Successful physician training encompasses more than just a degree in MBBS; it involves several years of dedicated, specialised postgraduate training. Among the various esteemed programmes available within the country, the Diplomate of National Board, or the DNB General Medicine programme, is renowned for its structured approach, consisting of a faculty of experienced practitioners and comprehensive clinical exposure. 

Equivalent to an MD in internal medicine, this three-year course equips doctors with the diagnostic, analytical, and therapeutic skills essential to manage diseases related to adults. 

Conducted in NBE-accredited hospitals and institutions, DNB General Medicine provides hands-on clinical training, opportunities for research, and a platform for residents to grow into competent specialists prepared to serve both hospitals and communities.

Read on to learn more!

DNB General Medicine: Overview

The DNB General Medicine programme is a three-year postgraduate course in Internal Medicine that trains medical graduates in the diagnosis, management, and prevention of a wide range of adult diseases. It places strong emphasis on practical clinical learning, research, and patient-oriented care, considering competent and independent physicians’ paramount importance.

The DNB in General Medicine is considered equivalent to obtaining the degree of MD from the NBEMS, India. This course offers comprehensive clinical exposure and academic training in internal medicine, integrating theoretical knowledge with its practical application. 

This focuses on training residents in both the routine and complex management of medical cases, helping them incorporate clinical judgement into evidence-based practice. In 3 years, the course will prepare doctors to practise as adept specialists and consultants, providing high-quality medical care.

Which are the Leading DNB General Medicine Colleges/Hospitals in India?

The following are the top fifteen medical colleges in India for pursuing DNB General Medicine, according to candidates’ preferences:

State	District	College	Type
Delhi	Central Delhi	Sir Ganga Ram Hospital, New Delhi	Private-DNB
Maharashtra	Mumbai City	Kokilaben Dhirubhai Ambani Hospital, Andheri	Private-DNB
Delhi	North Delhi	Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi	Govt-DNB
Maharashtra	Mumbai City	P.D. Hinduja National Hospital, Mumbai	Private-DNB
Gujarat	Sabarkantha	GMERS Himmatnagar	Govt-Aided
Delhi	North Delhi	Dr Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Delhi	Govt-DNB
Maharashtra	Pune	Poona Hospital and Research Centre	Private-DNB
Maharashtra	Mumbai City	Lilavati Hospital Bandra West	Private-DNB
Delhi	East Delhi	ESI Hospital Jhilmil	Govt-DNB
Delhi	North Delhi	St Stephen’s Hospital, New Delhi	Private-DNB
Maharashtra	Mumbai City	Jaslok Hospital and Research Centre, Mumbai	Private-DNB
Maharashtra	Pune	Deenanath Mangeshkar Hospital, Pune	Private-DNB
Punjab	Chandigarh	Govt Multi-Speciality Hospital, Chandigarh	Govt-State
West Bengal	Kolkata	BR Singh Hospital, Sealdah	Govt-DNB

What is the Syllabus for DNB General Medicine?

The DNB General Medicine syllabus is a comprehensive three-year training framework designed by the National Board of Examinations (NBE). It serves as a vital guide for residents and physicians, ensuring clinical excellence, exam readiness, and standardised postgraduate medical education across India.

The DNB General Medicine syllabus is discussed in the structured tabular format below:

