Admission Ledger

MBBS at SRMIST — the whole course on one chart

SRM Institute of Science and Technology runs its MBBS programme under the National Medical Commission's Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Regulations, 2023 — the same framework every NMC-recognised Indian medical college follows, with SRMIST-specific scheduling on top.
Total duration
5.5 yrs
Professional years
4
Internship
1 yr
Total subjects
19
Curriculum
CBME 2023

§How the course is structured

Every learner undergoes 4½ academic years across four professional phases, followed by a full year of Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI) — 5½ years in total, informally called "the 5 years" of MBBS.

Year (this guide) Official phase name Duration Subjects examined
Year 1 First Professional (Phase I) 12 months Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry
Year 2 Second Professional (Phase II) ~13 months Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology
Year 3 Third Professional – Part 1 ~10.5 months Forensic Medicine & Toxicology, Community Medicine, ENT, Ophthalmology
Year 4 Third Professional – Part 2 (Final) ~17–18 months General Medicine, General Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics (+ allied specialties)
Year 5 CRMI — Internship 12 months Rotatory postings, no university subject exams
Durations shift slightly by admission cohort because NMC re-notifies the academic calendar each year — see the Academic Calendar tab for the exact published dates.

§The 19 subjects, at a glance

AnatomyPhysiologyBiochemistry PathologyPharmacologyMicrobiology Forensic Medicine & ToxicologyCommunity Medicine ENTOphthalmology General MedicinePsychiatryDermatology & STDRadiodiagnosis General SurgeryOrthopaedicsAnaesthesiology Obstetrics & GynaecologyPaediatrics

§Exam families that repeat every year

  • Internal Assessment (IA) tests — 3–5 per subject per year, formative
  • Mid-Term / Sessional exam — one comprehensive internal, roughly mid-year
  • University Theory exam — 2 papers × 100 marks per subject (FMT: 1 paper × 100)
  • University Practical / Clinical exam — 100 marks per subject
  • Viva Voce (oral) — conducted alongside the practical/clinical exam
  • NExT (National Exit Test) — replaces the classic final-year university exam, rolled out per NMC timeline
Start Here

New joinee checklist

What to sort out before and during your first week, so orientation week doesn't blindside you.

01Documents to carry (originals + photocopies)

  • NEET-UG scorecard and admit card
  • Counselling allotment/admission letter (state or All India Quota)
  • 10th & 12th mark sheets and passing certificates
  • Transfer Certificate (TC) and Migration Certificate
  • Conduct/character certificate from your previous institution
  • Community/category certificate, if applicable
  • Income certificate, if applying for a fee concession/scholarship
  • Medical fitness certificate
  • Passport-size photographs (carry more than you think you need)
  • Photo ID proof (Aadhaar/Passport)
  • Anti-ragging affidavit — notarized, both student's and parent's, as mandated by UGC/NMC norms

02First-week sequence

  • Document verification & fee confirmation at the admissions desk
  • ID card issuance — you'll need this on campus and in hospital areas from day one
  • Hostel allotment and check-in, if you're a resident student
  • Library membership and biometric attendance registration
  • Meeting your mentor/faculty advisor under the Student Mentoring Programme (SMP)
  • Foundation Course (1 week) — orientation, communication skills, AETCOM basics, Basic Life Support, biomedical waste handling
  • White Coat Ceremony (see the Dress Code & White Coat tab)
  • Dissection hall orientation and safety briefing before your first Anatomy practical

03What to arrange in week one

  • Textbooks — don't buy the entire list on Day 1; get your primary Indian text per subject first, borrow/share the rest (see Textbook Library)
  • Apron/white coat and any dissection-kit items the Anatomy department asks for locally
  • Formal/semi-formal clothing for the White Coat Ceremony and any inaugural events
  • A laptop or tablet if you plan to use QBank/video-lecture apps (see Apps & Tools)
  • Basic stationery, a lab coat for Biochemistry/Pathology practicals
  • Local SIM/data plan and joining your batch's official WhatsApp/class groups
Don't over-purchase in week one. Ask your seniors or SMP mentor what's actually used before spending on anything expensive (stethoscope, instrument sets) — needs and recommended brands vary by department and change little year to year, but timing of when you'll actually need them does.
Start Here

Glossary of MBBS terms

This guide (and your department) will throw a lot of acronyms at you in week one. Here's what they mean.
Term Meaning
NMC National Medical Commission — India's medical education regulator
MCI Medical Council of India — NMC's predecessor body
CBME Competency Based Medical Education — the curriculum framework this guide is built on
AETCOM Attitude, Ethics & Communication — a longitudinal module across all 4 professional years
CRMI Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship — the Year 5 rotatory posting year
NExT National Exit Test — the licensing exam replacing/aligned with the final-year university exam and FMGE
PSM Preventive & Social Medicine — also called Community Medicine
FMT Forensic Medicine & Toxicology
OSCE Objective Structured Clinical Examination — station-based skills assessment format
Viva Voce Oral examination, usually conducted alongside a practical/clinical exam
Spotters Rapid identification stations (specimens, slides, instruments, X-rays) in a practical exam
Long Case / Short Case Clinical exam formats — a detailed, extended patient work-up vs. a rapid, focused one
IA Internal Assessment — the class tests that determine exam eligibility
FAP Family Adoption Programme — each student follows ~5 families longitudinally as part of Community Medicine training
SMP Student Mentoring Programme — SRMIST's faculty-mentor system for students
PHC / CHC / UHC Primary / Community / Urban Health Centre — field posting sites for Community Medicine
Log book A continuous personal record of procedures, cases, and skills completed during postings
Elective posting A self-chosen short clinical/non-clinical rotation, mainly in the final year
NEET-PG The entrance exam for postgraduate (MD/MS) admission after MBBS + internship
DNB Diplomate of National Board — a hospital-based postgraduate qualification, an alternative to MD/MS
AIQ All India Quota — a share of postgraduate/undergraduate seats filled via central counselling
Foundations · Pre-Year 1

Greek & Latin medical terminology — a 20-hour crash course

Every medical term is a small, assembled machine — prefix, root, and suffix bolted together in a predictable pattern. Learn the pattern once, and you can decode words you've never seen before. Best done just before or during your first weeks of Anatomy/Physiology.
Total hours
20
Modules
5
Best timed
Pre-Year 1
Format
Self-paced

§Module breakdown

Module Focus Hours
M1 — The Blueprint of Medical Language 4-part structure, word-construction rules, decoding rule, plural rules, pronunciation rules, anatomical directional terms 3
M2 — Prefixes Direction/position (incl. Dia-, Juxta-, Para-, Sym-/Syn-), numbers & quantity, status & negation, more direction/time prefixes 5
M3 — Suffixes Surgical, diagnostic/imaging/instruments, pathology/symptoms, cell & growth, function/movement, fixation, adjectival ("pertaining to") 4
M4 — Body System Roots Cardiovascular, respiratory, GI, renal/urinary, nervous, musculoskeletal, integumentary/immune, reproductive, endocrine, sensory organs, colour/diagnostic roots 6
M5 — Clinical Application & Speed Drills Case-chart deconstruction (3 charts), contextual guessing (7 terms), 2 full chart-translation drills, Latin prescription abbreviations, timed quiz 2
Why this order: M1 gives you the toolkit, M2–M4 stock it with the actual vocabulary (prefixes → suffixes → roots), and M5 forces you to use all three together at speed — which is exactly what reading a real chart demands.

§How to use it alongside Year 1

  • Do M1–M3 before your first Anatomy lecture — prefixes and suffixes recur across every system, so they pay off immediately
  • Do M4 in parallel with Anatomy's systemic units — the roots map almost 1:1 onto the order you'll meet body systems
  • Save M5 for a week before your first Anatomy/Physiology Internal Assessment as a speed check
Module 1 · 3 Hours

The blueprint of medical language

Every long medical word is built from the same four kinds of pieces, assembled the same way, every time.

01The 4-part structure

Part Job Example piece
Prefix (optional) Modifies meaning — location, time, number, negation hypo-
Root The core meaning — usually a body part, substance, or condition derm
Combining vowel (usually "o") Links root to suffix (or root to root) for pronounceability — has no meaning of its own dermat/o
Suffix The ending — indicates a procedure, condition, or pathology -logy
Root + combining vowel together is called the Combining Form, written with a slash — e.g. cardi/o, gastr/o. Example assembled: dermat/o/logy = dermat (skin) + o (vowel) + logy (study of) = "the study of skin."

02Rules of word construction

The combining vowel isn't always used — three fixed rules decide when it appears:

Rule When Example
Rule 1 — Drop the vowel Suffix starts with a vowel (a,e,i,o,u) gastr + -itis → gastritis, not "gastroitis"
Rule 2 — Keep the vowel Suffix starts with a consonant gastr + -megaly → gastromegaly, not "gastrmegaly"
Rule 3 — Keep between roots Joining two word roots together, even if the second starts with a vowel gastr + enter + -itis → gastroenteritis (the "o" between gastr and enter stays; the one before -itis drops)
Rule 3 is the one students most often get wrong under exam pressure — the vowel between two roots survives even when the same vowel right before the suffix would be dropped.

03The decoding rule — read backward

Always decode in this order: 1. Suffix (end) → 2. Prefix (start) → 3. Root/combining form (middle). This mirrors how the word was built in the first place.

Worked example: hypercholesterolemia
Step 1 — Suffix: -emia = blood condition
Step 2 — Prefix: hyper- = excessive, above normal
Step 3 — Root: cholesterol = cholesterol
Full meaning: "a blood condition of excessive cholesterol" → high cholesterol

04Singular vs. plural — Greek & Latin variations

Singular ending Plural ending Example
-a -ae vertebra → vertebrae
-ax -aces thorax → thoraces
-is -es diagnosis → diagnoses; metastasis → metastases
-itis -itides arthritis → arthritides
-ma / -oma -mata / -omata (classical) / -mas / -omas (modern) carcinoma → carcinomata / carcinomas
-um -a bacterium → bacteria; ovum → ova; atrium → atria
-us -i bronchus → bronchi; alveolus → alveoli
-nx -nges phalanx → phalanges; larynx → larynges
-yx -yces calyx → calyces
-ix / -ex -ices appendix → appendices; cortex → cortices
-on -a ganglion → ganglia; criterion → criteria; spermatozoon → spermatozoa
-y -ies biopsy → biopsies
These irregular plurals show up constantly in Pathology and Anatomy reports — getting them right in a viva reads as attention to detail.

