NBE Releases Seat Matrix and Counselling Schedule for DNB Post Diploma Admissions 2026
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has officially released the indicative seat matrix and schedule for the Online Centralized Merit-Based Counselling for Post Diploma DNB courses for the 2026 admission session. This critical document provides aspirants with a comprehensive overview of speciality-wise seat availability across accredited participating hospitals nationwide.
Key Registration Details and Fee Structure
The entire counselling process will be conducted online through the official portal (counseling.nbe.edu.in). Candidates must note that registration is a one-time process; no new registrations will be permitted once the initial window closes.
To complete the registration, candidates are required to pay a non-refundable counselling registration fee of ₹2,500. Furthermore, a mandatory first-year course fee of ₹1,25,000 must be deposited during this initial registration to successfully participate in choice filling and seat allotment.
Counselling Schedule for 2026 Admission Session
Below is the official timeline for the first two rounds of counselling. Further rounds will strictly depend on the number of vacant seats remaining after the second round
| Sr. No. | Counseling Process | First Round | Second Round |
|---|---|---|---|
| i. | Registration for Counseling | 2nd to 6th July, 2026 (till 1700 hrs.) | No New Registration |
| ii. | Filling of options/ choices from available seats | 2nd to 6th July, 2026 (till 1700 hrs.) | 21st to 23rd July, 2026 (till 1700 hrs.) |
| iii. | Mandatory payment of the first year course fee to complete registration for counseling | 2nd to 6th July, 2026 (till 1700 hrs.) | No fresh payment of course fee |
| iv. | Processing of Allotment | 7th to 8th July, 2026 | 24th to 25th July, 2026 |
| v. | Result of Allotment | 9th July, 2026 | 27th July, 2026 |
| vi. | Physical Joining at the allotted hospital | 9th to 15th July, 2026 (till 1700 hrs.) | 27th July to 3rd August, 2026 (till 1700 hrs.) |
Speciality-Wise Seat Matrix Highlights
The seat matrix is an essential tool for candidates to frame a strategic preference list during choice filling. Highly sought-after specialities like Anaesthesiology and Paediatrics boast the highest overall seat counts this year.
Here is the breakdown of the total available seats across major specialities:
| Speciality | Total |
|---|---|
| Anaesthesiology | 591 |
| Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy | 15 |
| Emergency Medicine | 104 |
| Family Medicine | 49 |
| Nuclear Medicine | 10 |
| Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 304 |
| Ophthalmology | 229 |
| Orthopaedics | 239 |
| Otorhinolaryngology (ENT) | 59 |
| Paediatrics | 391 |
| Pathology | 72 |
| Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation | 3 |
| Psychiatry | 18 |
| Radiation Oncology | 51 |
| Radio Diagnosis | 272 |
| Respiratory Medicine | 95 |
| Total | 2502 |
State-Wise Distribution Trends
Southern states continue to dominate the seat distribution. Tamil Nadu holds the highest number of available seats with 286, followed closely by Telangana offering 201 seats. Uttar Pradesh (134 seats) and West Bengal (126 seats) also offer substantial opportunities for aspirants in the northern and eastern regions respectively.
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The release of the seat matrix is the true starting gun for the DNB-PDCET counselling race. The steep mandatory deposit of ₹1.25 lakh upfront requires candidates to be absolutely certain about their participation and choice filling strategies. With over 591 seats in Anaesthesiology alone, the opportunities are vast, but candidates must meticulously analyze the hospital-wise distribution. Don’t just chase the speciality; scrutinize the training infrastructure and patient load of the allotted institution to ensure it aligns perfectly with your long-term clinical career goals.
