Medical Specialties in India: What They Are and Which Ones Are Hardest to Get

When you think about becoming a doctor in India, you’re not just choosing a job—you’re picking a medical specialty, a focused area of medical practice like surgery, psychiatry, or radiology that requires additional training after MBBS. Also known as postgraduate medical fields, these specialties determine not just what you do every day, but how long you train, how much you earn, and how competitive the path becomes. Not all specialties are created equal. Some, like neurosurgery or cardiothoracic surgery, demand over seven years of training after MBBS and accept less than 5% of applicants. Others, like dermatology or pediatrics, are still in high demand but have slightly more seats available. Your NEET PG score doesn’t just open a door—it locks you into a specific track that shapes your entire career.

The hardest medical specialty, a focused area of medical practice that requires advanced training after MBBS isn’t always the one with the longest hours. It’s the one where the competition is fiercest, the training is most grueling, and the stakes are highest. For example, neurosurgery and plastic surgery top the difficulty charts because they require extreme precision, years of residency, and top NEET PG ranks. Meanwhile, NEET coaching, structured preparation for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for postgraduate medical admissions isn’t just about memorizing facts—it’s about mastering exam patterns, managing stress, and outperforming thousands of others who want the same seat. And once you’re in? Your salary can range from ₹80,000 in a government hospital to over ₹15 lakh in private practice, depending on your specialty and location. doctor salaries in India, the income earned by physicians after completing MBBS and specialization vary wildly—not because of effort alone, but because of demand, location, and the specialty you pick.

What you’ll find here aren’t just lists of specialties. You’ll see real breakdowns of which ones are hardest to enter, how much time and money they cost, and what kind of life you’ll actually live after graduation. Some posts show you the hidden truth behind "high-paying" specialties that require 100-hour weeks. Others reveal how coaching centers prepare students not just for exams, but for the mental toll ahead. Whether you’re a student planning your next step or a parent trying to understand the road ahead, this collection cuts through the noise. You’ll know exactly what you’re signing up for—before you commit.