Complete guide to MD admission in India — total seats, all branches, eligibility, fees across all quota types, top colleges, all 28 states, and step-by-step admission process for 2026.
MD (Doctor of Medicine) is a 3-year postgraduate medical degree for MBBS graduates. It covers non-surgical clinical and pre-clinical specialisations — from MD Radiology and MD Dermatology to MD General Medicine, MD Paediatrics, MD Psychiatry, MD Pathology, and MD Community Medicine. Upon completion, MD graduates are registered as postgraduate specialists with NMC.
Admission to all MD seats in India is through NEET PG scores — conducted annually by NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences). Unlike NEET UG where AIQ is only 15%, NEET PG has a 50% AIQ split — meaning half of all government MD seats are accessible to candidates from any state through MCC counselling at mcc.nic.in.
There are 3 main routes to secure an MD seat in India. Each has different eligibility, fees, and timelines.
50% of all government MD seats filled through MCC at mcc.nic.in. Open to all states — no domicile required. Most competitive — closes at top NEET PG ranks.
NEET PG Counselling Guide →50% of government MD seats filled through state PG counselling bodies. Domicile required in most states. Karnataka is an open state — no domicile needed.
State Counselling Guide →Available at private medical colleges after state rounds end. Only qualifying NEET PG percentile required — no rank cutoff. Open to all states.
MD MQ Guide →MD covers non-surgical specialisations across clinical, diagnostic, and pre-clinical disciplines. Branch selection is critical — for detailed branch strategy and cutoff analysis, see our NEET PG Counselling guide.
| MD Branch | Type | Demand Level | Career Path |
|---|---|---|---|
| MD Radiology | Clinical / Diagnostic | Very High | Interventional Radiology, Imaging Centres |
| MD Dermatology & Venereology | Clinical | Very High | Private Practice, Aesthetic Medicine |
| MD General Medicine | Clinical | High | Hospital Practice, DM Superspeciality |
| MD Paediatrics | Clinical | High | Hospital Practice, DM Paediatric Cardiology |
| MD Psychiatry | Clinical | High | Private Practice, Hospital, Research |
| MD Anaesthesiology | Clinical | Moderate-High | Hospital OT, Critical Care, Pain Management |
| MD Respiratory Medicine | Clinical | Moderate | Hospital Practice, Pulmonology Clinics |
| MD Emergency Medicine | Clinical | Moderate | Emergency Departments, Critical Care |
| MD Pathology | Diagnostic | Moderate | Diagnostic Labs, Hospital Pathology Depts |
| MD Microbiology | Pre-clinical | Low-Moderate | Hospital Labs, Research, Public Health |
| MD Pharmacology | Pre-clinical | Low | Teaching, Clinical Trials, Pharma Industry |
| MD Community Medicine | Pre-clinical | Low | Public Health, Government Service, Research |
| MD Physiology / Biochemistry | Pre-clinical | Very Low | Teaching, Research, Academic Medicine |
| College / Quota Type | Annual Fees | Total (3 Years) | Monthly Stipend |
|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS / Central Institutions | ₹25,000–₹50,000/yr | ₹75,000–₹1.5L | ₹60,000–₹80,000/month |
| Government College — AIQ + State Quota | ₹20,000–₹1.5L/yr | ₹60,000–₹4.5L | ₹35,000–₹75,000/month |
| Private College — State Quota | ₹5L–₹15L/yr | ₹15L–₹45L | Usually not provided |
| Private College — Management Quota | ₹10L–₹28L/yr | ₹30L–₹84L | Usually not provided |
| Private College — NRI Quota | USD 20,000–50,000/yr | USD 60K–1.5L | Usually not provided |
Stipend value: Government MD residents earn ₹35,000–₹80,000/month in stipend over 3 years — that is ₹12.6L–₹28.8L earned during the program. A government MD seat with stipend effectively reduces the net cost to near zero compared to management quota.
