PDCET 2026: NBE clarifies on NOC requirement after doctors' body flags show cause notices to 20 students

New Delhi: Following concerns raised by a doctors' body over notices issued to around 20 students who recently joined Secondary DNB seats through PDCET 2026 for failing to submit No Objection Certificates (NOCs), the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has issued a clarification on the NOC requirement.

The Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) had urged NBEMS to withdraw the notices and sought an additional window for the affected students to submit the pending State NOCs. 

In response, the NBE, through a recent post on X, has clarified that submission of an NOC was a mandatory requirement during the PDCET 2026 Counselling registration process. The NBEMS further clarified that the NOC requirement was not introduced for the first time this year and was in continuation of the practice followed in previous years.

Non-submission of NOC:

The matter concerns submission of NOCs during the PDCET counselling registration process. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) recently issued show-cause notices to around 20 students who recently joined DNB courses over non-submission of NOC during PDCET Counselling registration.

"These students, belonging to different states, are currently facing a possible cancellation of their admissions for not uploading the NOCs" the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) said. Urging the NBE to immediately withdraw the cancellation notices, the association has demanded an extension window to submit the pending State NOCs.

Further, the FAIMA also urged the Union Health Ministry to intervene to 'stop wasting specialist seats.'

According to the association, the State DGHS departments failed to issue their NOCs within an impossible 5-day registration window. 

"State health departments took weeks to clear files. NBE gave an unreasonable deadline and showed zero flexibility. Why should doctors pay the price for a fight between State and Central systems?" the association said in a release.

"These doctors already relocated, paid lakhs in fees, cleared state bonds, and started treating patients in hospitals. Now they are on the road facing extreme mental and financial trauma," it added.

NBE show cause notices issued to doctors 

NBEMS, during scrutiny of the candidatures of the students, found that at the time of registration for Round-1 of the Post Diploma DNB Counselling, they did not upload the No Objection Certificate (NOC) issued by their parent employer despite being in employment.

NBE referred to Clause 5 of the Handbook for Post Diploma DNB 2026 Counseling, which states that candidates employed or under any kind of bond are required to submit NOC along with the other essential documents. It further mentions that if a candidate is employed or under any kind of bond, he/ she has to furnish a No Objection Certificate/ Relieving Letter/Study Leave' issued by competent authority of concerned University/ Employer/ Institution in case he/ she decides to opt a seat. Whereas the No Objection Certificate' can be submitted while participating in the Counseling, after allotment of a seat, a 'Relieving Letter' issued by the employer/ institution is mandatorily required to be submitted to start the training on the allotted seat of the DNB (Post Diploma) course.

After noting that the students participated in the counselling process without uploading the requisite NOC despite the requirement and they were subsequently allotted a seat, NBE issued a show-cause notice to the students.

"Your failure to comply with the mandatory requirement of Clause 5 of the Handbook amounts to non-adherence to the prescribed counseling conditions and renders your candidature liable for cancellation. Accordingly, you are hereby called upon to show cause within two (02) days from the date of issuance of this notice as to why your candidature for PDCET 2026 should not be cancelled for violation of Clause 5 of the PDCET 2026 Counseling Handbook," stated the communication from NBE.

"Your reply, along with supporting documentary evidence, if any, should reach NBEMS within the stipulated period. In case no reply is received within the prescribed time, or if the explanation submitted by you is found unsatisfactory, it shall be presumed that you have nothing further to state in the matter, and appropriate action, including cancellation of your candidature, shall be taken in accordance with the applicable rules and the provisions of the PDCET 2026 Counseling Handbook, without any further correspondence," it further added.

NBEMS clarification: 

In response to the concerns, NBEMS, in an X post, has issued a statement and said:

√ The requirement of NOC is in continuation of the practice followed in previous years and was not introduced for the first time.

√ Candidates were clearly informed that the NOC was a mandatory document required to be submitted at the time of registration.

√ Candidates had also furnished an undertaking confirming that they had gone through the eligibility conditions. The undertaking further provided that if any declaration made by the candidate was subsequently found to be false or incorrect, the candidature would be liable to be cancelled.

√ Accordingly, in cases where the mandatory NOC was not submitted by the candidates, the allotted seats were cancelled as per the applicable provisions.

Also Read: NBE releases post Diploma DNB 2026 counselling schedule, registrations from July 2, details