NBEMS Extends NOC Deadline for Sponsored DNB Seats 2026

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has reiterated the importance of the recent compliance window for in-service doctors seeking admission to postgraduate courses. In an official update, the board confirmed that the extension for submitting the No Objection Certificate (NOC) remained active through the past week, concluding on February 7, 2026. This move follows the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare’s decision to reduce the qualifying percentile for NEET PG 2025, effectively widening the pool of eligible in-service candidates for the 2025-26 admission cycle.

Extended Timeline for Administrative Documentation

The deadline extension was specifically designed to accommodate medical officers who became eligible only after the revised qualifying criteria were announced. According to the Official NBEMS Notice, the board provided this additional time to ensure that no sponsored seat remains vacant due to administrative delays in state health departments. Candidates were required to upload their documents via the NBEMS Communication Web Portal (CWP) to meet the revised compliance standards.

• Only regular in-service doctors working in Government, PSUs, or Autonomous bodies are eligible for these sponsored DNB slots.
• The NOC must strictly follow the format prescribed by the NBEMS in its December 10, 2025, notification.
• Failure to meet the February 7 deadline results in automatic disqualification from the centralized merit-based counseling for these specific seats.

Impact of Reduced Percentile on Seat Matrix

The reduction in the NEET PG qualifying marks has fundamentally changed the landscape for this year's sponsored DNB admissions. By shifting the deadline, the NBEMS has allowed hundreds of additional specialists to apply for advanced training. As per the latest NBEMS Seat Matrix, there are approximately 241 sponsored Broad Specialty seats available nationwide. Ensuring compliance with the documentation process is the final hurdle for these candidates before the seat allotment begins.

• Eligibility Scrutiny: The parent organization must undertake the responsibility of paying the candidate's salary during the training period.
• Format Adherence: NBEMS has clarified that documents sent via email or physical post will not be accepted for the deadline check.
• Merit List Updates: The Board is currently integrating the new applicants into the centralized merit list based on their NEET PG 2025 scores.

Coordination with State Health Departments

The in-service quota requires seamless coordination between the NBEMS and various state cadre controlling authorities. Since the sponsored candidates must return to their parent departments after completing their DNB, the compliance process involves verifying long-term service bonds. The deadline of February 7 was established to give these departments sufficient time to process the "Study Leave" and "No Objection" paperwork for their medical staff. This ensures that the qualifying doctors can transition smoothly into their residency programs without legal or administrative friction.

Conclusion

As of February 9, the submission portal has closed, marking the end of the deadline extension. The NBEMS is now entering the data-processing phase to finalize the list of candidates for the sponsored DNB counseling. For those who met the compliance requirements, the next step involves the release of the seat allotment schedule. This initiative remains a cornerstone for strengthening the secondary and tertiary healthcare workforce by allowing in-service professionals to gain qualifying expertise in high-demand medical specialties.

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