MD Pediatrics is a comprehensive three-year postgraduate medical program dedicated to the medical care of infants, children, and adolescents from birth to 18 years of age. This specialty encompasses the physical, mental, and social health of children, focusing on disease prevention, diagnosis, and treatment specific to pediatric populations. Pediatricians are trained to understand the unique physiological and psychological aspects of child development, making them specialized healthcare providers for the younger population.
The field of pediatrics has advanced significantly with developments in neonatal care, pediatric surgery, child psychology, and preventive medicine. MD Pediatrics graduates gain expertise in managing childhood diseases, growth and development disorders, vaccination programs, and family counseling. They play a crucial role in ensuring healthy childhood development and preventing adult diseases through early intervention and comprehensive pediatric care.
MD Pediatrics Course Highlights
| Course Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Course Name | MD Pediatrics |
| Course Level | Postgraduate (Master’s Degree) |
| Course Type | MD CLINICAL |
| Duration | 3 Years |
| Examination Type | Theory, Clinical, Practical, and Dissertation |
| Eligibility | MBBS + Internship + NEET PG Qualification |
| Admission Process | NEET PG Based Counseling |
| Total Colleges/Hospitals | 442 |
| Total Seats | 3427 |
| Course Fee | Government Quota Tuition Fees: ₹ 1150/Year – ₹ 5200000/Year Management Quota Tuition Fees: ₹ 181910/Year – ₹ 7728000/Year NRI Quota Tuition Fees: $ 26317/Year -₹ 11015750/Year |
| Average Starting Salary | ₹8-15 Lakhs per annum |
| Top Recruiting Companies | Children’s Hospitals, Healthcare Chains, Government Health Services |
| Job Positions | Pediatrician, Neonatologist, Consultant, Professor |
Why Study MD Pediatrics?
- Rewarding Patient Care: Working with children and families provides immense emotional satisfaction and positive impact on future generations.
- Diverse Clinical Exposure: Wide range of conditions from routine check-ups to complex genetic disorders, ensuring varied and interesting practice.
- Preventive Medicine Focus: Emphasis on immunization, growth monitoring, and disease prevention creates long-term health benefits for society.
- Family-Centered Approach: Comprehensive care involving entire families, building strong doctor-patient relationships and community connections.
- Subspecialty Opportunities: Multiple subspecialty options including neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric oncology, and developmental pediatrics.
- Growing Healthcare Demand: Increasing awareness of child health and specialized pediatric care creates expanding career opportunities.
- International Recognition: Pediatric skills are globally recognized with opportunities for practice and collaboration worldwide.
- Research Potential: Extensive scope for clinical research in child health, developmental disorders, and pediatric therapeutics.
- Work-Life Balance: Relatively predictable working hours with fewer night emergencies compared to adult medicine specialties.
- Government Job Security: Excellent opportunities in government health services, immunization programs, and public health initiatives.
MD Pediatrics Admission Process 2025
The MD Pediatrics admission process for 2025 follows the standardized NEET PG examination and counseling system. Pediatrics is moderately competitive with good availability of seats across government and private medical colleges, making it accessible to candidates with decent NEET PG scores while maintaining quality standards for child healthcare.
The admission timeline begins with NEET PG registration in December 2024, followed by the examination in March 2025. Results are typically announced in April 2025, after which eligible candidates can register for counseling processes. The Medical Counseling Committee (MCC) manages All India Quota seats, while state quota seats are handled by respective state counseling authorities.
During the counseling process, candidates prioritize their preferred colleges and specialties based on their NEET PG rank, category, and available seats. Multiple counseling rounds ensure maximum seat utilization, with document verification mandatory before final admission. Classes typically commence in August 2025, with orientation programs introducing students to pediatric healthcare principles and child-friendly medical practices.
MD Pediatrics Eligibility Criteria
- Educational Qualification: MBBS degree from Medical Council of India or National Medical Commission recognized medical college.
- Internship Completion: Mandatory one-year rotating internship completion before applying for MD Pediatrics program.
