Odisha has received a significant boost to postgraduate medical education with the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) approving 11 Post-Diploma DNB seats across three government medical colleges in the state. The newly approved seats cover five key clinical specialities and are expected to expand specialist training opportunities for doctors while strengthening healthcare services beyond major urban hospitals. Candidates and doctors can follow official DNB-related notices through the NBEMS official website.
The approval covers Sri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital, Puri; Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Balangir; and Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput. Of the total 11 seats, five have been earmarked for doctors serving in Odisha, while six are available under the All India Quota.
Table of Contents
Odisha Post-Diploma DNB Seats 2026
| Particular | Details |
|---|---|
| Programme | Post-Diploma DNB |
| Approving body | National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) |
| State | Odisha |
| Total newly approved seats | 11 |
| Government medical colleges covered | 3 |
| Number of specialities | 5 |
| Seats for doctors serving in Odisha | 5 |
| All India Quota seats | 6 |
| Course duration | 2 years for eligible Post-Diploma candidates |
| Admission authority | NBEMS through centralised merit-based counselling |
The development is particularly important because the additional seats have been sanctioned in specialities directly linked with maternal and child healthcare, respiratory disease management, eye care, surgical support and critical-care services.
Which Odisha Government Medical Colleges Have Received DNB Approval?
The 11 approved Post-Diploma DNB seats have been distributed across three state-run medical colleges.
Sri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital, Puri
Sri Jagannath Medical College and Hospital in Puri is among Odisha’s relatively newer government medical colleges. Its inclusion in the Post-Diploma DNB expansion will help the institution strengthen postgraduate specialist training alongside undergraduate medical education.
Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital, Balangir
Bhima Bhoi Medical College and Hospital serves western Odisha and already participates in NBEMS-linked medical training. The official NBEMS first-round Post-Diploma DNB counselling allotment for the 2026 admission session, for instance, includes the Anaesthesiology institution.
Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital, Koraput
Saheed Laxman Nayak Medical College and Hospital in Koraput serves a large population in southern Odisha, including geographically challenging and tribal-dominated areas. Expanding specialist training capacity at the institution could help increase the availability of trained specialists in the region.
The three institutions are recognised as government medical colleges in Odisha. NMC records also identify these institutions as government-run medical colleges in the state.
Five Specialities Covered Under the New Approval
The approved Post-Diploma DNB seats cover the following five broad specialities:
- Paediatrics
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Ophthalmology
- Tuberculosis and Chest Diseases (TB & CD)
- Anaesthesiology
These disciplines are among the specialities in which NBEMS permits Post-Diploma DNB training. Candidates can check the broader list and programme information on the NBEMS DNB Broad Speciality page.
Why These Five Specialities Matter
Each of the approved disciplines addresses an important component of secondary and tertiary healthcare.
| Speciality | Major Healthcare Role |
|---|---|
| Paediatrics | Diagnosis and treatment of illnesses in infants and children |
| Obstetrics & Gynaecology | Maternal healthcare, pregnancy management and women’s reproductive health |
| Ophthalmology | Diagnosis, treatment and surgery for eye disorders |
| TB & Chest Diseases | Treatment of tuberculosis, respiratory disorders and pulmonary diseases |
| Anaesthesiology | Anaesthesia, perioperative care, pain management and critical-care support |
College-Wise Seat Break-Up
The announcement confirms 11 seats across the three colleges and five specialities. However, the information publicly reported with approval does not provide a complete speciality- and institution-wise breakdown of all 11 seats.
Therefore, candidates should rely on the relevant NBEMS counselling seat matrix for the final institute-speciality combination, rather than assuming an equal distribution across the three medical colleges.
Five Seats Earmarked for Odisha Doctors, Six Under All India Quota
One of the most important features of the approval is how the 11 seats are divided.
| Seat Category | Number of Seats |
|---|---|
| Doctors serving in Odisha | 5 |
| All India Quota | 6 |
| Total | 11 |
The five seats earmarked for doctors serving in Odisha are expected to create additional opportunities for doctors serving in Odisha to acquire specialist qualifications without forcing the state to depend entirely on specialists trained elsewhere.
The remaining six seats are under the All India Quota, opening these programmes to eligible candidates through the national NBEMS counselling mechanism.
What Is a Post-Diploma DNB Course?
The Diplomate of National Board or DNB is a postgraduate medical qualification administered by NBEMS.
For doctors who have already completed an eligible recognised postgraduate diploma in a particular speciality, NBEMS provides a two-year Post-Diploma DNB programme in the corresponding speciality. This differs from the regular Post-MBBS DNB route, which generally involves three years of training.
Post-Diploma DNB vs Post-MBBS DNB
| Feature | Post-Diploma DNB | Post-MBBS DNB |
|---|---|---|
| Entry qualification | Recognised PG Diploma in corresponding speciality | MBBS and applicable entrance eligibility |
| Usual duration | 2 years | 3 years |
| Purpose | Higher specialist training after a diploma | Full postgraduate speciality training after MBBS |
| Conducting authority | NBEMS | NBEMS |
| Training institution | NBEMS-accredited hospital/medical institution | NBEMS-accredited hospital/medical institution |
NBEMS currently administers DNB Broad Speciality programmes across a wide range of disciplines, while the two-year Post-Diploma pathway is available only in specified eligible specialities.
Odisha DNB Seats Could Strengthen Specialist Healthcare Outside Major Cities
The larger significance of the approval lies in where these seats have been created.
Puri, Balangir and Koraput represent three different regions of Odisha. Developing specialist training programmes at government medical colleges outside the state’s largest tertiary-care centres can gradually improve the distribution of specialist doctors.