Section / Subject	Theoretical Knowledge	Practical Skills / Procedures
Basic Sciences	Human anatomy relevant to clinical practice (surface & neuroanatomy, organ locations, congenital anomalies). Physiology of major organ systems & control of vital functions. Pathophysiology and clinical correlations of diseases. Microbiology – key pathogens, life cycles, diagnostic importance. Pharmacology – pharmacokinetics/dynamics, rational drug use, P-drug concept. Toxicology – poisons, diagnosis & management. Public health aspects – food poisoning, mass casualties, H1N1, and emergency medicine.	NA
Cardiology	Cardiac anatomy and physiology. Congenital & valvular heart disease. CAD, MI, angina, heart failure, arrhythmias.Cardiomyopathies, pericardial disease, myocarditis, hypertension, and aortic diseases.Cardiac investigations – ECG, ECHO, stress test, angiography, cardiac CT/MRI.	ECG interpretation, TMT, Holter, CPR (BLS/ACLS). Angiography/angioplasty basics. Central/arterial line insertion, thrombolysis.
Neurology	Neuroanatomy, localisation principles. Common neurological disorders (stroke, epilepsy, dementia, MS, Parkinson’s, infections, neuropathies, MND). Congenital & developmental disorders. Neurological emergencies, metabolic/nutritional disorders. Brain death, ethical issues. Neurodiagnostics (CT/MRI, LP, EEG, EMG, NCS).	Lumbar puncture. EEG, EMG, NCS, and muscle biopsy. Neurological examination, Glasgow Coma Scale.
Intensive Care Medicine	Management of trauma, shock, respiratory failure, ARDS, sepsis, renal & cardiac failure, acid-base disorders, etc. ICU pharmacology & monitoring. Medicolegal & ethical aspects.	Airway management, intubation, ventilation. Central/arterial line insertion, RRT. Thoracentesis, pericardiocentesis, peritoneal tap.
Respiratory Medicine	Respiratory anatomy & physiology. Assessment of symptoms, CXRs, ABG, and PFT. Asthma, COPD, ILD, pneumonia, TB, lung cancer, ARDS, PE, and sleep apnoea. Occupational and systemic lung diseases.	Pleural tap & biopsy. Chest tube insertion, bronchoscopy, spirometry, and intubation.
Nephrology	Fluid/electrolyte/acid-base balance. AKI & CKD, glomerulopathies, nephrotic/nephritic syndromes. UTIs, nephrolithiasis, and inherited renal diseases. Renal replacement therapy, transplantation.	Urine microscopy, renal biopsy. Haemodialysis, peritoneal dialysis, and CRRT. Catheter insertion (Tenckhoff, AV, double lumen).
Endocrinology and Metabolism	Hormone mechanisms & feedback control.Pituitary, thyroid, adrenal, gonadal, and parathyroid disorders. Diabetes, metabolic syndrome, obesity, osteoporosis. Electrolyte imbalances, lipid disorders.	Insulin and OHA management. BGL monitoring, ophthalmoscopy. Hormone assay interpretation, BMD test.
Allergy and Immunology	Immune system components, hypersensitivity, immunogenetics. Immunodeficiency, autoimmune, and allergic diseases. Monoclonal antibodies, immunotherapy.	Skin and exercise challenge tests. Managing anaphylaxis and hypersensitivity.
Gastroenterology and Hepatology	Dyspepsia, GERD, PUD, GI bleed, malabsorption, IBD, IBS, pancreatitis, and GI cancers. Liver diseases (hepatitis, cirrhosis, HCC). Role of endoscopy and imaging.	Paracentesis, liver biopsy, endoscopy, and colonoscopy. NG/Sengstaken tube insertion.
Haematology and Oncology	Haemopoiesis, anaemias, leukaemia, lymphomas, and coagulation disorders. Transfusion medicine. Cancer biology, chemotherapy, palliative care.	Blood transfusion, marrow biopsy. Central line care, chemo administration. Lumbar puncture, flow cytometry.
Rheumatology and Immune Disorders	RA, OA, SLE, scleroderma, vasculitis, gout, sarcoidosis, and inflammatory arthritis. DMARDs, biologics, and monitoring.	Joint examination and aspiration. Disease activity scoring, patient education.
Geriatric Medicine	Physiological ageing, geriatric syndromes, drug hazards, ethical & social issues.	Functional and cognitive assessment. Counselling and communication.
Adolescent Health	Pubertal development, growth disorders. Adolescent issues – sexual, psychological, and substance abuse.	Growth and pubertal assessment. Counselling and preventive education.
Psychiatric Disorders	Biological basis, common mental disorders, substance abuse, and alcoholism.	NA
Dermatology	Inflammatory, infectious, autoimmune and malignant skin disorders. Cutaneous signs of systemic disease.	Skin biopsy, lesion excision, and corticosteroid injections.
Clinical Genetics	Inheritance patterns, molecular genetics, cytogenetics, and teratology. Genetic counselling, ethical principles.	Pedigree charting, genetic counselling. Chromosomal analysis, database use.
Infectious Diseases	Bacterial, viral, fungal, protozoal, and helminthic infections. HIV, TB, PUO, hospital infections, prophylaxis.	Cultures, HIV counselling/testing. Aspiration procedures, immunisations.
Poisoning and Envenomation	Diagnosis and management of common poisonings, bites, and drug overdoses.	NA
Environmental Disorders	Altitude illness, hypothermia, frostbite, heat stroke, and climate change.	NA
Clinical Pharmacology	Pharmacokinetics/dynamics, drug interactions, adverse effects, therapeutic drug monitoring. Systemic pharmacology (CVS, CNS, endocrine, infection, oncology, etc.).	Drug monitoring, prescription review.
Nuclear Medicine	Principles and indications in cardiology, nephrology, endocrinology, oncology, etc.	NA
Palliative Care	Pain management, symptom control, ethical issues, and communication with terminal patients.	Counselling, alternative analgesic routes.
Regenerative Medicine	Stem cell biology, clinical applications.	NA
Pregnancy-Related Medical Disorders	Medical diseases in pregnancy (DM, HTN, thyroid, heart, hepatic, autoimmune). Safe drug use in pregnancy.	Diagnosis and management of complications.
Critical Care and Emergency Medicine	Management of acute organ failures, shock, coma, and ventilation strategies.	Emergency procedures, resuscitation.
Research, Ethics, and Policy	Biostatistics, research methodology, epidemiology, ethics, medico-legal aspects, and health policy.	Research project design, data interpretation.