05Pronunciation & silent-letter rules

Pattern Sounds like Example
ch k Cholelithiasis → "ko-le-li-thi-a-sis"
c before e, i, y s Cerebrum → "se-re-brum"
c before a, o, u k Colon → "ko-lon"
g before e, i, y j Gingivitis → "jin-ji-vi-tis"
g before a, o, u g (hard) Gastric → "gas-trik"
ps- (word start) s Psychiatry → "sy-ki-a-tree"
pn- (word start) n Pneumonia → "new-mo-nia"
pt- (word start) t Ptosis → "to-sis"
x- (word start) z Xanthoderma → "zan-tho-der-ma"
ae / oe ee Fasciae → "fash-ee-ee"; Coelom → "see-lom"
This is the part that trips people up out loud in viva even when they've decoded the word correctly on paper — worth a few minutes of reading terms aloud, not just silently.

06Anatomical position & directional terms

Before you meet a single body system, Anatomy starts here — every description of "where" in the body uses this fixed vocabulary, almost all of it Latin.

Term pair Meaning
Superior / Inferior Toward the head / toward the feet
Anterior (Ventral) / Posterior (Dorsal) Toward the front / toward the back
Medial / Lateral Toward the midline / away from the midline
Proximal / Distal Closer to the trunk/origin / farther from it
Superficial / Deep Closer to the surface / farther from the surface
Cephalic / Caudal Toward the head / toward the tail end
Palmar / Plantar Palm side of the hand / sole side of the foot
Ipsilateral / Contralateral Same side / opposite side
Supine / Prone Lying face-up / lying face-down
These aren't prefixes or suffixes — they're standalone descriptive terms — but they're the single most-used vocabulary set in your entire first Anatomy practical, so they belong in Module 1, not buried later.

07Practice — decode these yourself

subcutaneous — decode it, then reveal

sub (under) + cutane (skin) + ous (pertaining to) = pertaining to under the skin

intercostal — decode it, then reveal

inter (between) + cost (rib) + al (pertaining to) = pertaining to between the ribs

epigastric — decode it, then reveal

epi (above/upon) + gastr (stomach) + ic (pertaining to) = pertaining to the region above the stomach

Module 2 · 5 Hours

Prefixes — direction, quantity & status

Prefixes are the first thing to check when decoding a word — they tell you where, how much, and whether something is normal or not.

01Direction & position

Prefix Meaning Example
Epi- Above, upon epidermis (upon the skin)
Sub- Under, below subcutaneous (under the skin)
Inter- Between intercostal (between the ribs)
Intra- Within intravenous (within the vein)
Peri- Around pericardium (around the heart)
Supra- Above suprarenal (above the kidney)
Retro- Behind retroperitoneal
Trans- Across transdermal
Dia- Through, across diagnosis (knowledge through examination)
Juxta- Near, beside juxtaglomerular
Para- Near, beside; also "abnormal" parathyroid; paranoia
Sym- / Syn- Together, joined, with symphysis; syndactyly (webbed fingers/toes)

02Quantity & measurement

Prefix Meaning Example
Hyper- Excessive hypertension
Hypo- Deficient hypotension
Tachy- Fast tachycardia
Brady- Slow bradycardia
Oligo- Few, scanty oliguria (scanty urine)
Poly- Many polyuria
Macro- Large macrocytic
Micro- Small microcytic

03Status & negation

Prefix Meaning Example
A- / An- Without anemia (without blood/iron)
Dys- Painful, difficult, abnormal dysuria (painful urination)
Eu- Normal, good euthyroid (normal thyroid function)
Neo- New neoplasm (new growth)
Mal- Bad, abnormal malabsorption
Pseudo- False pseudoseizure
Notice the pattern: A-/An-, Dys-, Eu-, and Neo- are the four you'll use constantly to describe whether something is present, difficult, normal, or novel — worth over-learning these four first.

04Numbers & quantity

Prefix Meaning Example
Uni- / Mono- One unilateral / mononuclear
Bi- / Di- Two bilateral / diplopia
Tri- Three tricuspid
Quadri- / Tetra- Four quadriplegia / tetralogy
Multi- / Poly- Many multipara / polyuria
Semi- / Hemi- Half semicircular / hemiplegia
Nulli- None nullipara (zero viable births)
Primi- First primigravida (pregnant for the first time)
Pan- All pancytopenia (deficiency of all blood cell types)

05More direction & time prefixes

Prefix Meaning Example
Ante- / Pre- / Pro- Before, in front of antenatal / prenatal / prognosis
Post- After postoperative
Anti- / Contra- Against, opposite antibiotic (against microbial life) / contraindication
Ab- Away from abduction
Ad- Toward adduction
Ecto- / Exo- Outside ectopic
Endo- / Ento- Within, inside endoscopy
Meso- Middle mesoderm
Circum- Around circumcision
Ab-/Ad- and Ecto-/Endo- are easy to swap under exam pressure — anchor them to a physical gesture: Ab- = "abandon" (move away), Ad- = "add on" (move toward).
Module 3 · 4 Hours

Suffixes — surgical, diagnostic & symptomatic

The suffix is the first thing you decode and usually the most clinically important piece — it tells you what's actually being done or what's wrong.

01Surgical procedures

Suffix Meaning Example
-ectomy Surgical removal appendectomy
-otomy Cutting into, incision tracheotomy
-stomy Creating a new opening colostomy
-plasty Surgical repair/reshaping rhinoplasty
-rrhaphy Suturing herniorrhaphy
-centesis Puncture to remove fluid amniocentesis
-clasis Surgical breaking/fracturing osteoclasis
-otomy vs -ectomy vs -stomy is a classic mix-up: -otomy = cut into (temporary), -ectomy = cut out (removed), -stomy = create a permanent/semi-permanent opening.

02Diagnostic & imaging

Suffix Meaning Example
-scopy Visual examination (with a scope) endoscopy
-graphy Process of recording an image angiography
-gram The record/image itself electrocardiogram
-scope Instrument used for visual examination otoscope
-graph Instrument used to record polygraph
-meter Instrument used to measure thermometer
-metry The process of measuring spirometry
-opsy To view, examine living tissue biopsy
-graphy is the act of imaging; -gram is the resulting picture. An angiography produces an angiogram.

03Pathology & symptoms

Suffix Meaning Example
-itis Inflammation appendicitis
-opathy Disease neuropathy
-megaly Enlargement hepatomegaly
-algia / -dynia Pain neuralgia / gastrodynia
-oma Tumour lipoma
-osis Abnormal condition/increase cyanosis
-emia Blood condition anemia
-penia Deficiency leukopenia
-rrhea Discharge, flow diarrhea
-rrhagia Excessive bleeding menorrhagia
-malacia Softening osteomalacia
-rrhexis Rupture cardiorrhexis
-plasia Growth, formation, cellular proliferation hyperplasia

04Cell & growth suffixes

Suffix Meaning Example
-cyte Cell leukocyte
-blast Immature/germ cell osteoblast
-clast Cell that breaks down tissue osteoclast
-poiesis Formation, production hematopoiesis
-trophy / -trophic Nourishment, development hypertrophy
-genic Producing, originating from pathogenic
-blast (building) and -clast (breaking) are opposites and get mixed up constantly — osteoblasts build bone, osteoclasts resorb it.

05Function & movement suffixes

Suffix Meaning Example
-lysis Breakdown, destruction hemolysis
-phagia Eating, swallowing dysphagia
-pnea Breathing tachypnea
-plegia Paralysis hemiplegia
-paresis Partial paralysis, weakness monoparesis
-sclerosis Hardening atherosclerosis
-stenosis Narrowing aortic stenosis
-ptosis Drooping, prolapse nephroptosis
-iasis Abnormal condition of nephrolithiasis

06Fixation & procedure suffixes

Suffix Meaning Example
-pexy Surgical fixation nephropexy
-desis Surgical binding/fusion arthrodesis
-tripsy Surgical crushing lithotripsy

07Adjectival suffixes — "pertaining to"

These turn a root into a descriptive adjective. They're grammatically interchangeable but root-specific — you learn which one goes with which root by exposure, not by rule.

Suffix Example
-ac cardiac (pertaining to the heart)
-al renal (pertaining to the kidney)
-ar vascular (pertaining to vessels)
-ary pulmonary (pertaining to the lungs)
-eal esophageal (pertaining to the esophagus)
-ic gastric (pertaining to the stomach)
-ior superior (pertaining to above)
-ous cutaneous (pertaining to the skin)
-tic hepatic (pertaining to the liver)
Module 4 · 6 Hours

Body system roots — the anatomical core

Roots are the largest vocabulary set, but they map cleanly onto the systems you're about to study in Anatomy — learn them system by system, not all at once.

