MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery) in India is a 5.5-year professional undergraduate degree required to become a doctor, consisting of academic study plus a compulsory one-year internship.
Eligibility Criteria
Academic qualification: Must have passed 10+2 (or equivalent) with Physics, Chemistry, Biology/Biotechnology, and English.
Minimum marks: 50% for General category, 40% for SC/ST/OBC, 45% for General-PwD, and 40% for PwD in reserved categories.
Age: Minimum 17 years as of December 31 of the year of admission; no upper age limit for NEET currently.
Nationality: Indian citizens, NRIs/PIO/OCI, and foreign nationals (subject to relevant rules).
Admission Process
Entrance exam: Admission is solely based on the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET-UG), conducted by the National Testing Agency.
Single exam: NEET-UG is mandatory for all government, private, and deemed universities, including AIIMS and JIPMER.
Counseling: All India Quota (AIQ) counseling is managed by MCC; state quota is handled by state authorities.
Competition: Over 20 lakh candidates compete each year for around 1 lakh seats, making it highly competitive.
Course Duration & Structure
Total duration: 5.5 years (4.5 years of academics + 1 year mandatory internship).
Curriculum phases:
Pre-clinical: Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry.
Para-clinical: Pathology, Microbiology, Pharmacology, Forensic Medicine.
Clinical: Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, Obstetrics & Gynecology, along with hands-on clinical training.
Fees
Government colleges: Usually INR 10,000–50,000 per year.
Private colleges: Can range from INR 2–25 lakh per year, depending on the institution.
Additional costs: Hostel, mess, equipment, and internship living expenses.
Syllabus
Subjects: Roughly 19 subjects are distributed through the different phases.
Internship: Final year is dedicated to a supervised rotating internship across major specialties like medicine, surgery, pediatrics, and emergency medicine.
Career Prospects
Further education: Options include MD/MS or other postgraduate specialties after MBBS.
Practice: After MBBS and successful registration, graduates can practice as physicians or surgeons; overseas graduates must clear FMGE/NExT for Indian practice.
MBBS degree: This qualification is essential to any clinical medical practice in India.
Key Points Table
Category Details
Course Duration 5.5 years (4.5 years study + 1 year internship)
Entrance Exam NEET-UG (NTA)
Minimum Eligibility 10+2 with PCB, 50% marks Gen., 40% SC/ST/OBC
Minimum Age 17 years (by Dec 31, year of admission)
Fees (Govt) INR 10,000 to 50,000 per year
Fees (Pvt/Deemed) INR 2–25 lakh per year
Internship 1 year mandatory, hands-on training
Primary Curriculum Pre-clinical, Para-clinical, Clinical subjects
The MBBS in India is a rigorous, rewarding pathway for aspiring medical professionals, providing comprehensive academic, clinical, and practical training as mandated by the National Medical Commission.
