A day in this work
You examine patients, order tests, diagnose and treat. The training is long and the hours are heavy, and the work matters every single day.
Ways in
- MBBS (5.5 years including internship) through NEET-UG
- Then MD or MS (3 years) through NEET-PG or its successor exam for a speciality
- Armed Forces Medical College for a service career
After Class 10
Science with Biology (PCB)
Entrance exams to know
- NEET-UG
- NEET-PG or NExT (check the current rule)
- INI-CET (AIIMS and similar institutes)
Years, cost and pay
- Years of study
- 5.5 to 9
- Whole-course cost, government or aided
- ₹2 to 8 lakh
- Whole-course cost, private
- above ₹25 lakh
- Typical starting pay
- ₹6 to 12 lakh a year
Indicative bands from the pilot dataset (0.1 (pilot), 19 September 2026). Real fees and pay vary a lot by college, city and year. Check the official sites below.
No college, coaching institute, lender or study-abroad agent pays to appear on these pages. Pathways takes no money from them.
Outlook, and how AI is changing this work
Outlook: Steady. AI changes some of the daily work.
AI helps read scans and notes. Examining, deciding under uncertainty and caring for people remain the doctor's work.
Try this week
Do a first-aid course (Red Cross or St John Ambulance) and notice whether you like the hands-on part.
Check the facts yourself
These are official sites. Exam names, dates, fees and rules change every year, so confirm them there. Each link opens in a new tab.
Careers close to this one
See how well this fits you
Discovery in the app takes about eight minutes and gives each of these 52 careers a fit score from your own answers. It is free during the pilot, and nobody is asked for an email address or a phone number. Students under 18 need a parent or guardian to agree first, and children under 13 cannot join yet.