01Cardiovascular system

Root Meaning Example
Cardio- Heart cardiology
Angio- / Vas/o- / Vascul/o- Vessel angioplasty
Arteri/o- Artery arteriosclerosis
Phleb/o- / Ven/o- Vein phlebitis; venipuncture
Aort/o- Aorta aortic stenosis
Ather/o- Fatty plaque atherosclerosis
Hemato- / Hemo- Blood hematology
Thromb/o- Clot thrombosis

02Respiratory system

Root Meaning Example
Pneumo- / Pulmo- Lung, air pneumonia / pulmonary
Nas/o- Nose nasoenteric
Laryng/o- Larynx (voice box) laryngospasm
Trache/o- Trachea (windpipe) tracheostomy
Bronch/o- / Bronchi/o- Bronchus (airway) bronchitis
Alveol/o- Alveolus (air sac) alveolar
Phren/o- Diaphragm phrenic nerve
Ox/o- Oxygen hypoxia
Capn/o- Carbon dioxide hypercapnia
-pnea Breathing (suffix) orthopnea

03Gastrointestinal system

Root Meaning Example
Stomat/o- Mouth stomatitis
Esophag/o- Esophagus esophagitis
Gastro- Stomach gastritis
Entero- Small intestine enteritis
Col/o- / Colon/o- Large intestine, colon colonoscopy
An/o- / Proct/o- / Rect/o- Anus, rectum proctology
Hepato- Liver hepatomegaly
Cholecyst/o- Gallbladder cholecystectomy
Choledoch/o- Common bile duct choledocholithiasis
Pancreat/o- Pancreas pancreatitis

04Renal & urinary system

Root Meaning Example
Nephro- / Reno- Kidney nephrology / renal
Glomerul/o- Glomerulus (kidney filtering unit) glomerulonephritis
Pyel/o- Renal pelvis pyelonephritis
Ureter/o- Ureter ureterectasis
Cyst/o- / Vesic/o- Urinary bladder cystitis
Urethr/o- Urethra urethral stricture
Ur/o- / Urin/o- Urine, urinary tract urology
-uria Condition of urine (suffix) hematuria; anuria

05Nervous system

Root Meaning Example
Neuro- Nerve neurology
Encephalo- Brain encephalitis
Cerebr/o- Cerebrum cerebrovascular
Myel/o- Spinal cord (also bone marrow — check context) myelogram
Mening/o- Meninges meningitis
Esthesi/o- Sensation, feeling hyperesthesia

06Musculoskeletal system

Root Meaning Example
Myo- Muscle myopathy
Osteo- Bone osteoporosis
Chondro- Cartilage chondromalacia
Arthr/o- Joint arthritis
Ten/o- / Tendin/o- Tendon tendinitis
Ligament/o- Ligament ligamentous laxity
Cost/o- Rib intercostal
Spondyl/o- / Vertebr/o- Vertebra spondylosis
Pace yourself here — Module 4 carries a third of the total course hours (6 of 20) for a reason. Split it across sittings, one system-group per sitting, rather than one long session.

07Integumentary & immune/lymphatic systems

Root Meaning Example
Dermo- / Dermato- / Cutane/o- Skin dermatitis; subcutaneous
Trich/o- Hair trichotillomania
Onych/o- / Ungu/o- Nail onycholysis
Hidr/o- Sweat hyperhidrosis
Seb/o- Sebum (oil gland secretion) seborrhea
Lympho- Lymph lymphoma
Spleno- Spleen splenectomy
Thymo- Thymus gland thymoma
Immuno- Safe, protected, immune immunodeficiency
Myco- Fungus mycosis

08Reproductive system

Root Meaning Example
Gyneco- Woman, female gynecology
Andro- Man, male andrology
Oophoro- / Ovario- Ovary oophorectomy
Orchi- / Orchido- Testis orchidopexy
Vas/o- Vas deferens (context-dependent — not "vessel" here) vasectomy
Prostato- Prostate prostatitis
Salpingo- Fallopian tube salpingectomy
Hystero- / Metro- Uterus hysterectomy
Colp/o- / Vagin/o- Vagina colposcopy
Mamm/o- / Mast/o- Breast mastitis

09Endocrine system

Root Meaning Example
Adeno- Gland adenoma
Thyro- Thyroid gland thyroiditis
Adreno- Adrenal gland adrenalectomy
Pancreato- Pancreas pancreatitis
Crin/o- To secrete endocrinology

10Sensory organs

Root Meaning Example
Ophthalmo- / Opto- Eye ophthalmology
Blephar/o- Eyelid blepharoptosis
Kerat/o- Cornea (also horny skin tissue) keratoplasty
Oto- Ear otitis
Myring/o- / Tympan/o- Tympanic membrane (eardrum) myringotomy
Rhino- Nose rhinoplasty
Glosso- / Lingu- Tongue glossitis
Odonto- / Stomato- Tooth / mouth odontalgia / stomatitis

11Colour, substance & diagnostic roots

Root Meaning Example
Cyto- Cell cytology
Leuko- White leukocyte
Erythro- Red erythrocyte
Cyano- Blue cyanosis
Melano- Black melanoma
Xantho- Yellow xanthoma
Chloro- Green chlorosis
Glauc/o- Grey, silver glaucoma
Cirrh/o- / Jaund/o- Orange-yellow cirrhosis
Cry/o- Cold cryotherapy
Therm/o- Heat hypothermia
Pyret/o- / Pyr/o- Fever, fire antipyretic
Necr/o- Death necrosis
Lith/o- Stone, calculus nephrolithiasis
These roots combine directly with -cyte, -osis, -derma, and -oma constantly in Histology and Pathology — leukocyte, erythrocyte, cyanosis, melanoma are words you'll use in Year 1 and 2 both.
Module 5 · 2 Hours

Clinical application & speed drills

The real test: can you decode an unfamiliar word on the spot, using only the toolkit from Modules 1–4?

01Case chart deconstruction

Chart note 1 — click to reveal the breakdown

"Pt presents with acute cholecystitis, suspected choledocholithiasis, and hepatomegaly on exam. Plan: cholecystectomy."

Term Breakdown Meaning
cholecystitis chole (bile) + cyst (bladder/sac) + itis (inflammation) Inflammation of the gallbladder
choledocholithiasis choledocho (common bile duct) + lith (stone) + iasis (condition of) Presence of stones in the common bile duct
hepatomegaly hepato (liver) + megaly (enlargement) Enlarged liver
cholecystectomy chole (bile) + cyst (sac) + ectomy (removal) Surgical removal of the gallbladder
Chart note 2 — click to reveal the breakdown

"Tenderness over the sternocleidomastoid; no lymphadenopathy; query pericarditis, ruled out on echocardiography."

Term Breakdown Meaning
sternocleidomastoid sterno (sternum) + cleido (clavicle) + mastoid (mastoid process) The muscle spanning sternum, clavicle, and mastoid process
lymphadenopathy lymph (lymph) + aden (gland) + opathy (disease) Disease/enlargement of lymph glands/nodes
pericarditis peri (around) + card (heart) + itis (inflammation) Inflammation of the sac around the heart
echocardiography echo (sound) + cardio (heart) + graphy (recording) Ultrasound-based recording/imaging of the heart
Chart note 3 — click to reveal the breakdown

"Bilateral otitis media with mild conductive hearing loss; recommend myringotomy if no improvement. No cyanosis, no lymphadenopathy."

Term Breakdown Meaning
otitis media ot (ear) + itis (inflammation) + media (middle, Latin) Inflammation of the middle ear
myringotomy myringo (eardrum) + otomy (cutting into) Surgical incision into the eardrum
cyanosis cyano (blue) + osis (abnormal condition) Bluish discolouration, usually from low oxygen
lymphadenopathy lymph (lymph) + aden (gland) + opathy (disease) Disease/enlargement of lymph nodes

02Contextual guessing — try before you reveal

osteochondritis — guess it, then reveal

osteo (bone) + chondr (cartilage) + itis (inflammation) = inflammation of bone and cartilage

tachypnea — guess it, then reveal

tachy (fast) + pnea (breathing) = abnormally fast breathing

nephrolithotomy — guess it, then reveal

nephro (kidney) + lith (stone) + otomy (cutting into) = surgical incision into the kidney to remove a stone

hepatosplenomegaly — guess it, then reveal

hepato (liver) + spleno (spleen) + megaly (enlargement) = enlargement of both the liver and spleen

salpingo-oophorectomy — guess it, then reveal

salpingo (fallopian tube) + oophor (ovary) + ectomy (surgical removal) = surgical removal of both the fallopian tube(s) and ovary(ies)

oligohydramnios — guess it, then reveal

oligo (scanty, deficient) + hydr (water/fluid) + amnios (amniotic sac) = a deficiency of amniotic fluid around a fetus

encephalomalacia — guess it, then reveal

encephalo (brain) + malacia (abnormal softening) = abnormal softening of brain tissue, typically after infarction or trauma

03Real chart translation drills

Don't peek at the plain-English translation until you've tried decoding every bolded term yourself.

Scenario A — click to reveal the translation

"Patient presents with severe dysuria and hematuria. Urinalysis confirms leukocytosis and bacteriuria. Suspect acute cystitis."

Plain-English: "The patient has painful urination and blood in the urine. The urine test shows an abnormally high white blood cell count and bacteria in the urine. We suspect an acute bladder infection."

Scenario B — click to reveal the translation

"The infant displays marked macrocephaly and cyanosis during episodes of apnea. Echocardiography ordered to r/o structural defects."

Plain-English: "The baby has an abnormally large head and turns bluish during episodes where breathing stops. A heart ultrasound has been ordered to rule out structural defects."

04Common Latin prescription abbreviations

A quick bonus — these aren't roots/prefixes/suffixes, but they're Latin-derived shorthand you'll see on every prescription and drug chart from Pharmacology onward.