Odisha Health and Family Welfare Minister Mukesh Mahaling has said that expanding medical training opportunities can help increase the availability of Post-Diploma DNB specialists at healthcare facilities such as Primary Health Centres (PHCs), Community Health Centres (CHCs), and Sub-Divisional Hospitals.
Potential Benefits for Odisha’s Health System
The new seats could contribute to:
- increasing the number of specialist doctors trained within Odisha;
- creating additional postgraduate opportunities for serving doctors;
- strengthening specialist services in district and sub-district healthcare facilities;
- improving access to maternal, child, respiratory and eye healthcare;
- strengthening anaesthesia and perioperative services required for surgical care; and
- reducing pressure on larger tertiary-care hospitals by building specialist capacity in other regions.
The effect will depend on successful admission, completion of training and subsequent deployment of specialists within the public healthcare network.
NBEMS Post-Diploma DNB Counselling 2026: Final Mop-Up Round Begins August 21
The Odisha approval comes at an important stage of the Post-Diploma DNB 2026 admission process.
NBEMS issued a notice dated August 11, 2026, announcing the final mop-up round of online centralised merit-based counselling. Eligible candidates may submit their choices from August 21 to August 24, 2026, by 5 PM.
The official schedule can be checked through the NBEMS Final Mop-Up Counselling Notice.
Post-Diploma DNB 2026 Final Mop-Up Schedule
| Counselling Activity | Date |
|---|---|
| Choice filling/login by eligible candidates | August 21-24, 2026, up to 5 PM |
| Processing of allotment | August 25-26, 2026 |
| Seat allotment result | August 27, 2026 |
| Physical joining at allotted institution | August 27-September 1, 2026 |
NBEMS has stated that the indicative seat matrix for the final mop-up round will be published before the round begins. Candidates interested in the newly approved Odisha seats should therefore carefully check the latest seat matrix to determine which new seats are available during the counselling stage.
Who Can Participate in Post-Diploma DNB Counselling?
Post-Diploma DNB programmes are designed for candidates who have completed an eligible recognised postgraduate diploma and meet the applicable NBEMS admission requirements.
For the 2026 counselling process, admission is conducted through online centralised merit-based counselling organised by NBEMS.
For the final mop-up round, NBEMS has specified eligibility criteria based on the counselling rules and candidates’ status in earlier rounds. Applicants should therefore verify their eligibility through the official notice and counselling portal rather than relying solely on the availability of a seat.
Candidates can monitor official announcements at the NBEMS Notice Board.
Why the Approval Is Important for Government Doctors in Odisha
A major component of the expansion is the provision of five seats for doctors serving in Odisha.
Doctors working in the government healthcare system frequently encounter patients who require specialist management, particularly at district and peripheral hospitals. Creating structured specialist-training opportunities can help the state develop its own pool of doctors in disciplines where specialist availability is crucial.
For serving doctors, a Post-Diploma DNB pathway can provide progression from an existing PG diploma to advanced specialist training. For the health system, the longer-term benefit would be realised if trained doctors subsequently serve in facilities where specialist shortages remain significant.
Focus on Peripheral Healthcare
The approval could be particularly relevant for facilities such as:
- district headquarters hospitals;
- sub-divisional hospitals;
- community health centres;
- referral hospitals; and
- other government facilities requiring specialist support.
Anaesthesiologists, paediatricians, obstetricians and gynaecologists, ophthalmologists, and respiratory specialists are important components of referral-level healthcare, especially where emergency surgery, deliveries, childhood illnesses, or respiratory diseases require specialist intervention.
NBEMS, NMC and Odisha Government: Understanding Their Roles
Medical education in India involves different regulatory and administrative bodies, which can sometimes create confusion among candidates.
NBEMS
The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences operates DNB, DrNB and several other postgraduate medical programmes through accredited institutions. It also conducts the centralised counselling process for Post-Diploma DNB seats.
NMC
The National Medical Commission (NMC) regulates medical education under its statutory framework and maintains information on recognised medical colleges and MBBS and postgraduate medical education.
Odisha Health Department and DMET
Within Odisha, the Health and Family Welfare Department and the Directorate of Medical Education and Training (DMET) oversee various aspects of government medical education, medical institutions and healthcare administration in the state.
Information concerning state medical education can also be checked through the Directorate of Medical Education and Training, Odisha.
What Candidates Should Watch Next
The approval of 11 seats is only one part of the admission process. Candidates interested in these Odisha government medical colleges should closely follow the official NBEMS counselling updates.
The most important developments to watch are:
- publication of the final mop-up round seat matrix;
- exact college-wise and speciality-wise availability of the newly approved seats;
- choice-filling window from August 21 to 24, 2026;
- allotment result scheduled for August 27, 2026; and
- reporting and joining requirements for candidates receiving an allotment.
Candidates should also verify any service bond, sponsorship, or institutional conditions attached to a particular seat before locking in choices. NBEMS counselling documents have previously shown that service bonds apply to certain government-institution DNB seats in Odisha, making institute-specific verification important.
Odisha’s 11 New Post-Diploma DNB Seats at a Glance
The approval of 11 Post-Diploma DNB seats in three Odisha government medical colleges expands specialist medical training across Paediatrics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Ophthalmology, TB & Chest Diseases and Anaesthesiology.
This addition is particularly relevant because it reserves five seats for doctors serving in Odisha, while six seats are available through the All India Quota. With NBEMS’ final mop-up counselling process scheduled to begin with choice filling on August 21, 2026, candidates should now watch for the latest official seat matrix to confirm the precise institution-wise and speciality-wise availability.
For Odisha’s healthcare system, the larger objective is clear: build specialist capacity within government institutions and improve access to advanced medical services not only at major tertiary hospitals but also at district and peripheral healthcare facilities.