- Medical Registration: Valid permanent or provisional registration with Medical Council of India or the respective State Medical Council.
- NEET PG Qualification: Must qualify NEET PG examination with a valid scorecard for postgraduate medical program admission.
- Age Requirement: Maximum age limit of 32 years for the general category, with relaxations for SC/ST/OBC candidates per guidelines.
- Academic Performance: Good academic record in MBBS preferred for competitive pediatrics program admission in premier institutions.
- Physical Fitness: Medical fitness certificate ensuring the capability to handle pediatric patient care and emergency situations.
- Communication Skills: Strong English proficiency and interpersonal skills are essential for effective communication with children and families.
- Foreign Medical Graduates: FMGE qualification mandatory for candidates with foreign medical degrees seeking admission in India.
- Character Certificate: Good conduct certificate from previous institution demonstrating professional integrity and child-friendly demeanor.
MD Pediatrics Entrance Exams
| Exam | Registration Period | Exam Date |
|---|---|---|
| NEET PG | April 17, 2025 – May 7, 2025 | August 3rd, 2025 |
| INI CET | March 2025 – April 2025 | January Session: Nov 9, 2025 July Session: May 17th, 2025 |
MD Pediatrics Syllabus Semester Wise
First Year (Semester I & II)
Basic Pediatrics and Child Development
- Applied anatomy and physiology of pediatric patients
- Growth and development principles from infancy to adolescence
- Pediatric examination techniques and age-specific approaches
- Common childhood illnesses and their management protocols
- Immunization schedules and vaccine-preventable diseases
- Nutrition in pediatrics including breastfeeding and complementary feeding
Second Year (Semester III & IV)
Advanced Pediatric Medicine and Subspecialties
- Pediatric cardiology and congenital heart diseases
- Pediatric respiratory diseases and allergic conditions
- Pediatric gastroenterology and nutritional disorders
- Pediatric nephrology and genitourinary conditions
- Pediatric endocrinology and metabolic disorders
- Behavioral pediatrics and developmental disorders
Third Year (Semester V & VI)
Specialized Pediatrics and Research
- Neonatology and intensive care unit management
- Pediatric emergency medicine and trauma care
- Pediatric infectious diseases and antibiotic stewardship
- Adolescent medicine and psychosocial issues
- Research methodology and pediatric clinical trials
- Dissertation completion and advanced clinical rotations
Top Ranking MD Pediatrics Colleges in India
| Name of Institute | Intake | Average Fees |
|---|---|---|
| AIIMS New Delhi | 18 | ₹2,00,000 |
| PGIMER Chandigarh | 15 | ₹3,50,000 |
| JIPMER Puducherry | 12 | ₹2,50,000 |
| MAMC New Delhi | 16 | ₹2,75,000 |
| KEM Hospital Mumbai | 14 | ₹3,00,000 |
| CMC Vellore | 12 | ₹12,00,000 |
| LTMMC Mumbai | 15 | ₹2,80,000 |
| BMCRI Bangalore | 14 | ₹4,50,000 |
| GMCH Chandigarh | 12 | ₹3,25,000 |
| IPGMER Kolkata | 13 | ₹3,00,000 |
Statewise MD Pediatrics Seats
| State | Total Colleges | Total Seats |
|---|---|---|
| Karnataka | 57 | 440 |
| Maharashtra | 55 | 371 |
| Tamil Nadu | 42 | 359 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 42 | 254 |
| Andhra Pradesh | 29 | 232 |
| Rajasthan | 16 | 209 |
| Telangana | 26 | 203 |
| Delhi | 10 | 162 |
| Madhya Pradesh | 19 | 158 |
| Gujarat | 20 | 156 |
| West Bengal | 22 | 153 |
| Kerala | 23 | 134 |
| Bihar | 15 | 82 |
| Odisha | 8 | 80 |
| Puducherry | 8 | 75 |
| Uttarakhand | 5 | 57 |
| Chandigarh | 2 | 48 |
| Haryana | 9 | 48 |
| Punjab | 7 | 42 |
| Assam | 6 | 36 |
| JammuKashmir | 4 | 34 |
| Chhattisgarh | 6 | 33 |
| Himachal Pradesh | 3 | 32 |
| Jharkhand | 2 | 10 |
| Manipur | 2 | 7 |
| Goa | 1 | 7 |