Abbreviation Latin Meaning
b.i.d. bis in die Twice a day
t.i.d. ter in die Three times a day
q.i.d. quater in die Four times a day
o.d. / q.d. omni die Once a day
p.o. per os By mouth
stat statim Immediately
p.r.n. pro re nata As needed
a.c. / p.c. ante cibum / post cibum Before meals / after meals
h.s. hora somni At bedtime
NPO nil per os Nothing by mouth

05Timed self-check quiz

First Professional · Phase I

Year 1

The pre-clinical year — foundational sciences taught largely through lecture, dissection hall, and lab practicals.
Duration
12 mo
Subjects
3
IA tests / subject
3–5
Univ. exam marks
300

01Subjects

  • Anatomy — Gross Anatomy, Histology, Embryology, Genetics, Neuroanatomy
  • Physiology — General & Systemic Physiology, Practical Haematology
  • Biochemistry — Molecular biology, metabolism, clinical biochemistry practicals
  • Foundation Course / AETCOM — 1-week orientation: communication skills, professionalism, BLS, biomedical waste, humanities (non-exam)

02Exams this year

Exam Format Marks
Internal Assessment (×3–5) Written test, per subject varies
Mid-Term (Sessional) Written, broader syllabus coverage varies
University Theory 2 papers per subject 100 + 100
University Practical Dissection/specimens (Anatomy); experiments/haematology (Physiology); practicals (Biochemistry) 100
Viva Voce Oral, with practical exam within practical marks

03Suggested prep time

  • Per IA test: 3–5 focused days on the topics taught since the last test
  • Mid-term: 2–3 weeks, consolidating ~4–6 months of teaching
  • University theory (per subject): 4–6 weeks dedicated revision on top of year-round study — 2–3 full revision passes plus previous-year question papers
  • Practical/viva: 1–2 weeks of focused specimen/spotter and experiment practice after theory papers

04Subjects → papers, marks, practicals & viva

Each Year 1 subject converts into 2 University Theory papers + 1 Practical/Clinical exam, with Viva Voce embedded in that same practical sitting:

Subject Theory papers Theory marks Practical/Clinical exam Practical marks Viva voce Subject total
Anatomy 2 100+100=200 Dissection, specimens, histology slides 100 Embedded in practical 300
Physiology 2 100+100=200 Experiments, haematology practicals 100 Embedded in practical 300
Biochemistry 2 100+100=200 Biochemistry practicals 100 Embedded in practical 300
Total theory papers
6
Total practical exams
3
Total viva sessions
3
Total marks, Year 1
900
Viva Voce is not a separate paper — it's scored within the Practical/Clinical exam sitting, usually as a sub-component. The exact internal split between practical performance and viva marks is set by the university.

05Clinical postings this year

None, formally. Year 1 is pre-clinical — the only clinical contact is occasional orientation ward visits tied to Anatomy/Physiology teaching. Real clinical postings begin in Year 2. See the Clinical Postings Matrix tab for the full year-wise picture.

06Textbooks for Year 1

Anatomy

Indian

Author Book Publisher
B D Chaurasia Human Anatomy (Vol. 1–3) CBS Publishers, New Delhi
Inderbir Singh (rev. Pratap & Vinay Kapila) Human Histology Jaypee Brothers
Inderbir Singh (rev. Vishram Singh) Human Embryology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Drake, Vogl, Mitchell Gray's Anatomy for Students Elsevier
Chummy S. Sinnatamby Last's Anatomy: Regional & Applied Elsevier
Richard S. Snell Snell's Clinical Anatomy by Regions Wolters Kluwer
Physiology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Indu Khurana Textbook of Medical Physiology Elsevier India
A K Jain Textbook of Physiology (2 vols.) Avichal Publishing

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
John E. Hall, Michael E. Hall Guyton & Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology Elsevier
Barrett, Barman, Brooks, Yuan Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology McGraw Hill
Biochemistry

Indian

Author Book Publisher
D M Vasudevan, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students Jaypee Brothers
U Satyanarayana, U Chakrapani Essentials of Biochemistry Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Rodwell, Bender, Botham, Weil, Kennelly Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry McGraw Hill
Denise R. Ferrier Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry Wolters Kluwer

07Apps for Year 1

Complete Anatomy (3D4Medical)
Web · iOS · Android
3D dissection layers and muscle actions.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Kenhub
Web · Android · iOS
Anatomy atlas + quizzes, best fit for Year 1.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Human Anatomy Atlas (Visible Body)
Android · iOS · Web
3D atlas with animated physiology.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Osmosis by Elsevier
Web · Android · iOS
Short concept videos for Anatomy/Physiology/Biochemistry.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Anki
Android · iOS · Desktop
Spaced-repetition recall for embryology, biochemistry pathways.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗

08Exam timetable — Year 1 (2026 batch, tentative)

Starts Teaching Mid-term Pre-final University exam window Ends
1 Aug 2026 Aug 2026 – Apr 2027 ~Jan 2027 ~May 2027 Jun – Jul 2027 ~Jul 2027
Planning estimate only — see the Exam Timetable (2026 Batch) tab for the full 5-year table and its caveats.

09Study time calculator — Year 1 exams

Second Professional · Phase II

Year 2

Para-clinical year — disease mechanisms, drugs, and organisms. Clinical postings begin toward the end of this year.
Duration
~13 mo
Subjects examined
3
Also begins
Clinics
Univ. exam marks
300

01Subjects

  • Pathology — General & systemic pathology, haematology, histopathology
  • Pharmacology — General pharmacology, systemic pharmacology, prescription writing
  • Microbiology — Bacteriology, virology, parasitology, immunology, practicals
  • Community Medicine / PSM — teaching begins (examined in Year 3)
  • Forensic Medicine & Toxicology — teaching begins (examined in Year 3)
  • Clinical postings begin — Introduction to Clinical Sciences, ward exposure

02Exams this year

Exam Format Marks
Internal Assessment (×3–5) Per subject varies
Mid-Term (Sessional) Per subject varies
University Theory 2 papers — Pathology, Pharmacology, Microbiology 100 + 100 each
University Practical Specimens/slides, spotters, prescription writing, culture & serology 100 each
Viva Voce Oral, per subject within practical marks
Log-book assessment Formative, clinical posting attendance & skills non-university

03Suggested prep time

  • Per IA test: 3–5 days
  • Mid-term: 2–3 weeks
  • University theory (per subject): 4–6 weeks, with extra time for Pharmacology prescription-writing drills and Pathology/Microbiology spotter practice
  • Practical/viva: 1–2 weeks — slide/specimen recognition is high-yield and needs repetition, not just reading

04Subjects → papers, marks, practicals & viva

Only Pathology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology are examined this year — Community Medicine and FMT are taught but examined in Year 3:

Subject Theory papers Theory marks Practical/Clinical exam Practical marks Viva voce Subject total
Pathology 2 100+100=200 Specimens, slides, haematology 100 Embedded in practical 300
Pharmacology 2 100+100=200 Prescription writing, pharmacy exercises 100 Embedded in practical 300
Microbiology 2 100+100=200 Culture, serology, slides 100 Embedded in practical 300
Total theory papers
6
Total practical exams
3
Total viva sessions
3
Total marks, Year 2
900
Community Medicine and FMT are being taught in the background this year but don't add papers/marks until Year 3 — don't count them into this year's exam load.

05Clinical postings this year

Postings Weekly load Nature
Introduction to Clinical Sciences — Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics 15 hrs/week OPD + ward observation, bedside basics (history-taking, examination)

06Textbooks for Year 2

Pathology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Harsh Mohan Textbook of Pathology Jaypee Brothers
Harsh Mohan Practical Pathology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Kumar, Abbas, Aster Robbins Basic Pathology Elsevier
Kumar, Abbas, Aster Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease Elsevier
Pharmacology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
K D Tripathi Essentials of Medical Pharmacology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Bertram G. Katzung Basic & Clinical Pharmacology McGraw Hill
Brunton, Hilal-Dandan, Knollmann (eds.) Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics McGraw Hill
Microbiology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Ananthanarayan & Paniker Textbook of Microbiology Universities Press
C P Baveja Textbook of Microbiology Arya Publications

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Patrick R. Murray et al. Medical Microbiology Elsevier
Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg Medical Microbiology McGraw Hill

07Apps for Year 2

Sketchy Medical
Web · Android · iOS
Visual mnemonics — strongest for Microbiology and Pharmacology.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Anki
Android · iOS · Desktop
Spaced repetition for drug names/doses, organism facts.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Marrow
Web · Android · iOS
Video lectures + QBank for Pathology/Pharm/Micro.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
PrepLadder
Web · Android · iOS
Subject-wise courses and test series.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Osmosis by Elsevier
Web · Android · iOS
Short concept videos, good for disease-mechanism recall.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗

08Exam timetable — Year 2 (2026 batch, tentative)

Starts Teaching Mid-term Pre-final University exam window Ends
~Aug 2027 Sep 2027 – May 2028 ~Feb 2028 ~Jun 2028 Jul – Sep 2028 ~Sep 2028
Planning estimate only — see the Exam Timetable (2026 Batch) tab for the full 5-year table and its caveats.

09Study time calculator — Year 2 exams

Third Professional · Part 1

Year 3

Bridges pre-clinical knowledge into public health and two focused clinical specialties.
Duration
~10.5 mo
Subjects examined
4
FMT paper
1×100
Others
2×100

01Subjects

  • Forensic Medicine & Toxicology — medical jurisprudence, toxicology, autopsy
  • Community Medicine / PSM — epidemiology, biostatistics, health programmes, field postings
  • Ophthalmology — clinical ophthalmology, refraction, common eye diseases
  • ENT (Otorhinolaryngology) — ear, nose, throat, head & neck conditions
  • Continued clinical postings across major departments

02Exams this year

Exam Format Marks
Internal Assessment (×3–5) Per subject varies
Mid-Term Per subject varies
University Theory — FMT 1 paper 100
University Theory — Community Medicine, Ophthalmology, ENT 2 papers each 100 + 100
University Practical/Clinical Per subject, incl. field-based assessment for Community Medicine 100 each
Viva Voce Per subject within practical marks

03Suggested prep time

  • Per IA test: 3–5 days
  • Mid-term: 2–3 weeks
  • University theory (per subject): 4 weeks for FMT (single paper, case-law-style recall), 4–6 weeks each for Community Medicine/Ophthalmology/ENT
  • Practical/viva: 1–2 weeks; Community Medicine also needs field-report and biostatistics-calculation practice

04Subjects → papers, marks, practicals & viva

FMT is the one exception this year — a single theory paper instead of two:

Subject Theory papers Theory marks Practical/Clinical exam Practical marks Viva voce Subject total
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology 1 100 Case discussion, autopsy record 100 Embedded in practical 200
Community Medicine 2 100+100=200 Field-based assessment + practical 100 Embedded in practical 300
Ophthalmology 2 100+100=200 Clinical/practical 100 Embedded in practical 300
ENT 2 100+100=200 Clinical/practical 100 Embedded in practical 300
Total theory papers
7
Total practical exams
4
Total viva sessions
4
Total marks, Year 3
1100
FMT's single-paper format is the one break from the "2 papers per subject" pattern anywhere in the MBBS course.

