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DNB Broad Specialty · Book Guide

Books for DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology.

The official NBE curriculum list, reproduced exactly, plus the editions residents actually read in 2026 — with recommended journals, a year-wise reading plan, and the references you'll need for your thesis and practical.

18Titles in the NBE list
10Current-edition picks
7Journals listed
3 yearsReading plan included
Official list

Books NBE lists in the DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology curriculum

These 18 titles are reproduced as they appear in the National Board of Examinations curriculum document for Obstetrics & Gynaecology — spelling and abbreviations included. Treat this as the syllabus anchor.

  1. Danforth's Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  2. Dewhurst Text book of Obstetrics & Gyneacology for post graduates
  3. Shaw's text book of Operative Gynaecology
  4. Shaw's, Stanton & Souter Gynaecology
  5. Kistner's Gynaecology
  6. Coppelson Gynaecological Oncology
  7. Manju Pandey Biostatistics
  8. William's Obstetrics
  9. Turnbull's Obstetrics
  10. Fernado Arias- Practical guide to High Risk pregnancy & delivery
  11. De Sweit- Medical Disorders in pregnancy
  12. D.K. James- High risk pregnancy management options
  13. Telinde's operative Gynecology
  14. Novak's - Textbook of Gynaecology
  15. Speroff Leon's - Clinical Gynaecology Endocrinology & Infertility
  16. Jeffcoate's Principles of Gynaecology
  17. Studd- Progress in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
  18. Bonner- Recent advances in Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Read this before you buy. NBE curriculum documents are revised infrequently, so several entries name editions that are now years out of date, and a few titles are out of print. Use this list to know what NBE expects you to have read, then buy the current edition listed in the next section.

Source: NBE DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology curriculum

What residents actually use

Current editions, and what each one is for

The books most residents actually buy. These are the editions in circulation now, with a note on whether each is something you read cover to cover, keep as a reference, or open only for the viva.

  1. Williams ObstetricsCunningham, Leveno, Dashe et al. · 26th edition · core obstetrics referenceThe definitive obstetrics text; residents read it selectively chapter-wise and cite it in seminars and viva.
  2. Berek & Novak's GynecologyJonathan S. Berek · 16th edition · core gynaecology referenceMain gynaecology reference for pathology, oncology and endocrine topics.
  3. Jeffcoate's Principles of GynaecologyPratap Kumar, Narendra Malhotra (eds.) · 9th edition · Indian core textPreferred readable gynaecology text for Indian residents and clinical exam preparation.
  4. Textbook of Obstetrics / Textbook of GynecologyD.C. Dutta (ed. Hiralal Konar) · 10th / 8th edition · revision textUsed as the fast revision spine and for structuring theory answers in Indian exams.
  5. Practical Guide to High-Risk Pregnancy and DeliveryFernando Arias (Indian eds. Bhide, Arulkumaran, Damania, Daftary) · 5th edition · high-risk obstetrics textStandard practical reference for managing high-risk antenatal and intrapartum cases on the labour ward.
  6. Clinical Gynecologic Endocrinology and InfertilityTaylor, Pal, Seli (Speroff) · 9th edition · subspecialty referenceRead for reproductive endocrinology, PCOS, infertility and ART topics.
  7. Te Linde's Operative GynecologyHanda & Van Le · 13th edition · operative referenceConsulted before gynaecological surgery for anatomy, steps and complication management.
  8. Shaw's Textbook of Gynaecology / Operative GynaecologyPadubidri & Daftary · 18th / 8th edition · Indian text and operative guideWidely used Indian pair covering both theory and operative technique.
  9. Ian Donald's Practical Obstetric ProblemsRenu Misra · 8th edition · clinical problem-solvingClassic for clinical reasoning and viva-style discussion of obstetric problems.
  10. FOGSI / ICOG Good Clinical Practice Recommendations and MoHFW guidelinesFOGSI, ICOG, Government of India · current edition · practice guidelinesEssential for Indian protocols - anaemia, PPH, eclampsia, MTP Act, contraception and RMNCH+A programmes.
Printed in our shop

Obstetrics & Gynaecology books we print most often

These are the obstetrics & gynaecology titles residents send us to print most often — the books that actually come through the shop, alongside the official list above.

We print files you send us. We do not host, sell or supply book PDFs — send us a file you are entitled to print and we print and bind it.

