Following a representation received from Health Activist Dr KV Babu, the Ministry wrote to the NMC Secretary and issued directions to pay an equal stipend as per the similar provisions under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023.
"Please refer to trailing mail. Since, NMC has been mandated to frame regulations under NMC Act, 2019, you are requested to examine the issue raised by Dr Babu KV regarding provision of stipend paid to undergraduate interns in CRMI Regulations, 2021 keeping in view similar provisions under PGMER, 2023," the Ministry mentioned in the communication dated 06.11.2025.
As per Section 5.4 of PGMER 2023, the PG medical students undergoing PG Degree/Diploma/Super-speciality courses in all the institutes in a State/UT shall be paid equal stipend.
It states, "5.4 Stipend to Post-graduate Students: The post-graduate students undergoing post-graduate Degree/Diploma/Super-speciality courses in all the institutions shall be paid a stipend at par with the stipend being paid to the post-graduate students of State Government medical institutions/Central Government medical institutions, in the State/Union Territory where the institution is located."
However, the provision of stipend for MBBS interns, as specified in the CRMI Regulations, 2021, states that the amount of stipend shall be fixed by either the institute/University or the State.
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"STIPEND (a) All interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institution/ University or State," it states.
Therefore, the fate of MBBS interns at the private medical colleges across the country depended upon the management of private medical institutes.
Recently, highlighting the problems faced by the MBBS interns due to this rule, Dr. Babu urged the Health Ministry to withdraw the Gazette Notification dated 18th November 2021 regarding CRMI Regulations and gazette it again after incorporating the comments sent by him on 24th July 2021.
Back on 24.07.2021, the doctor had submitted his comments regarding the draft CRMI Regulations 2021. He had referred to the public notice issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India on 25.01.2019 on GME Regulations, which mentioned that the Board of Governors in Supersession of MCI were considering to include the following provisions in the Regulations on Graduate Medical Education, 1997:
"All the candidates pursuing compulsory rotating internship at the institution from which MBBS course was completed, shall be paid stipend on par with the stipend being paid to the interns of the State Govt. Medical Institution / Central Government Medical Institution in the State / Union Territory where the institution is located."
However, it was not gazetted till the BoG was dissolved. Referring to this and a Kerala High Court order dated October 29, 2025, the doctor had urged the authorities to redraft the provision of CRMI Regulations regarding the issue of stipend stating that all the candidates from a State/UT pursuing compulsory rotating internship at the institution from which MBBS course was completed, shall be paid stipend on par with the stipend being paid to the interns of the State Govt. Medical Institution / Central Government Medical Institution in that particular State/UT.
Now, the Health Ministry has asked the NMC to examine the provision of stipend paid to undergraduate interns in the CRMI Regulations, 2021, keeping in view similar provisions under PGMER, 2023.
The issue of non-payment of stipend to MBBS interns and resident doctors across the medical institutes in India is currently also being considered by the Apex Court.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the Apex Court took cognisance of the fact that even though the NMC had intimated the colleges to furnish the details of stipend paid to the MBBS interns, no action was taken by the Commission against the erring institutes. Expressing its hope and trust that the "NMC would wake up from its slumber" and take appropriate steps as indicated in its notice dated 11.07.2025 by the next date of hearing, the Court had also directed the Commission to file an affidavit enclosing the list of medical colleges which have furnished the stipend details.
The Supreme Court had also directed the Secretary of the Union Health Ministry to ensure that NMC would as indicated in the communication dated 11.07.2025.
NMC in the concerned notice dated 11.07.2025 had mentioned that non-compliance with the direction to furnish stipend details would attract regulatory action as per Regulations 30 and 31 of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, Regulation 8 of the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, and Regulations 9.1 and 9.2. of the PGIMER 2023.
Following the Supreme Court's recent order regarding the non-payment of stipends to MBBS interns, the Union Health Ministry then issued directives to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to examine the issue of non-payment of stipends by medical colleges and institutions to their interns and postgraduates.
Also Read: After SC rap, Health Ministry directs NMC to act on non-payment of stipend to medicos
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