05Clinical postings this year

Postings Weekly load Nature
Community Medicine field posting (PHC/UHC) 15–20 hrs/week Field visits, health-programme exposure
Continuing Medicine/Surgery/OBG/Paeds + new Ophthalmology & ENT postings 15–20 hrs/week OPD + ward

06Textbooks for Year 3

Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
K S Narayan Reddy The Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Jaypee Brothers
Krishan Vij Textbook of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Jason Payne-James et al. (eds.) Simpson's Forensic Medicine CRC Press
Community Medicine (PSM)

Indian

Author Book Publisher
K Park Park's Textbook of Preventive & Social Medicine Bhanot Publishers
Sunder Lal, Adarsh, Pankaj Textbook of Community Medicine CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Roger Detels et al. (eds.) Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health Oxford University Press
Ophthalmology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
A K Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Brad Bowling Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology Elsevier
ENT

Indian

Author Book Publisher
P L Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose & Throat Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
John C. Watkinson et al. (eds.) Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology CRC Press

07Apps for Year 3

Marrow
Web · Android · iOS
FMT, Community Medicine, ENT, Ophthalmology video + QBank coverage.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
PrepLadder
Web · Android · iOS
Subject-wise test series for this year's four subjects.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Osmosis by Elsevier
Web · Android · iOS
Concept videos for public-health and ophthalmology/ENT topics.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Anki
Android · iOS · Desktop
Recall for FMT case-law points and CM statistics/formulae.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗

08Exam timetable — Year 3 (2026 batch, tentative)

Starts Teaching Mid-term Pre-final University exam window Ends
~Oct 2028 Oct 2028 – May 2029 ~Feb 2029 ~Jun 2029 Jul – Aug 2029 ~Aug 2029
Planning estimate only — see the Exam Timetable (2026 Batch) tab for the full 5-year table and its caveats.

09Study time calculator — Year 3 exams

Third Professional · Part 2 (Final Year)

Year 4

The clinical capstone — major specialties plus their allied disciplines, culminating in NExT Step 1.
Duration
~17–18 mo
Major subjects
4
Allied specialties
7
Exit exam
NExT-1

01Subjects

  • General Medicine — plus allied: Psychiatry, Dermatology & STD, Radiodiagnosis, Respiratory Medicine (TB & Chest)
  • General Surgery — plus allied: Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Radiology
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics

02Exams this year

Exam Format Marks
Internal Assessment (×3–5) Per subject varies
Mid-Term / Pre-final (send-up) Mock university exam; gatekeeps eligibility (75% attendance + pass marks) varies
University Theory 2 papers per major subject 100 + 100
University Clinical/Practical Long Case + Short Case(s) + OSCE-style stations 100
Viva Voce Includes allied-subject viva within the major subject within practical marks
NExT Step 1 Theory + clinical, per NMC rollout — aligned with/replacing the final university exam per NExT format

03Suggested prep time

  • Per IA test: 3–5 days
  • Pre-final/send-up: 3–4 weeks, treated as a full dress rehearsal
  • University theory (per major subject): 5–6 weeks — Medicine and Surgery in particular reward starting revision 3 months out given the allied-subject load
  • Clinical exam (long/short case): 2–3 weeks of supervised bedside practice — history-taking speed and confident presentation matter as much as knowledge
  • NExT Step 1: 2–3 months of structured, integrated, case-based revision with mock tests

04Subjects → papers, marks, practicals & viva

Only 4 subjects carry separate papers this year — allied specialties are folded into the Medicine/Surgery viva rather than given their own papers:

Subject Theory papers Theory marks Clinical exam Clinical marks Viva voce Subject total
General Medicine 2 100+100=200 Long Case + Short Case 100 Incl. Psychiatry, Dermatology, Radiodiagnosis, Resp. Medicine viva 300
General Surgery 2 100+100=200 Long Case + Short Case 100 Incl. Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Radiology viva 300
Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2 100+100=200 Clinical cases 100 Embedded in clinical exam 300
Paediatrics 2 100+100=200 Clinical cases 100 Embedded in clinical exam 300
Total theory papers
8
Total clinical exams
4
Total viva sessions
4
Total marks, Year 4
1200
The 7 allied specialties (Psychiatry, Dermatology, Radiodiagnosis, Respiratory Medicine under Medicine; Orthopaedics, Anaesthesiology, Radiology under Surgery) don't get separate papers or marks columns — they're examined through extra viva questions inside Medicine's/Surgery's own practical session. NExT Step 1, where applicable, restructures this into an integrated theory + clinical format per NMC's rollout.

05Clinical postings this year

Postings Weekly load Nature
Full postings — Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics + allied (Orthopaedics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Radiodiagnosis, Anaesthesia, Respiratory Medicine) 30+ hrs/week Ward duty, case-taking, assisting procedures

06Textbooks for Year 4

General Medicine

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Association of Physicians of India API Textbook of Medicine Jaypee Brothers
S R Golwalla, Aspi F. Golwalla Golwalla's Medicine for Students National Book Depot

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Stuart H. Ralston et al. (eds.) Davidson's Principles & Practice of Medicine Elsevier
Loscalzo, Fauci, Kasper et al. (eds.) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine McGraw Hill
General Surgery

Indian

Author Book Publisher
S Das A Concise Textbook of Surgery Dr S Das (self-published)
Multiple authors Manipal Manual of Surgery CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Norman S. Williams et al. (eds.) Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery CRC Press
Townsend, Beauchamp, Evers, Mattox (eds.) Sabiston Textbook of Surgery Elsevier
Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
D C Dutta Textbook of Obstetrics Jaypee Brothers
D C Dutta Textbook of Gynecology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Cunningham, Leveno et al. Williams Obstetrics McGraw Hill
Handa & Van Le (eds.) Te Linde's Operative Gynecology Wolters Kluwer
Paediatrics

Indian

Author Book Publisher
O P Ghai (rev. Vinod K Paul, Arvind Bagga) Essential Pediatrics CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Kliegman, St. Geme et al. (eds.) Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Elsevier

07Apps for Year 4

Marrow
Web · Android · iOS
Clinical-subject video courses + NExT-aligned QBank.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
PrepLadder
Web · Android · iOS
Medicine/Surgery/OBG/Peds test series.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
NExT-aligned QBanks
Web · Android · iOS
MCQ practice matched to the NExT Step 1 pattern.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Anki
Android · iOS · Desktop
Drug doses, obstetric formulae, growth-chart landmarks.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Osmosis by Elsevier
Web · Android · iOS
Case-based concept videos across all four major subjects.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗

08Exam timetable — Year 4 (2026 batch, tentative)

Starts Teaching + postings Pre-final University / NExT Step 1 window Ends
~Sep 2029 Sep 2029 – Oct 2030 ~Nov 2030 Dec 2030 – Feb 2031 ~Feb 2031
Planning estimate only — see the Exam Timetable (2026 Batch) tab for the full 5-year table and its caveats.

09Study time calculator — Year 4 exams

CRMI

Year 5 — Internship

No university subject exams. This year is about hands-on competency, not recall.
Duration
12 mo
University exams
0
Exit exam
NExT-2
Format
Rotatory

01Rotatory postings

  • General Medicine
  • General Surgery
  • Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  • Paediatrics
  • Orthopaedics
  • Community Medicine (rural/urban health centre posting)
  • Casualty / Emergency Medicine
  • Anaesthesia
  • Electives (student's choice, within NMC-permitted list)

02Assessment

Component Format
Log book Continuous record of procedures, cases, and skills per posting
Posting-wise skill assessment Formative, supervised by the posting department
NExT Step 2 Skills/clinical-competency based licensing exam at the end of internship (rollout per NMC timeline)
NExT implementation has been phased in gradually by NMC — always confirm the current applicability for your batch via the official SRMIST/NMC circulars in the Sources tab.

03Full 12-month rotation split

Department Duration
Community Medicine (incl. 1 month rural PHC/CHC posting) 2 months
General Medicine (+ allied) 2 months
General Surgery (+ allied) 2 months
Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2 months
Paediatrics 1 month
Orthopaedics 1 month
Casualty / Emergency Medicine 15 days
Anaesthesiology 15 days
Elective (student's choice) 1 month

04Subjects → papers, marks, practicals & viva

Internship breaks the pattern followed in Years 1–4 — there are no University theory papers or marks-based practicals this year:

Component Count / format
University theory papers 0
University practical/clinical exams 0
Viva voce 0 formal — informal case discussions happen daily on rounds
NExT Step 2 Skill-station / OSCE-style competency exam, not a marks-paper format
Assessment shifts from "papers and marks" to "logged skills and supervised competency" — see the log-book and posting-wise assessment in the section above.

05Quick-reference books for internship

Indian

Author Book Publisher
CIMS (Current Index of Medical Specialities) — editorial team CIMS Drug Reference (updated periodically) CIMS Medica India
Multiple authors Manipal Manual of Surgery (quick bedside reference) CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Ian B. Wilkinson et al. (eds.) Oxford Handbook of Clinical Medicine Oxford University Press
Washington University Dept. of Medicine (eds.) The Washington Manual of Medical Therapeutics Wolters Kluwer

06Apps for internship

Medscape
Web · Android · iOS
Drug reference, disease reference, clinical calculators at the bedside.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
UpToDate
Web · Android · iOS
Point-of-care clinical decision support (institutional access needed).
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Epocrates
Android · iOS
Quick drug-interaction and dosing checks on rounds.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
NExT Step 2 QBanks (Marrow/PrepLadder)
Web · Android · iOS
Skills/competency-oriented practice for the exit exam.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗

07Timeline — Year 5 (2026 batch, tentative)

Starts Postings NExT Step 2 Ends
~Mar 2031 Rotatory, full year ~Jan – Feb 2032 ~Feb 2032
Planning estimate only — see the Exam Timetable (2026 Batch) tab for the full 5-year table and its caveats.