Journals

Journals NBE lists for Obstetrics & Gynaecology

Journal club and the “recent advances” parts of the theory paper come from here. You do not need to read all of them — pick the two Indian journals and one international one and follow them properly.

Journal of Obstetrics & Gynaecology of IndiaObstetrics & Gynaecology SurveyObstetrics & Gynaecology Clinics of North AmericaClinical Obstetrics & GynaecologyBritish journal of Obstetrics & GynaecologyContraceptionInternational Journal Obstetrics & Gynaecology
Reading plan

What to read, and when

Three years is less time than it sounds. The order below is what works for most DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology residents — broad and readable first, reference-level later, revision and drilling last.

Year 1

Build the base

Ground yourself in Dutta/Jeffcoate plus labour-ward work - normal obstetrics, antenatal care, partogram, basic gynaecology and emergency drills; start reading Williams chapter-wise and register the thesis.

Year 2

Go deep, collect thesis data

Move to Williams and Berek & Novak systematically, add Arias for high-risk obstetrics and Speroff for endocrinology/infertility, build operative skills with Te Linde and Shaw's Operative, and collect thesis data.

Year 3

Revise, drill, submit

Consolidate with focused revision of Dutta/Jeffcoate and Williams, drill FOGSI/RCOG/ACOG guidelines, do intensive clinical case and spotter practice, complete the thesis, and work through previous NBE theory papers.

Thesis

References for your thesis

Protocol, methodology and reporting standards examiners expect you to have followed.

  • ICMR National Ethical Guidelines (2017)
  • FOGSI-ICOG Good Clinical Practice Recommendations
  • WHO recommendations on antenatal care, intrapartum care and PPH prevention/treatment
  • MoHFW India: LaQshya, SUMAN, Anaemia Mukt Bharat, MTP (Amendment) Act 2021, PCPNDT Act
  • RCOG Green-top Guidelines and ACOG Practice Bulletins
  • CONSORT / STROBE / PRISMA reporting statements
  • Journal of Obstetrics and Gynaecology of India, BJOG, AJOG, Obstetrics & Gynecology
Practical & viva

What the practical actually tests

Books and material specifically useful for the clinical, spotter and viva stations.

  • Obstetric long and short cases - antenatal history, examination, partogram interpretation
  • Gynaecology cases - fibroid uterus, prolapse, adnexal mass, infertility workup
  • Instrument spotters: obstetric forceps, vacuum, Sims/Cusco specula, uterine curettes, laparoscopic and hysteroscopic instruments
  • Specimen spotters: hysterectomy specimens, ectopic, molar pregnancy, ovarian tumours
  • Drugs and contraceptives tray; suture materials; IUCD and implant demonstration
  • Imaging: obstetric ultrasound biometry and Doppler, CTG/NST strip interpretation, HSG films
  • Skills stations: normal delivery and PPH drill on mannequin, cervical smear/VIA, episiotomy repair
Frequently asked

DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology books — questions

Which books should I read for DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology?

The titles on this page are the ones residents and departments actually use, each with the edition in circulation now. Start with the first one listed and add the references as your reading deepens.

Which single book should I start with in first year of DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology?

Williams Obstetrics by Cunningham, Leveno, Dashe et al. is the usual anchor. The definitive obstetrics text; residents read it selectively chapter-wise and cite it in seminars and viva.

Are the editions listed here current?

Yes — we list the edition in circulation now for each title. Editions move quickly, so confirm the current one before you buy or print.

Do I need to buy every book on the list?

No. Most residents own three or four and use the department or library copy for the rest. That is exactly why printing selected chapters from a PDF works out cheaper than buying volumes you will open twice.

Can you print these books for me?

We print from the PDF you send us. Send the file on WhatsApp with your page count and whether you want colour, black and white or mixed, and we print, bind and deliver anywhere in India. We do not supply copyrighted book files.

How much does it cost to print a set of notes?

Black and white is 50 paise per page, colour is Rs 1 per page, and binding is Rs 40 per copy. A 400-page mixed set with binding usually works out around Rs 300 plus delivery.

Printing your DNB Obstetrics & Gynaecology reading?

Send the PDF on WhatsApp — colour Rs 1/page, B&W 50p/page, binding Rs 40. Printed, bound and delivered anywhere in India.

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