What is DNB CET and who should appear for it?

DNB CET (Centralized Entrance Test) is conducted by NBE for admission to DNB (Diplomate of National Board) postgraduate clinical specialty training programs at accredited hospitals and medical institutions across India.

What is the DNB CET 2027 exam pattern?

DNB CET 2027 has 120 MCQs from all clinical MBBS subjects. Duration is 180 minutes (3 hours). Marking: +4 for correct, -1 for incorrect. Total marks: 480. The exam is conducted online by NBE twice a year.

What is the difference between DNB and MD/MS degrees?

DNB (Diplomate of National Board) is awarded by NBE and is equivalent to MD/MS awarded by universities. DNB training happens in accredited hospitals (including non-teaching hospitals), while MD/MS training occurs at medical college hospitals.

What are the advantages of DNB over MD/MS?

DNB programs are available at 500+ hospitals across India including corporate hospitals with excellent clinical exposure. DNB holders can pursue super-specialty training, teach in medical colleges (subject to NMC guidelines), and get academic equivalence with MD/MS.

What is the DNB CET qualifying score and seat availability?

Approximately 8,000+ DNB seats across various clinical specialties are available at accredited hospitals in India. The qualifying cutoff varies by specialty — general medicine, surgery, and pediatrics seats are most competitive.

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DNB CET Preparation Guide

NBE (National Board of Examinations)

Your Complete Preparation Guide for DNB CET 2027 — strategy, study plan, tips & more.

DifficultyHard

Total Marks480

Duration180 min

Start Practising Now →Free Mock Tests

Exam Overview

Mode

Online (CBT)

Frequency

Twice a year

Next Exam Date

July 2027

EEligibility Criteria

MBBS with internship completion

ANumber of Attempts

No limit

Study Plan by Subject

All clinical subjects

Week 1-4: Foundation

Core concepts & basics

Week 5-8: Deep Practice

Advanced problems & revision

Week 9-12: Mock Tests + Revision

Full-length tests & weak-area focus

Refer to official syllabus for complete topic list

Expert Preparation Tips

Focus on clinical subjects (Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Pediatrics, Orthopedics) as DNB CET is clinically oriented

Solve NEET PG papers alongside DNB CET preparation since the syllabi significantly overlap

Study from standard clinical textbooks — Davidson, Bailey & Love, Williams Obstetrics for core subjects

Take full-length 120-question mock tests in 180 minutes to build the speed and accuracy needed for DNB CET

Exam Pattern at a Glance

Section	Questions	Marks	Duration (est.)
All clinical subjects	120	480	180 min
Total	120	480	180 min

Important Dates

Registration Opens

April 2027

Next Exam Date

July 2027

Conducted By

NBE (National Board of Examinations)

Frequently Asked Questions

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