08Study time calculator — NExT Step 2 prep

Reference

Exam types & how long to prepare

The same six exam formats recur every professional year. Here's what each one is and a realistic prep-time budget.
Exam type What it is Suggested prep time
Internal Assessment / Class test Short written test on recently taught topics, several times a year 3–5 days
Mid-Term (Sessional) exam A more comprehensive internal, consolidating several months of teaching 2–3 weeks
Pre-final / Send-up exam Full mock university exam; attendance + marks eligibility gate to sit the real one 3–4 weeks
University Theory paper 2 papers × 100 marks per subject (FMT: 1 × 100) 4–6 weeks per subject
University Practical / Clinical exam Specimens/slides/spotters, experiments, or long & short clinical cases depending on subject 1–2 weeks focused practice
Viva Voce (oral) Conducted with the practical exam; tests applied & clinical-correlation understanding 3–5 days, plus ongoing mock vivas through the year
NExT Step 1 / Step 2 National licensing exam — theory+clinical (Step 1, final year) and skills (Step 2, post-internship) 2–3 months structured revision
Rule of thumb across all years: internals reward speed (a few focused days), university papers reward depth (weeks of layered revision), and practicals/vivas reward repetition (spotting the same specimen or case type dozens of times, not reading about it once).
Reference

Clinical postings duration matrix

Clinical exposure starts in Year 2 and escalates every year until it becomes full-time in the Internship. Hours/week and duration below follow the NMC CBME 2023 framework.
Postings begin
Year 2
Weekly load (Ph. II)
15 hrs
Full-time postings
Year 4–5
Internship rotations
9

01Year-wise clinical posting load

Year Postings Weekly load Nature
Year 1 None (early clinical exposure only, occasional ward visits tied to Anatomy/Physiology) minimal Orientation-only
Year 2 Introduction to Clinical Sciences — Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics (bedside basics: history-taking, examination) 15 hrs/week OPD + ward observation
Year 3 Community Medicine field posting (PHC/UHC), plus continuing Medicine/Surgery/OBG/Paeds, plus Ophthalmology & ENT postings 15–20 hrs/week Field + OPD + ward
Year 4 Full postings — Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics, plus allied (Orthopaedics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Radiodiagnosis, Anaesthesia, Respiratory Medicine) 30+ hrs/week Ward duty, case-taking, assisting procedures
Year 5 Full-time rotatory internship (see rotation table below) full-time Hands-on clinical responsibility under supervision

02Internship (CRMI) — 12-month rotation split

A commonly followed CRMI rotation split (durations can vary slightly by college/state):

Department Duration
Community Medicine (incl. 1 month rural PHC/CHC posting) 2 months
General Medicine (+ allied) 2 months
General Surgery (+ allied) 2 months
Obstetrics & Gynaecology 2 months
Paediatrics 1 month
Orthopaedics 1 month
Casualty / Emergency Medicine 15 days
Anaesthesiology 15 days
Elective (student's choice, NMC-permitted list) 1 month
Total = 12 months. Some colleges also carve short 15-day rotations for ENT and Ophthalmology out of the elective/casualty blocks — confirm your exact CRMI schedule with the Medical Education Unit at the start of internship.
Reference

Academic calendar — the annual cycle

Exact dates are re-published each admission year, but every professional year runs through the same eight-stage cycle.
Stage 1
Foundation / Orientation
1 week — Year 1 only
Stage 2
Teaching + postings
~9–10 months, every year
Stage 3
Internal Assessments
Every 6–8 weeks, 3–5 per subject
Stage 4
Mid-Term exam
1 week, mid-year
Stage 5
Pre-final / Send-up
1–2 weeks
Stage 6
University exam
Theory ~1–2 wks, then Practical/Viva ~1–2 wks
Stage 7
Results
Within the 10-week exam+results window
Stage 8
Vacation
~3 weeks, between professional years

§Published SRMIST academic calendars

SRMIST publishes a dated calendar for each admission batch. Use these as the authoritative source for your cohort's exact dates:

Links open SRMIST's own hosted PDFs. If a link has aged out, search "SRMIST medical program regulations" — the current page always relists the latest calendar.
Planning Estimate — Not Official

Tentative exam timetable — 2026 admission batch

NMC mandates that the First Professional year begin through the Foundation Course by 1 August each year. For a student admitted in 2026, that anchors Year 1 to 1 Aug 2026. The ranges below are a planning estimate built from standard CBME phase durations — not a notified calendar.
Year Phase Starts Teaching + postings Mid-term (approx.) Pre-final (approx.) University exam window (approx.) Ends
Year 1 First Professional 1 Aug 2026 Aug 2026 – Apr 2027 ~Jan 2027 ~May 2027 Jun – Jul 2027 ~Jul 2027
Year 2 Second Professional ~Aug 2027 Sep 2027 – May 2028 ~Feb 2028 ~Jun 2028 Jul – Sep 2028 ~Sep 2028
Year 3 Third Prof. – Part 1 ~Oct 2028 Oct 2028 – May 2029 ~Feb 2029 ~Jun 2029 Jul – Aug 2029 ~Aug 2029
Year 4 Third Prof. – Part 2 (Final) ~Sep 2029 Sep 2029 – Oct 2030 periodic ~Nov 2030 Dec 2030 – Feb 2031 (NExT Step 1) ~Feb 2031
Year 5 Internship (CRMI) ~Mar 2031 Rotatory postings, full year — — NExT Step 2 ~Jan – Feb 2032 ~Feb 2032
Why this is only an estimate: actual start dates, vacation lengths, and exam windows are notified year-to-year by SRMIST and NMC, and can shift by several weeks due to admission-cycle delays, NEET counselling schedules, or NMC calendar revisions. Treat this as a rough 5.5-year planning skeleton — check the Academic Calendar tab's official PDFs (or SRMIST's site directly) as your batch's calendar is published each year.
Reference

Rules & eligibility you need to know

The fine print that decides whether you can sit an exam at all, and what counts as a pass.

01Attendance

  • Minimum 75% attendance in theory and in clinical/practical training, per subject, to be eligible to appear for the university exam
  • Minimum 75% attendance in electives is separately required for eligibility
  • Attendance shortfall can mean detention/re-appearance in that subject the following year, regardless of internal-assessment marks

02Passing criteria

  • Minimum 50% aggregate in University Theory (average of both papers) required to pass a subject
  • Minimum 50% in Practical/Clinical exam including Viva Voce required, separately from theory
  • Both components must be individually cleared — high theory marks do not compensate for a failed practical/viva, or vice versa
  • Internal Assessment (IA) marks are primarily used to determine eligibility to appear for the university exam, and may also carry a small weightage toward final marks depending on the subject/regulation year

03Electives

  • Two blocks of 15 days each, one pre/para-clinical-oriented and one clinical-oriented, adjusted by the college within the final-year schedule
  • Topics include Research Methodology, AI & Computers in Health, Health Management, Health Economics, Indian Systems of Medicine, Medical/Clinical Photography, Global Health, Evidence-Based Medicine, and Art/Music in Medicine
  • 75% attendance in electives + submission of the elective log book is required for university-exam/NExT eligibility

04AETCOM & the Family Adoption Programme

  • AETCOM (Attitude, Ethics & Communication) is a longitudinal module — it runs across all four professional years, not just the Year 1 Foundation Course, covering empathy, informed consent, breaking bad news, and professionalism
  • Family Adoption Programme (FAP) — each student is assigned ~5 families from Phase I onward and follows them through the course as part of Community Medicine training, tracking health issues and referrals longitudinally

05Re-appearance & carrying forward

  • A candidate who fails the First Professional exam (incl. supplementary) joins the next academic year's batch — there is no separate supplementary batch
  • A candidate who fails Second Professional may proceed to Third Professional Part I training but cannot appear for its exam until Second Professional is cleared
  • Similar carry-forward logic applies between Third Professional Part I and Part II
  • Supplementary exams are conducted roughly one month after the regular exam, with results within 15 days
These are general CBME/NMC provisions — SRMIST's own regulation documents (linked in Official Sources) are the binding version for your batch.
Reference

Textbook library — every year, every subject

Standard Indian and foreign references used across NMC-recognised medical colleges. Confirm the exact edition prescribed with your department/library each year.
Anatomy

Indian

Author Book Publisher
B D Chaurasia Human Anatomy (Vol. 1–3) CBS Publishers, New Delhi
Inderbir Singh (rev. Pratap & Vinay Kapila) Human Histology Jaypee Brothers
Inderbir Singh (rev. Vishram Singh) Human Embryology Jaypee Brothers
Vishram Singh Textbook of Anatomy (4 vols.) Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Drake, Vogl, Mitchell Gray's Anatomy for Students Elsevier
Chummy S. Sinnatamby Last's Anatomy: Regional & Applied Elsevier
Richard S. Snell Snell's Clinical Anatomy by Regions Wolters Kluwer
Moore, Dalley, Agur Clinically Oriented Anatomy Wolters Kluwer
Physiology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Indu Khurana Textbook of Medical Physiology Elsevier India
A K Jain Textbook of Physiology (2 vols.) Avichal Publishing
G K Pal, Pravati Pal Textbook of Practical Physiology Universities Press

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
John E. Hall, Michael E. Hall Guyton & Hall Textbook of Medical Physiology Elsevier
Barrett, Barman, Brooks, Yuan Ganong's Review of Medical Physiology McGraw Hill
Biochemistry

