FAIMA urges NBEMS to extend DNB theory exam 2026 registration deadline as MD, MS results remain pending

In a letter to the National Board of Examination in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), the doctors' association group, Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) had urged an extension of the deadline for the upcoming DNB final theory exam 2026. FAIMA has flagged that medical colleges in several states, including Maharashtra, Karnataka and Rajasthan, have not yet concluded their final year postgraduate exams. Consequently, the dates for declaring results have also not been announced.

However, the deadline for registering for the DNB final theory exam is October 10, and colleges are unlikely to conclude or declare the results of the final-year MD and MS exams by then. Because of this delay and the tight registration deadline, candidates risk losing an academic year, FAIMA said.

It also pointed out that candidates of the PG batch 2023, whose examinations will conclude around this time, will be most affected.

“Because their results will come after 10 October, they cannot apply within the current window, even though they will be fully eligible well before the examination dates. The cause is a mismatch between university examination calendars and the application schedule, not any lapse on the candidates' part. Without relief, they risk losing a full examination cycle, which means a delay of several months in their qualification and career progression,” the letter said.

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MD, MS final year exams underway

NBEMS will conduct the DNB theory exam from November 19 to 22.

The diplomate of national board (DNB) theory exam is a centralised postgraduate medical exit exam conducted by NBEMS to evaluate and award specialist qualifications equivalent to traditional MD, MS, DM, or MCh degrees.

However, the final year PG exam and result for several states are still pending. As per the NBEMS guidelines, candidates must complete their mandated PG training and fulfill specific administrative requirements to appear for the DNB final theory exam.

According to FAIMA, in Maharashtra the final-year PG practical exam will continue until about October 22, and results are tentatively expected in the last week of October 2026.

Meanwhile, results are also pending in Karnataka and Rajasthan, but their probable dates are not yet known; they are unlikely to be declared before October 10. Similar situations may exist elsewhere, it added.

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FAIMA urges NBEMS for deadline extension

Therefore, the doctors' association is seeking an extension of the application deadline for the DNB final theory exam to at least the first week of November 2026, allowing candidates whose results are declared in late October to apply.

FAIMA has also urged NBEMS to consider allowing candidates whose results are pending to apply provisionally, provided they submit their MD/MS result or provisional pass certificate within a stipulated period, if the board finds it feasible.

“An extension of this kind would not disturb the DNB examination dates of November 19 to 22, and it would give all eligible candidates a fair opportunity to appear, irrespective of their state or university's examination schedule,” FAIMA added in its letter to NBEMS.