The NBEMS Fellowship Entrance Test (FET) 2026 is the national-level entrance exam for admission to various Post-Doctoral FNB (Fellow of National Board) and FNB-PD sub-specialty courses in India.
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has officially released the notification and application schedule for the 2025-26 session.
If you are aiming for an FNB (Fellow of National Board) or FNB-PD seat, the FET 2026 is your gateway. It’s a high-stakes exam, but the good news is that it’s very focused on your specific specialty. Most people are currently asking about the admit card and the exact shift timings. In this post, I’ll clear up the timeline so you can focus on your prep instead of refreshing the NBEMS website.
Important Dates
The application process for the 2025-26 session finished in early February. Here is the schedule for what’s coming next:
| Event | Date |
| Final Edit Window (Images) | February 17 – 19, 2026 |
| Test City Intimation | February 26, 2026 (Check today!) |
| Admit Card Release | March 10, 2026 |
| FET 2026 Exam Date | March 14, 2026 (Saturday) |
| Declaration of Result | By April 14, 2026 |
Eligibility: Are you qualified?
To sit for FET 2026, you must meet these basic criteria:
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Degree: You need a recognized PG degree (MD/MS/DNB) or Post-Doctoral degree (DM/MCh/DrNB).
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Cut-off Date: You must have passed your qualifying degree on or before December 31, 2025. If your results came in January 2026, unfortunately, you’ll have to wait for the next cycle.
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Registration: Valid registration with the NMC or State Medical Council is mandatory. Keep your certificate ready for the exam day!
Exam Pattern: What to expect?
The FET is a Computer Based Test (CBT) and it’s quite fast-paced.
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Total Questions: 100 MCQs.
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Time: 105 minutes (1 hour 45 minutes).
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Timing: 09:00 AM to 10:45 AM.
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Marking: +4 for correct answers and -1 for wrong ones (yes, there is negative marking, so don’t guess blindly!).
Stipend & Benefits
Pursuing an FNB is hard work, but the financial support is decent.
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Monthly Stipend: Usually ranges between ₹1 Lakh to ₹1.25 Lakh, though this depends on whether you are in a government or private accredited hospital.
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FNB Degree: After 2 years of training and passing the exit exam, you get the “Fellow of National Board” qualification, which is highly respected in the industry.
How to Download Your Admit Card
Once March 10 rolls around, follow these steps:
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Go to the official portal: natboard.edu.in.
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Click on the FET 2025-26 link.
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Login using your User ID and Password.
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Download the PDF and check your photo/details. If there’s a mistake, contact the NBEMS helpdesk immediately.
Common Problems & Tips
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Test City Intimation: NBEMS usually tells you the city first (around Feb 26) so you can book your travel. The exact center name will only be on the admit card.
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Document at Center: You MUST carry a printed copy of your admit card with a photo pasted on it, plus your original Aadhaar/Voter ID. Digital copies on phone won’t work!
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Server Issues: On result day (April 14), the site usually crashes. Just wait a few hours; the merit list isn’t going anywhere.