Indian

Author Book Publisher
D M Vasudevan, Sreekumari S, Vaidyanathan Textbook of Biochemistry for Medical Students Jaypee Brothers
U Satyanarayana, U Chakrapani Essentials of Biochemistry Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Rodwell, Bender, Botham, Weil, Kennelly Harper's Illustrated Biochemistry McGraw Hill
Denise R. Ferrier Lippincott Illustrated Reviews: Biochemistry Wolters Kluwer
Nelson & Cox Lehninger Principles of Biochemistry W. H. Freeman / Macmillan
Pathology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Harsh Mohan Textbook of Pathology Jaypee Brothers
Harsh Mohan Practical Pathology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Kumar, Abbas, Aster Robbins Basic Pathology Elsevier
Kumar, Abbas, Aster Robbins & Cotran Pathologic Basis of Disease Elsevier
Pharmacology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
K D Tripathi Essentials of Medical Pharmacology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Bertram G. Katzung Basic & Clinical Pharmacology McGraw Hill
Brunton, Hilal-Dandan, Knollmann (eds.) Goodman & Gilman's Pharmacological Basis of Therapeutics McGraw Hill
H P Rang, J M Ritter et al. Rang & Dale's Pharmacology Elsevier
Microbiology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Ananthanarayan & Paniker Textbook of Microbiology Universities Press
C P Baveja Textbook of Microbiology Arya Publications

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Patrick R. Murray et al. Medical Microbiology Elsevier
Jawetz, Melnick & Adelberg Medical Microbiology McGraw Hill
Forensic Medicine & Toxicology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
K S Narayan Reddy The Essentials of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Jaypee Brothers
Krishan Vij Textbook of Forensic Medicine & Toxicology Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Jason Payne-James et al. (eds.) Simpson's Forensic Medicine CRC Press
Community Medicine (PSM)

Indian

Author Book Publisher
K Park Park's Textbook of Preventive & Social Medicine Bhanot Publishers
Sunder Lal, Adarsh, Pankaj Textbook of Community Medicine CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Roger Detels et al. (eds.) Oxford Textbook of Global Public Health Oxford University Press
Ophthalmology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
A K Khurana Comprehensive Ophthalmology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Brad Bowling Kanski's Clinical Ophthalmology Elsevier
ENT

Indian

Author Book Publisher
P L Dhingra Diseases of Ear, Nose & Throat Elsevier India

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
John C. Watkinson et al. (eds.) Scott-Brown's Otorhinolaryngology CRC Press
General Medicine

Indian

Author Book Publisher
Association of Physicians of India API Textbook of Medicine Jaypee Brothers
S R Golwalla, Aspi F. Golwalla Golwalla's Medicine for Students National Book Depot

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Stuart H. Ralston et al. (eds.) Davidson's Principles & Practice of Medicine Elsevier
Loscalzo, Fauci, Kasper et al. (eds.) Harrison's Principles of Internal Medicine McGraw Hill
General Surgery

Indian

Author Book Publisher
S Das A Concise Textbook of Surgery Dr S Das (self-published)
Multiple authors Manipal Manual of Surgery CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Norman S. Williams et al. (eds.) Bailey & Love's Short Practice of Surgery CRC Press
Townsend, Beauchamp, Evers, Mattox (eds.) Sabiston Textbook of Surgery Elsevier
Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Indian

Author Book Publisher
D C Dutta Textbook of Obstetrics Jaypee Brothers
D C Dutta Textbook of Gynecology Jaypee Brothers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Cunningham, Leveno et al. Williams Obstetrics McGraw Hill
Handa & Van Le (eds.) Te Linde's Operative Gynecology Wolters Kluwer
Paediatrics

Indian

Author Book Publisher
O P Ghai (rev. Vinod K Paul, Arvind Bagga) Essential Pediatrics CBS Publishers

Foreign

Author Book Publisher
Kliegman, St. Geme et al. (eds.) Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics Elsevier
Editions update every few years — always match the edition your department currently prescribes, since page/chapter references in guides and question banks are edition-specific.
Reference

Previous year question papers

Being upfront: SRMIST does not appear to publish a public online archive of past university question papers. Here's where they actually come from in practice.

01Where students actually get them

  • Department office / exam cell — many departments keep a physical file of recent papers available on request
  • Library reference section — often holds bound sets of previous years' papers for reference-only use
  • Seniors and class WhatsApp/Telegram groups — the most common real-world source; ask your SMP mentor to connect you with a senior batch representative
  • QBank apps — Marrow and PrepLadder both fold previous-year university/NExT-pattern questions into their question banks (see Apps & Tools)

02How to use them well

  • Use them to learn the pattern and recurring high-yield topics, not as a substitute for the syllabus
  • Attempt them timed, close to your pre-final/send-up exam — that's when they're most useful as a diagnostic
  • Cross-check the regulation year (2019 vs. 2023 CBME) — question patterns and blueprints changed between them
If your batch has an official repository we haven't listed, add it here — this page is meant to be filled in with your own department's actual practice once you know it.
Reference

Web & mobile apps for MBBS study

Tools students commonly use alongside textbooks — organised by what they're best for.
Marrow
Web · Android · iOS
Video lectures, QBank, and revision content spanning pre-clinical to clinical subjects.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
PrepLadder
Web · Android · iOS
Subject-wise video courses, notes, and test series across all MBBS years.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Complete Anatomy (3D4Medical)
Web · iOS · Android · Desktop
Interactive 3D human body model — dissection layers, muscle actions, quizzes.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Kenhub
Web · Android · iOS
Anatomy atlas, quizzes, and short tutorials — strong fit for Year 1.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Human Anatomy Atlas (Visible Body)
Android · iOS · Web
3D anatomy atlas with animated physiological processes.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Osmosis by Elsevier
Web · Android · iOS
Short concept videos and flashcards from pre-clinical through clinical subjects.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Sketchy Medical
Web · Android · iOS
Visual mnemonic-based learning — strongest for Microbiology and Pharmacology.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Lecturio
Web · Android · iOS
Structured video courses mapped closely to standard textbooks.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Anki / AnkiDroid / AnkiMobile
Android · iOS · Desktop
Spaced-repetition flashcards — widely used for Pharmacology, Microbiology, Pathology recall.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
NExT-aligned QBanks (Marrow/PrepLadder)
Web · Android · iOS
MCQ practice matched to the NExT pattern — useful from Year 3 onward.
Play Store ↗  ·  App Store ↗
Tool · Approximate Guide

MBBS study time & exam prep calculator

Enter your exam and how much time you have — this gives a rough day-by-day split, not a guarantee. Adjust it to your own pace.
Field What to enter
Exam type Sets the default coverage/revision/practice ratio
Exam date Used to count down the days you actually have
Number of subjects Splits your available days across subjects evenly
Study hours/day Your realistic, sustainable daily hours — not your best-case day
This is a rough planning heuristic (coverage / revision / practice ratios drawn from the prep-time guidance elsewhere in this guide) — it does not account for your existing command of the subject, so recalibrate as you go.
Campus & Culture

Contacts & helplines

Numbers worth saving in your phone before you need them, not after.

01SRM Medical College — official contacts

Contact Detail
Head Office No. 3 Veerasamy Street, Mambalam, Chennai, Tamil Nadu 600033
SRM Medical College Hospital & Research Centre SRM Nagar, Potheri, Chengalpattu, Tamil Nadu 603203
Phone 7418907444 · 7418905444 · 9791938654
Email (Dean's Office) dean.medical.ktr@srmist.edu.in
Office hours Mon – Fri, 9:00 AM – 5:00 PM

02Grievance & safety

03National helplines

Helpline Number
UGC Anti-Ragging Helpline (24×7, toll-free) 1800-180-5522
Anti-ragging email helpline@antiragging.in
National ambulance/emergency 108
Women's helpline 1091
Tele-MANAS (national mental health helpline) 14416 / 1-800-891-4416
Save these before orientation week — not something you want to be searching for in the moment you need them.
Campus & Culture

Campus & hostel life

The everyday-life side of the campus, linked straight to SRMIST's own pages.
Specifics (mess menus, hostel fee, curfew timings) change year to year — these links always point to SRMIST's current version rather than a snapshot that could go stale here.
Campus & Culture

Skill lab & simulation-based learning

CBME leans heavily on simulation before — and alongside — real patient contact.

01What it covers

  • Basic & Advanced Life Support (BLS/ALS) drills on mannequins
  • Part-task trainers for procedures — IV cannulation, catheterisation, suturing, airway management
  • Simulated deliveries and emergency obstetric drills ahead of OBG postings
  • OSCE-style stations — increasingly used in university practicals, not just teaching
  • Communication-skill simulations (breaking bad news, informed consent) tied to the AETCOM module

02SRMIST's facility

Simulation sessions are usually scheduled ahead of the clinical posting they support — e.g., a BLS session before your first Casualty rotation. Check your posting calendar for exact timing.
Campus & Culture

Dress code & the White Coat Ceremony

What's expected, and what the ceremony actually marks.

01Dress code essentials

  • Formal/semi-formal attire on campus; white coat mandatory in the dissection hall, labs, and hospital wards
  • ID card worn visibly at all times on campus and in hospital areas
  • Closed footwear required in the dissection hall and clinical areas, for safety
  • Hair tied back and minimal jewellery in lab/clinical settings, for hygiene and safety around instruments
  • Full-sleeve apron/white coat from your very first Anatomy dissection session

02The White Coat Ceremony

A symbolic ceremony marking your transition into the medical profession — typically held early in Year 1, during or right after the Foundation Course. It usually involves a formal oath or pledge (often a modified Hippocratic Oath or the Declaration of Geneva), presided over by faculty and the Dean, followed by the formal donning of the white coat.

Exact date and format are set by SRMIST each academic year and announced during Foundation Course orientation.
Beyond MBBS

Career pathways after MBBS

A detailed map of what's next once the internship year ends — worth knowing early, even if it's years away. Covers the clinical PG route, alternatives to it, government/uniformed services, non-clinical careers, and practising abroad.
Main entrance exam
NEET-PG
AIQ share
50%
State quota share
50%
MD/MS duration
3 yrs

01Timeline — when to actually start thinking about this

  • Years 1–3: Nothing to do here yet — focus on foundations. Broad subject exposure during these years quietly shapes which specialities you'll later gravitate toward.
  • Year 4 (Final year): Clinical postings give you real exposure to Medicine, Surgery, OBG, and Paediatrics — pay attention to what you enjoy on the wards, not just what scores well.
  • Internship (Year 5): This is when serious NEET-PG preparation typically begins — most students study during internship postings using QBanks and revision series (see Apps & Tools).
  • Post-internship: NEET-PG is usually held a few months after internship completion; counselling and admission follow over the subsequent months.

