DNB PDCET 2027 (DNB Post Diploma Centralized Entrance Test) is the NBEMS ranking exam for doctors with a recognised PG medical diploma who want a 2-year Post Diploma DNB seat in the same specialty. NBEMS has not announced 2027 dates yet. The 2026 exam was held on 12 April, so DNB PDCET 2027 is expected in April 2027.
DNB PDCET 2027
This page covers DNB PDCET 2027 expected dates, how to apply, the fee, eligibility, the courses offered and the exam pattern.
| Full name | DNB Post Diploma Centralized Entrance Test (DNB PDCET) |
|---|---|
| Conducted by | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
| Exam level | National |
| Courses / Purpose | 16 two-year Post Diploma DNB courses at NBEMS-accredited hospitals |
| Exam date | Expected April 2027 |
| Application | Expected February 2027, online only |
| Application fee | Rs 4,250 plus gateway charges, as per the 2026 bulletin |
| Eligibility | Recognised PG medical diploma in the same broad specialty, result by the bulletin's cut-off date |
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT), English only |
| Questions and marks | 120 MCQs from your diploma specialty, 480 marks, 120 minutes in time-bound sections |
| Negative marking | 1 mark deducted per wrong answer (+4 for a correct answer) |
| Official website | natboard.edu.in |
DNB PDCET 2027 Important Dates
NBEMS has not released the DNB PDCET 2027 schedule yet, so the dates below are expected months based on the 2026 cycle.
| Event | Date |
|---|---|
| Online application | February 2027 Expected |
| Admit card | April 2027 Expected |
| Exam | April 2027 Expected |
| Result | May 2027 Expected |
| NBEMS counselling | July 2027 Expected |
How to Apply for DNB PDCET 2027
You apply for DNB PDCET 2027 online only, through the NBEMS website, once the information bulletin is out. The 2026 form was open from 17 February to 8 March 2026, so the 2027 window is expected in February 2027. Your application counts only after the fee is paid.
Apply Online for DNB PDCET 2027
Applications for DNB PDCET 2027 are expected in February 2027.
- Open the DNB-PDCET page on natboard.edu.in and read the information bulletin.
- Create a new user with your name exactly as on your PG diploma certificate, date of birth, email ID (verified by OTP) and mobile number.
- Your User ID (application ID) and password are sent to your registered email ID.
- Log in and fill the form with your personal, MBBS, PG diploma and Aadhaar details.
- Upload a recent photograph (taken within 3 months), signature, thumb impression and proof of your PG diploma and its recognition.
- Choose four test cities in order of preference.
- Pay the fee online, preview the form, accept the declaration and submit.
- Check that the payment status in the form PDF shows “S” (successful).
| Fee | Amount (latest bulletin, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Exam fee (all categories) | Rs 4,250, plus payment gateway charges |
The fee is neither refunded nor carried forward. You may submit only one application. In the edit window you can change everything except name, nationality, test city, mobile number, Aadhaar number and email ID.
How to log in to the DNB PDCET 2027 applicant portal?
You use the NBEMS applicant login to fill and pay for your DNB PDCET form, edit it during the edit window, raise queries through the Helpdesk tab, download the admit card and download your scorecard after the result.
- Open the official DNB-PDCET page. The 2027 application and login link will appear there when registration opens, expected in February 2027.
- New candidates first create a user. NBEMS emails the User ID (application ID) and password.
- To sign in later, click the “Already Registered? To login” link on the application page.
- Enter your User ID and password.
- Your applicant account shows your application, the edit window when open, the Helpdesk tab and later your admit card and scorecard.
Forgot your password? Click “Forgot Your Password” on the login page to retrieve it, as the latest bulletin explains. Your User ID is in the email NBEMS sent when you created your user.
Who can apply for DNB PDCET 2027?
You can apply if you have passed a recognised postgraduate medical diploma, and you can apply only in the same broad specialty as your diploma. The 2027 bulletin will give the cut-off date for your diploma result; for 2026 the result had to be declared on or before 31 January 2026.
- Qualification: a PG diploma from an Indian university or NBEMS, recognised under the NMC Act, 2019 and the repealed Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.
- Proof: you must upload proof of your diploma and its recognition; in 2026 document deficiencies could be fixed until 2 April 2026.
- Registration: NMC or State Medical Council registration is required; carry a photocopy of your permanent registration on exam day.
- Not eligible: doctors still pursuing an MD, MS or DNB course, until they complete it or are discharged.
- CPS Mumbai diplomas: only DPB, DCH and DGO from the College of Physicians and Surgeons, Mumbai are accepted.
Which courses are filled through DNB PDCET 2027?
DNB PDCET fills 2-year Post Diploma DNB seats at NBEMS-accredited hospitals. The latest bulletin lists 16 courses, each open only to holders of the matching diploma.
| Post Diploma DNB course | Diploma you need |
|---|---|
| DNB Anaesthesiology | DA / DA (NBE) |
| DNB Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy | DVD |
| DNB Nuclear Medicine | DNM |
| DNB Family Medicine | D.Fam.Med. (NBE) |
| DNB Obstetrics and Gynaecology | DGO / DGO (NBE) |
| DNB Ophthalmology | DOMS / DO (NBE) |
| DNB Orthopaedics | D.Ortho |
| DNB Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) | DLO / DLO (NBE) |
| DNB Paediatrics | DCH / DCH (NBE) |
| DNB Psychiatry | DPM |
| DNB Radio Diagnosis | DMRD / DMRD (NBE) |
| DNB Radiation Oncology | DMRT |
| DNB Respiratory Medicine | DTCD / DTCD (NBE) |
| DNB Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | DPMR |
| DNB Pathology | DCP |
| DNB Emergency Medicine | Diploma in Emergency Medicine |
What is the DNB PDCET 2027 exam pattern?
DNB PDCET is a 120-question computer-based test of 120 minutes, and every question comes from the specialty you apply for. A candidate for Post Diploma DNB Anaesthesiology, for example, gets all 120 questions from Anaesthesiology. This is the 2026 pattern; the 2027 bulletin will confirm it. Topic details are on the DNB PDCET 2027 syllabus page.
| Feature | Details (latest bulletin, 2026) |
|---|---|
| Mode | Computer-based test (CBT), single day and single session |
| Questions | 120 MCQs with 4 options, all from your diploma specialty |
| Level | Post Diploma exit exam level of the concerned specialty |
| Duration | 120 minutes |
| Sections | Time-bound sections (for example 3 sections of 40 questions and 40 minutes); you cannot go back to a closed section |
| Maximum marks | 480 |
| Marking | +4 correct, -1 wrong, 0 unattempted |
| Language | English only |
DNB PDCET 2027 Official Notices and Downloads
- PDFDNB-PDCET 2026 Information Bulletin (latest) (17 February 2026)Official site · nbe.edu.inOpen
- LINKNBEMS DNB-PDCET official pageOfficial site · natboard.edu.inOpen