Summary
A Paediatrician diagnoses and treats patients, working in hospitals, clinics or community health programmes, and carries direct clinical responsibility for the people under their care. In India this work sits inside the Medicine and Surgery stream: students usually take Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) in Class 11–12, qualify through MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS as applicable, and specialise later through work experience or a master's. The sections below set out the study route, the entrance exams, the leading institutes in India and abroad, and the day-to-day reality of the job.
Core skills
- Clinical reasoning and diagnostic skill
- Steady hands and calm decision-making under pressure
- Communication with anxious patients and families
- Lifelong study of updated protocols
Where you can work
- Government hospitals and district health services
- Private hospitals and nursing homes
- Own clinic or group practice
- Medical colleges, research and public-health programmes
Professional Opportunities
Government hospitals and district health services
Private hospitals and nursing homes
Own clinic or group practice
Medical colleges, research and public-health programmes
Career Path
| Stage | What you study | Duration |
|---|---|---|
| After Class 10 | Science with Physics, Chemistry and Biology (PCB) | 2 years (Class 11–12) |
| Graduation | MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS as applicable | 4.5–5.5 years + internship |
| After Graduation | MD / MS / MDS / DNB in a clinical specialisation | 3 years |
| After Post-Graduation | DM / M.Ch. super-speciality | 3–5 years (optional) |
Important Facts
- Entry qualification: MBBS / BDS / BAMS / BHMS as applicable.
- Most institutes ask for 50–60% in the qualifying examination; reserved categories usually get a 5% relaxation.
- Admission is through the entrance exams listed below — national tests plus the state CET where applicable.
- Government and private institutes both offer this route; fee levels differ sharply between them.
- Scholarships listed on the HBK scholarships page apply to most of these programmes.
Leading Institutes in India
| # | Institute | Entrance / Category | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | www.aiims.edu/ |
| 1 | Maulana Azad Dental College & Hospital, New Delhi | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | maids.delhi.gov.in/ |
| 1 | Madan Mohan Malviya Govt. Ayurveda College, Udaipur, Rajasthan | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | dsrrau.info/ |
| 1 | Nehru Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | nhmc.delhi.gov.in/ |
| 2 | Maulana Azad Medical College, New Delhi | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | mamc.delhi.gov.in/ |
| 2 | Patna Dental College & Hospital, Patna | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | www.patnadentalcollege.in/ |
| 2 | State Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | saclko.in/ |
| 2 | Dr. B.R. Sur Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, New Delhi | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | shmch.delhi.gov.in/en |
| 3 | Vardhman Mahavir Medical College & Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | www.vmmc-sjh.nic.in/ |
| 3 | Rajasthan Dental College & Hospital, Jaipur | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | www.rdchjaipur.com/ |
| 3 | S.R.M. Govt. Ayurvedic College, Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | csjmu.ac.in/ |
| 3 | State National Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | nhmclucknow.com/ |
| 4 | Atal Bihari Vajpayee Institute of Medical Sciences and Dr. RML Hospital, New Delhi | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | www.rmlh.nic.in/ |
| 4 | Govt. Dental College, Thrissur | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | www.gdcthrissur.org/ |
| 4 | Ch. Brahm Prakash Ayurved Charak Sansthan, Najafgarh, New Delhi | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | cbpacs.delhi.gov.in/ |
| 4 | National Institute of Homoeopathy, Kolkata, West Bengal | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | www.nih.nic.in/ |
| 5 | University College of Medical Sciences & GTB Hospital, New Delhi | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | ucms.ac.in/ |
| 5 | Govt. Dental College, Bangalore | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | gdcrib.karnataka.gov.in/english |
| 5 | University College of Ayurved, Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | dsrrau.info/ |
| 5 | R.B.T.S. Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College, Muzaffarpur, Bihar | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | rbtsghmch.in/ |
| 6 | Jawaharlal Institute of Postgraduate Medical Education & Research, Puducherry | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | jipmer.edu.in/ |
| 6 | Dental College, Jawaharlal Nehru Institute of Medical Sciences | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | jnims.nic.in/ |
| 6 | Rishikul Govt P.G. Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Haridwar, Uttarakhand | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | rishikulayurvedacollege.com/ |
| 6 | University College of Homoeopathy, Dr. Sarvepalli Radhakrishnan Rajasthan Ayurved University, Jodhpur, Rajasthan | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | dsrrau.info/ |
| 7 | Government Medical College, Chandigarh | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | gmch.gov.in/ |
| 7 | Dental College, RIMS, Imphal | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | www.rims.edu.in/secure/ |
| 7 | Govt. Ayurvedic College & Hospital, Sampoornanand Sanskrit University, Varanasi, Uttar Pradesh | BAMS (Bachelor of Ayurvedic Medicine & Surgery) | www.ssvv.ac.in/ |
| 7 | Govt. Homoeopathic Medical College and Hospital, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh | BHMS (Bachelor of Homeopathic Medicine & Surgery) | www.ghmcbhopalayush.in/ |
| 8 | Lady Hardinge Medical College, New Delhi | MBBS (Bachelor of Medicine & Bachelor of Surgery) | fmsc.ac.in/lady.htm |
| 8 | S.C.B. Dental College & Hospital, Cuttack | BDS (Bachelor of Dental Surgery) | scbdental.nic.in/ |
Institutions Abroad
| Institute | Country | Website |
|---|---|---|
| Harvard Medical School | United States | hms.harvard.edu/ |
| University of Oxford | United Kingdom | www.ox.ac.uk/ |
| Karolinska Institutet | Sweden | ki.se/en |
| Johns Hopkins University | United States | www.jhu.edu/ |
| University of Melbourne | Australia | www.unimelb.edu.au/ |
Entrance Exams
| Exam | Full name | What it admits you to | Website |
|---|---|---|---|
| NEET UG | National Eligibility cum Entrance Test | MBBS/BDS and AYUSH Courses across Medical colleges in India | neet.nta.nic.in/ |
Work Description
- 01Examine patients, take a clinical history and order the investigations needed for a diagnosis.
- 02Decide on treatment, prescribe medication or procedures and explain the plan to the patient and family.
- 03Perform or assist in procedures within the scope of the qualification and registration.
- 04Review progress, adjust treatment and refer to super-specialists when required.
- 05Maintain clinical records, follow infection-control protocols and meet council registration norms.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- High social respect and secure demand
- Direct, visible impact on people's lives
- Clear specialisation ladder with strong earnings later
Cons
- Very long training before independent practice
- Long duty hours, night calls and emotional strain
- Medico-legal responsibility for every decision
Are you fit for this career?
Take the free HBK psychometric test and see how Paediatrician matches your interests and aptitude.
Sources
© HBK Careers. Compiled in-house from official regulators, exam bodies and institute websites. Exam and institute records on this page are the same records used across the HBK handbook and exams pages.