02NEET-PG — the exam itself

Aspect Detail
Eligibility MBBS degree + completed (or soon-to-complete) internship, provisional/permanent registration with NMC or a State Medical Council
Format Single-best-answer MCQs, computer-based test, negative marking for wrong answers
Syllabus All 19 MBBS subjects, weighted toward the major clinical subjects (Medicine, Surgery, OBG, Paediatrics) and high-yield pre/para-clinical topics
Score validity Used for that year's admission cycle — you re-attempt in a later year if you want to try again with a fresh score
Attempts No fixed cap historically, but rules are revised periodically — check the current NBEMS/NMC notification for your year

03Counselling — how seats actually get allocated

Quota Share Counselled by
All India Quota (AIQ) 15% of state govt. UG seats feed AIQ; ~50% of PG seats nationally Medical Counselling Committee (MCC)
State Quota Remaining ~50% of PG seats Respective state counselling authority
Private/Deemed university seats Institution-specific, often costlier Either state or a private consortium, depending on the state
NRI quota A small share in many private/deemed colleges Institution-specific
  • Counselling runs in multiple rounds — Round 1, Round 2, Mop-Up round, and a Stray Vacancy round for whatever remains unfilled
  • Seat allotment depends on your NEET-PG rank, category, domicile (for state quota), and choices filled during counselling
  • Once you accept and join a seat, exiting to try for a better one in a later round usually has consequences (bond forfeiture, fee loss) — read your state's counselling rules carefully before locking a choice

04MD/MS specialities — the clinical PG route

Broad group Common specialities
Major clinical (MD) General Medicine, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine, Radiotherapy
Major clinical (MS) General Surgery, Orthopaedics, ENT, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Diagnostic/support (MD) Radiodiagnosis, Pathology, Microbiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, Anaesthesiology
Public health/legal (MD) Community Medicine (PSM), Forensic Medicine
"Competitiveness" (the NEET-PG rank needed) shifts year to year and by state, but Radiodiagnosis, Dermatology, General Medicine, and General Surgery are consistently among the higher-demand branches — factor in genuine interest and work-life expectations, not just cutoff rank.

05Alternatives to the classic MD/MS route

Route What it is
DNB (Diplomate of National Board) Hospital-based PG training conducted by the National Board of Examinations (NBEMS), equivalent standing to MD/MS, entered via NEET-PG (CET) too — often available in accredited private/corporate hospitals when university seats are full
PG Diploma courses Shorter (2-year) diploma qualifications in select specialities — being phased out or converted to DNB/MD in several states, so availability varies
DM / M.Ch (Super-speciality) 3-year super-speciality training after completing MD/MS in the relevant parent subject, entered via NEET-SS (Super-Speciality)
Fellowships Shorter (6 month–2 year) focused training in a sub-area, often after MD/MS, offered by professional bodies or specific institutes — not a replacement for DM/MCh but adds a niche skill

06Government & uniformed services

Route What it involves
State Medical Officer Direct recruitment or via State Public Service Commission exams into state health department postings
UPSC Combined Medical Services (CMS) Central government medical officer posts across Railways, Municipal Corporation of Delhi, and central health services
Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) Commissioned medical officer roles in the Army/Navy/Air Force — Short Service Commission or Permanent Commission entry
Territorial Army (Medical) Part-time uniformed medical service alongside civilian practice
ESIC / Railways / PSU hospitals Medical officer postings in public-sector undertakings and their hospital networks

07Non-clinical & alternative careers

Path What it involves
Public health (MPH) Master of Public Health at institutes like PGIMER, AIIMS, or TISS — policy, epidemiology, and health-systems focused
Healthcare/hospital administration (MHA) Hospital operations, management, and administration roles
Medical writing & pharmacovigilance Regulatory documentation, drug-safety monitoring, scientific content for pharma/biotech companies
Clinical research Roles in CROs (Contract Research Organisations) coordinating and monitoring clinical trials
Health-tech & entrepreneurship Building or joining health-tech/biotech startups, medical AI ventures
Health policy & NGO work Roles with WHO, UNICEF, or health-focused NGOs, often built on an MPH or field experience
Medical journalism & communication Science/health journalism, patient-education content, medical communications agencies
Insurance & medico-legal roles Medical examiner/claims-assessment roles with insurance companies

08Practising abroad — licensing exam by country

Country Licensing route Typical shape
USA USMLE (Step 1, Step 2 CK, Step 3) + ECFMG certification Match into residency via NRMP; multi-year process, often started during or right after MBBS
UK PLAB 1 & PLAB 2, or MRCP/MRCS route GMC registration on passing; PLAB 2 is a practical/clinical exam
Australia AMC Part 1 (MCQ) & Part 2 (clinical exam) Standard pathway; specialist-recognition pathway exists for those already holding a PG qualification
Canada MCCQE Part 1 & Part 2, plus NAC exam Match into Canadian residency; broadly similar in spirit to the US route
Middle East (UAE, Saudi, Qatar) DHA (Dubai), MOHAP, Prometric/SCFHS (Saudi) licensing exams Generally the fastest route to practising abroad for Indian MBBS graduates, especially with some PG or work experience
Germany Approbation (medical licence) + Fachsprachprüfung (medical German language exam) Requires strong German proficiency; degree recognition process on top of the language exam
FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Examination) does not apply to you — that's only for Indian students who studied MBBS abroad and want to practise in India. Going the other direction (India-trained doctor practising abroad) always means clearing that destination country's own licensing exam.

09Research & academia

  • ICMR-JRF (Junior Research Fellowship) — a route into funded biomedical research straight after MBBS
  • PhD after MD/MS — common for those aiming at full-time academic/research careers
  • Teaching faculty positions — require a PG degree (MD/MS minimum) plus, increasingly, a publication record
  • Fellowship & grant-funded research — national (ICMR, DBT) and international (Wellcome Trust, NIH-funded collaborations) options exist for clinically-trained researchers

10Choosing a speciality — factors worth weighing

  • Genuine interest — the specialities with the best long-term satisfaction data are consistently the ones people picked because they enjoyed the actual day-to-day work, not the cutoff rank
  • Competitive cutoff vs. availability — a broader net of acceptable specialities gives you more counselling flexibility than fixating on one high-demand branch
  • Work-life balance expectations — call schedules, emergency exposure, and procedure-heavy vs. OPD-heavy work differ hugely by speciality
  • Further scope — whether the speciality has a clear DM/MCh super-speciality path, if that's part of your longer-term plan
  • Geographic flexibility — some specialities (Radiodiagnosis, Pathology, Anaesthesiology) translate more easily to varied practice settings than others
This isn't a ranking of "best" specialities — it's a reminder that the right choice is the one that fits how you actually want to practise medicine, which usually only becomes clear through real clinical exposure in Years 4–5.
Student Support

Student wellbeing

Medical school's workload and pressure are well documented — this is about managing that reality, not toughing it out silently.

01What actually helps, practically

  • Protect sleep during exam weeks — cramming that costs you a full night rarely nets out ahead
  • Build a study group or find one or two people you check in with regularly — isolation makes the workload feel heavier than it is
  • Use your SMP mentor early, not just when something's already gone wrong — that relationship exists for exactly this
  • Notice early warning signs in yourself — persistent exhaustion, dread about specific subjects, withdrawing from friends — and act on them early rather than waiting for a crisis point

02Support & helplines

Resource Contact
Tele-MANAS (Govt. of India national mental health helpline, 24×7) 14416 or 1-800-891-4416
iCall (TISS psychosocial helpline) 9152987821
Vandrevala Foundation Helpline 1860-2662-345 / 1800-2333-330
Your SMP mentor / faculty advisor First point of contact within college
If you're finding a particular period genuinely difficult, reaching out to one of these or to a trusted person in your life is worth doing sooner rather than later — this section is informational, not a substitute for that conversation.
Student Support

FAQ & myths vs facts

Questions every new joinee asks in the first month, answered plainly.
Do I need to buy every textbook on the list?

No. Pick one primary Indian text and one foreign reference per subject; borrow or share the rest with classmates or the library. Buying everything upfront is expensive and mostly unnecessary.

Which edition should I buy?

Whichever edition your department currently prescribes — ask at orientation or check with seniors before buying, since page/chapter references in guides and question banks are edition-specific.

Is coaching necessary alongside college?

Not in Years 1–3. Most students start leaning on QBank/video-lecture apps (Marrow, PrepLadder, etc.) from Year 3–4 onward as NExT prep ramps up — see Apps & Tools.

Will I fail if I miss a few classes?

Attendance below 75% blocks your eligibility to sit the university exam in that subject, regardless of how good your marks are — it's a hard cutoff, not a formality. See Rules & Eligibility.

Is ragging tolerated in any form?

No — it's strictly prohibited under UGC/NMC regulations. Report it through the Anti-Ragging Cell or the 24×7 national helpline in Contacts & Helplines.

Do I need to buy my own dissection kit/cadaver?

Cadavers and shared dissection specimens are provided by the department. Personal instrument sets are usually bought locally, as advised by the Anatomy department in week one — don't buy one before you're told what's actually needed.

Can I skip the Foundation Course?

No — it's mandatory, and attendance is linked to eligibility just like any other subject, even though it isn't itself examined.

Reference

Official sources

Primary documents this guide is built on. When in doubt, these override anything summarised here.

§SRMIST regulations & syllabus

§National Medical Commission (NMC)

NMC periodically revises timelines (e.g. NExT rollout, academic calendar start dates) — always check nmc.org.in for the latest notification for your admission year.