Geriatrician
Geriatricians specialise in the health of older adults. An emerging field as India's population ages.
₹9-40 LPA
typical rangeNEET UG
key entrance exam4 steps
school → career
About this career
A Geriatrician is a medical specialist focused on the unique healthcare needs of older adults. In India, this role involves managing complex health conditions that often overlap, such as diabetes, hypertension, and cognitive decline, while considering the patient's overall quality of life and functional independence.
Day-to-day work involves conducting comprehensive geriatric assessments, coordinating care with families, and managing long-term chronic illnesses. As India’s elderly population grows, these doctors play a vital role in hospitals and community settings, acting as advocates for healthy aging and providing compassionate medical support that goes beyond standard clinical treatment.
This career is ideal for students who possess deep patience, strong diagnostic skills, and a genuine desire to improve the quality of life for India's aging population.
What you'll actually do
A typical week in this role.
Conducting comprehensive geriatric assessments
Managing multiple chronic health conditions
Coordinating care with family caregivers
Prescribing medication with age-specific caution
Providing palliative and end-of-life support
The path from school
The realistic route, one step at a time.
Class 11-12
Complete Senior Secondary Education with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects.
Focus: Secure high marks to qualify for the NEET UG entrance exam.
Undergraduate
Pursue the MBBS degree, which includes 4.5 years of study followed by a 1-year mandatory rotatory internship.
Focus: Clear the MBBS final examinations and obtain permanent registration from the National Medical Commission.
Postgraduate
Qualify for NEET-PG to secure a seat for an MD in Geriatric Medicine.
Focus: Master the medical management of age-related diseases and complex geriatric syndromes.
Professional Practice
Obtain the MD Geriatric Medicine degree and register as a specialist to begin clinical practice.
Focus: Build clinical expertise in multidisciplinary care for the elderly population.
What it pays in India
These are middle-of-the-road figures. Real pay changes with your city, your college and the company you join.
₹9LPA
Starting out₹18LPA
A few years in₹40LPA
ExperiencedThe honest picture
The upsides worth chasing — and the trade-offs to go in with eyes open.
Why people love it
High job satisfaction from patient impact
High demand in an aging society
Opportunities for holistic patient care
What to weigh up
Emotionally demanding work environment
Requires lengthy medical education
Managing complex family expectations
How your career grows
A typical arc from your first role to leadership.
Junior Resident
Completing MD or DNB training in Geriatric Medicine.
Consultant Geriatrician
Managing independent clinical practice in hospitals.
Senior Consultant
Leading geriatric wards and mentoring junior doctors.
Department Head
Directing geriatric healthcare strategy and research.
The essentials
Exams, degrees, where people study, and the skills that matter.
Entrance exams
Degrees that get you there
Where people study this
Skills that matter
Who hires for this
Employers and organisations that recruit for this role in India.
AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences)
Apollo Hospitals
Fortis Healthcare
Max Healthcare
Government District Hospitals
HelpAge India
Demand outlook
Fast-ageing demographics make this an emerging high-need speciality.
Becoming a Geriatrician: common questions
Answered from the same verified record as the rest of this page.
How do you become a Geriatrician in India?
The route runs through 4 stages: Class 11-12 (2 years), Undergraduate (5.5 years), Postgraduate (3 years), Professional Practice (Ongoing). Complete Senior Secondary Education with Physics, Chemistry, and Biology as core subjects.
Which stream should I take in Class 11 and 12 to become a Geriatrician?
Science (PCB). That is the stream Indian colleges expect for the qualifications this career runs on — MBBS or MD Geriatric Medicine.
Which entrance exams do you need to become a Geriatrician?
NEET UG, NEET-PG. Which one applies depends on the college and the state you apply to, so check each institution's own notification.
What qualifications does a Geriatrician need?
MBBS or MD Geriatric Medicine. Programmes like these are well regarded at AIIMS institutes, PGIMER Chandigarh, CMC Vellore, JIPMER Puducherry, Government medical colleges, among others.
What is the salary of a Geriatrician in India?
Typically ₹9-40 LPA, with mid-career roles around ₹18 LPA. Real pay moves with your city, your college and the employer, so treat this as a middle-of-the-road range.
What does a Geriatrician do day to day?
Conducting comprehensive geriatric assessments; Managing multiple chronic health conditions; Coordinating care with family caregivers; Prescribing medication with age-specific caution.
Which skills matter most for a Geriatrician?
Diagnosis, Chronic-care, Empathy, Coordination. These are what you get hired and promoted on, and you build them across the education path above — not after it.
Is Geriatrician a good career in India?
Fast-ageing demographics make this an emerging high-need speciality. The draw people cite most: High job satisfaction from patient impact. The trade-off to go in knowing: Emotionally demanding work environment.
How ready are you for this career?
Get your Career Readiness Index — a live 300–900 score built from what you actually do, that you, your parents and your school can watch improve.
