The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has extended the deadline for submitting the No Objection Certificate (NOC) for candidates seeking admission to Sponsored Diplomate of National Board (DNB)seats in the 2025 admission session. The move comes after recent changes to the NEET-PG qualifying criteria that aimed to make more candidates eligible for counselling.
Revised Deadline for NOC Submission
NBEMS has announced that eligible candidates for the Sponsored DNB (Post MBBS and Post Diploma) seats can now submit their NOC in the prescribed format until 7 February 2026. This revised timeline gives candidates additional time to complete documentation required for participation in the Centralised Merit-Based Online Counselling process.
The extension is linked to directions from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India, which reduced the NEET-PG minimum qualifying percentile specifically for the NEET-PG 2025 cycle. The objective of lowering the cut-off was to increase the pool of eligible candidates and prevent vacancies in key medical training positions.
No Change in Eligibility Criteria or NOC Format
NBEMS has clarified that while the deadline for submission has been extended, there are no changes to the eligibility criteria or the format of the NOC. Candidates must ensure that the NOC is obtained from the competent authority and submitted strictly in accordance with the format prescribed in the earlier notice issued on 10 December 2025.
All other instructions regarding counselling participation remain unchanged, and applicants are advised to follow the original guidelines as issued by NBEMS. Failure to adhere to the prescribed format or timely submission may result in disqualification from the counselling process.
Advisory for Candidates
NBEMS has urged applicants to carefully verify their eligibility and retain copies of all submitted documents. Regular monitoring of the official NBEMS website is recommended for any future announcements relating to the counselling process and admission logistics.
The extension is expected to benefit medical graduates applying for Sponsored DNB seats who might otherwise have missed the earlier window due to adjustments in eligibility arising from the NEET-PG cut-off reduction.