| Tripura | 2 | 3 |
| Sikkim | 1 | 2 |
Quota Wise MD Pediatrics 2024 Closing Score Cut off
| Quota | Description | Closing NEET PG 2024 Rank | Starting NEET PG 2023 Score | Closing NEET PG 2023 Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AIQ | All India Counselling | 540 | 116 | 655 |
| AMU | Aligarh Muslim University Counselling | 520 | 560 | 576 |
| BHQ | Banaras Hindu University PG Counselling | 525 | 338 | 606 |
| DUQ | Delhi University – Internal Counselling | 545 | 174 | 625 |
| IPQ | Indraprastha University Counselling | 530 | 416 | 607 |
| MNQ | Deemed Universities Counselling | 470 | 328 | 532 |
| MQ | Management Quota Counselling | 400 | 64 | 586 |
| NRI | Non Resident Indian (NRI) Counselling | 330 | 105 | 494 |
| OPMQ | Open State Counselling | 520 | 185 | 580 |
| SQ | State Counselling | 515 | 92 | 640 |
What After MD Pediatrics?
After completing MD Pediatrics, graduates have numerous career opportunities in child healthcare across various settings. The immediate option is joining pediatric departments in hospitals or establishing private pediatric practice clinics. Many graduates pursue super-specialty training through DM programs in neonatology, pediatric cardiology, pediatric gastroenterology, or other pediatric subspecialties to enhance their expertise and career prospects.
Academic careers offer opportunities in medical colleges as faculty members, with potential progression from Assistant Professor to senior positions including departmental leadership roles. Government sector employment through various health services provides job security and opportunities to work in maternal and child health programs, immunization campaigns, and rural healthcare initiatives.
Healthcare administration roles in children’s hospitals, pediatric research organizations, and pharmaceutical companies focusing on pediatric drug development utilize the specialized knowledge gained during pediatric training. Some graduates also explore opportunities in child advocacy, public health policy, or international humanitarian organizations working in child health.
MD Pediatrics Jobs
| Job Profiles | Job Descriptions | Average Salary |
|---|---|---|
| Consultant Pediatrician | Hospital-based practice, child health consultation, disease management | ₹12-25 Lakhs |
| Private Practice Pediatrician | Independent clinic operation, routine check-ups, vaccination services | ₹10-30 Lakhs |
| Neonatologist | Newborn intensive care, premature baby management, delivery room attendance | ₹15-35 Lakhs |
| Assistant Professor | Medical college teaching, pediatric resident training, clinical research | ₹10-18 Lakhs |
| Government Medical Officer | Primary health centers, district hospitals, maternal child health programs | ₹8-15 Lakhs |
| Pediatric Emergency Physician | Emergency department management, trauma care, critical pediatric conditions | ₹12-22 Lakhs |
| Child Development Specialist | Developmental disorders, autism spectrum, learning disabilities assessment | ₹15-25 Lakhs |
| Medical Affairs Manager | Pharmaceutical companies, pediatric drug development, clinical trials | ₹18-32 Lakhs |
MD Pediatrics Admission FAQ’s:
A. 👉 Candidates must have completed MBBS with internship, hold an NMC/State registration, and qualify NEET-PG 2025.
👉 Yes, it is one of the most in-demand PG medical branches with excellent opportunities in hospitals, academics, and private practice.
A. 👉 Fees vary from ₹2,000–₹5,000 in government colleges to ₹15–50 Lakhs in private/deemed universities.
👉 Yes, you can pursue DM Neonatology, DM Pediatric Cardiology, DM Pediatric Oncology, or DM Pediatric Neurology for advanced career growth.
A. 👉 Fresh graduates earn ₹10–15 LPA, while experienced specialists and neonatologists can earn ₹20–30 LPA+ in top hospitals.