| College | City | Type | Annual Fees | Route |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | New Delhi | Central AIIMS | ₹25,000/yr | MCC AIQ |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | Chandigarh | Central Institute | ₹30,000/yr | MCC AIQ |
| JIPMER Puducherry | Puducherry | Central Institute | ₹25,000/yr | MCC AIQ |
| NIMHANS Bangalore | Bangalore | Central (Psychiatry) | ₹10,000/yr | MCC AIQ |
| Grant Medical College Mumbai | Mumbai | Government | ₹1L/yr | MCC AIQ + MH State |
| KGMU Lucknow | Lucknow | Govt University | ₹1L/yr | MCC AIQ + UP State |
| Bangalore Medical College | Bangalore | Government | ₹75,000/yr | MCC AIQ + KA State |
| Madras Medical College | Chennai | Government | ₹1L/yr | MCC AIQ + TN State |
| SMS Medical College Jaipur | Jaipur | Government | ₹1L/yr | MCC AIQ + RJ State |
| College | State | MQ Fees/yr | Admission |
|---|---|---|---|
| Manipal College of Medical Sciences | Karnataka | ₹18L–₹22L | MCC AIQ + MQ |
| MS Ramaiah Medical College | Karnataka | ₹16L–₹20L | KEA + MQ |
| CMC Vellore | Tamil Nadu | ₹2L–₹4L | CMC own counselling |
| DY Patil Medical College Pune | Maharashtra | ₹18L–₹25L | MCC AIQ + MQ |
| Amrita Institute Kochi | Kerala | ₹16L–₹20L | MCC AIQ + MQ |
| ICFAI Business School Hyderabad | Telangana | ₹14L–₹18L | KNRUHS + MQ |
| Era's Medical College Lucknow | Uttar Pradesh | ₹12L–₹16L | DGME UP + MQ |
| Index Medical College Indore | Madhya Pradesh | ₹10L–₹14L | DME MP + MQ |
Select your preferred state for detailed MD admission guidance — seats, fees, top colleges, cutoffs, and state counselling body information.
Exam in March 2026 by NBEMS. Minimum 50th percentile (General), 40th percentile (SC/ST/OBC). Ensure internship is completed before exam date. Get scorecard and All India Rank.
Visit mcc.nic.in. Register for NEET PG AIQ counselling. Covers 50% of all government MD seats + 100% of central/deemed institutions. Open to all states — no domicile required.
Register simultaneously on your home state PG counselling portal. Covers 50% state quota seats. Domicile required in most states. Karnataka is open to all states.
Choose specific MD branch AND college combinations in order of preference. Include high-demand and strategic backup branches. More choices = more chances. Lock before deadline.
4 rounds — Round 1, Round 2, Mop-up, Stray Vacancy. Use Float to upgrade. Freeze only when satisfied. MCC and state rounds run in parallel — manage both.
After all state rounds end (Aug–Sep 2026), management quota opens. Contact Archway immediately for real-time MD management quota seat availability across India.
Disclaimer: Dates are tentative and based on previous year patterns. Always verify at natboard.edu.in and mcc.nic.in for official announcements.
| Event | Expected Date | Portal |
|---|---|---|
| NEET PG 2026 Exam | March 2026 | natboard.edu.in |
| NEET PG Result | April 2026 | natboard.edu.in |
| MCC AIQ PG Round 1 | May 2026 | mcc.nic.in |
| MCC AIQ PG Round 2 | June 2026 | mcc.nic.in |
| Mop-up Round PG | July 2026 | mcc.nic.in |
| State PG Counselling | June–August 2026 | State portals |
| MD Management Quota Opens | August–September 2026 | Direct college contact |
MD (Doctor of Medicine) covers non-surgical specialisations — Radiology, Dermatology, General Medicine, Paediatrics, Psychiatry, Pathology, Anaesthesiology, Community Medicine, and others. MS (Master of Surgery) covers surgical specialisations — General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Ophthalmology, ENT, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. Both are 3-year PG programs requiring NEET PG. Choose based on your surgical vs non-surgical career interest.
Yes — through management quota. MD management quota seats at private colleges require only the qualifying NEET PG percentile. Non-clinical branches like MD Pathology, MD Microbiology, and MD Community Medicine are also accessible at lower ranks in government colleges. A lower rank means a different strategy — not zero options. Contact Archway for a realistic assessment based on your specific rank.
MD Dermatology and MD Radiology have the highest private practice earning potential in India. MD General Medicine is also strong for hospital-based or private clinic practice. MD Psychiatry is growing rapidly with increasing mental health awareness. For diagnostic-focused careers, MD Pathology and MD Radiology are both excellent choices. Ultimately, the best branch is one that matches your clinical interest — a specialisation you enjoy practising daily.
Yes. DM (Doctorate of Medicine) is a 3-year superspeciality program available after MD. For example: MD General Medicine → DM Cardiology / Nephrology / Gastroenterology. MD Paediatrics → DM Paediatric Cardiology / Neonatology. MD Radiology → DM Interventional Radiology. DM programs are available at AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, JIPMER, and select medical colleges through NEET SS examination.
Karnataka is the best non-domicile option — it is an open state where students from any state can apply for both state quota and management quota MD seats. Maharashtra has the largest MD seat pool with Mumbai's prestigious government hospitals. For affordable management quota — Madhya Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh, and Rajasthan offer regulated fees at ₹10L–₹18L per year.
Archway provides complete MD admission support — NEET PG rank analysis, branch and college shortlisting based on cutoff data, parallel registration for MCC AIQ and state counselling, Karnataka KEA registration for non-domicile students, round-wise strategy guidance, and management quota access after state rounds. We have guided 200+ MD/MS students across India. Free first consultation.
Share your NEET PG rank and preferred branch — we'll map your realistic MD options across AIQ, state quota, and management quota within 2 hours.