What are the Eligibility Criteria for DNB General Medicine?

Checking your eligibility for a DNB General Medicine course before applying is a highly crucial step. This is because it ensures that you have fulfilled the required academic, registration, and examination eligibility requirements. 

Here are the key eligibility requirements for admission to the DNB General Medicine programme:

• Educational Qualification: The candidate should possess an MBBS degree or a Provisional MBBS Pass Certificate recognised under the provisions of the NMC Act, 2019, and Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2025.
• Internship Requirement: A one-year, compulsory, rotating internship must be completed. 
• Registration Certificate: Applicants should have a permanent or provisional registration certificate of their MBBS qualification issued by the NMC (formerly MCI) or a State Medical Council.
• Entrance Examination: Admission to the DNB General Medicine programme is based on qualifying for the NEET-PG exam, with a minimum 40th percentile for SC/ST/OBC (including PwD) candidates, 45th percentile for UR PwD, and 50th percentile for Unreserved (UR) candidates.  

• Counselling Process: The qualified candidates have to undergo centralised counselling conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences for final seat allotment. 
• Course Restriction: No candidate will be allowed to join another DNB course without completing the ongoing one and obtaining a discharge certificate from the respective admitting institution/hospital.

What is the Admission Process for DNB General Medicine?

Admission to the three-year DNB General Medicine programme is done through qualification in the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test, NEET-PG (formerly DNB-CET), followed by a structured, merit-based counselling process.

The following are the major steps for DNB General Medicine admission:

Step 1: Check Eligibility: Ensure that you have an MBBS degree from a medical college recognised by the NMC/MCI, along with one year’s compulsory rotating internship experience and a permanent or provisional registration certificate from the NMC or State Medical Council.

Step 2: Appear for NEET-PG Examination: Candidates need to qualify for NEET-PG, conducted by NBEMS. This is the common entrance test for all DNB postgraduate courses.

Step 3: Meet the Cut-Off Percentile: Candidates must secure a minimum qualifying percentile to be eligible for counselling.

Step 4: Attend Centralised Counselling: Eligible candidates have to undergo registration and centralised online counselling by NBEMS, through which seats will be allocated in order of merit and preference for speciality/institution. 

Step 5: Institution-Level Interview (if applicable): After seat allotment, some of the accredited institutes may conduct an interview or orientation as part of the admission formalities. 

Step 6: Verification of Documents and Confirmation of Admission: The selected candidates should authenticate original documents, including their degree, registration, internship completion, and identity proofs, at the allotted institute to confirm their final admission. 

Step 7: Initiation of the Programme: After confirmation of admission, the 3-year training in DNB General Medicine starts as per the NBEMS academic guidelines, blending clinical exposure, academics, and skill-based assessments.

FAQs about DNB General Medicine 

1. What is the duration of the DNB General Medicine course?

The course duration for the DNB General Medicine is 3 years for candidates who join through NEET-PG after completing their MBBS. It is identical to other postgraduate medical residency courses like MD regarding duration and training.

2. What is the full form of DNB in medicine?

DNB stands for Diplomate of National Board. It is a postgraduate medical qualification awarded by the National Board of Examinations under the Ministry of Health, India. 

3. What is the role of a DNB General Medicine holder?

Candidates pursuing the DNB General Medicine course can work in hospitals both as senior residents or consultants/specialists, besides academic and teaching roles in institutions that offer courses in medicine.

4. Which are some of the top hospitals in India for pursuing DNB in General Medicine?

Some of the finest hospitals for pursuing the DNB General Medicine course include Sir Ganga Ram Hospital (Delhi), P.D. Hinduja National Hospital and Medical Research Centre (Mumbai), St. Stephen’s Hospital (Delhi), and Lisie Medical Institution (Kochi, Kerala). These hospitals are renowned for their training, exposure, and clinical experience.

Conclusion

The DNB General Medicine programme is a transformational journey that develops you into a capable, confident, and compassionate physician. This structured clinical exposure opens endless possibilities in medicine and beyond. 

At DocTutorials, we empower residents to excel – our platform offers video lectures, case-based discussions, hard-copy notes, and live sessions designed to help you ace your DNB course with ease. 

To prepare hassle-free and effectively, join us at DocTutorials!