The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences has released the tentative schedule of examinations for various medical courses to be held from January to June 2026, providing early clarity for medical aspirants and professionals planning their preparation. The notification was published on December 29, 2025 on the NBEMS official website and outlines dates for key postgraduate and licensing assessments that are critical for admissions and certification across India.
By announcing the tentative dates well in advance, NBEMS aims to help candidates organise study plans, manage registrations and make logistical arrangements ahead of the exam year.
The timetable offers a roadmap that includes multiple specialty and super-specialty examinations and is expected to bring predictability and transparency to the medical exam calendar.
The exams and their tentative dates are:
• NBEMS Diploma Final Examination (December 2025 session): January 6, 7 and 8, 2026 (afternoon sessions)
• Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) December 2025 session: January 17, 2026 (Paper I morning, Paper II afternoon)
• Fellowship Entrance Test (FDST) – MDS 2025: February 21, 2026 (Paper I morning, Paper II afternoon)
• FDST – BDS 2025: March 1, 2026 (Paper I morning, Paper II afternoon)
• Graduate Pharmacy Aptitude Test (GPAT) 2026: March 7, 2026 (morning)
• Fellowship Entrance Test (FET) 2026: March 14, 2026 (morning)
• Post Diploma Centralized Entrance Test (PDCET) 2026: April 12, 2026 (morning)
• DrNB Final Examination (April 2026 session): April 24, 25 and 26, 2026 (afternoon sessions)
• NBEMS Diploma Final Examination (June 2026 session): May 14, 15 and 16, 2026 (morning sessions)
• DNB Final Examination (June 2026 session): June 18, 19, 20 and 21, 2026 (afternoon sessions)
• FMGE June 2026 session: June 28, 2026 (Paper I morning, Paper II afternoon)
Candidates preparing for these tests, which form gateways to postgraduate, specialist and licensing pathways in medicine, are advised to monitor official updates on the NBEMS website as final dates and details are confirmed closer to the examination periods.
