to the corresponding MD / MS under stated training conditions. The details are on the DNB vs MD/MS page.

List from the NBEMS page

Durations as stated by NBEMS

No unofficial seat or rank data

Ready to Start Practicing?

Start Free Practice

No credit card required

DNB Branches: All 29 Broad Specialities