NMC directs medical colleges to determine eligibility for teaching positions under faculty regulations, avoid routine references

New Delhi: Observing a large number of requests from faculty members, medical colleges, universities, NBEMS-accredited hospitals and other stakeholders seeking eligibility certificates or clarifications for teaching appointments and promotions, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that it will no longer issue such certificates in routine cases.

The Commission noted that the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 (MIQFR-2025), notified on June 30, 2025, comprehensively prescribe the qualifications, teaching experience, research publication requirements, training requirements, and other eligibility criteria for appointment and promotion to various faculty positions in medical institutions.

The responsibility for determining the eligibility of candidates for appointment, promotion, or designation to teaching positions rests primarily with the concerned appointing authority, medical institution/university or any other competent authority, as applicable under the respective rules/regulations/orders.

In view of this, the Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the NMC will no longer issue eligibility certificates or clarifications in routine cases where eligibility can be determined directly from the provisions of MIQFR-2025 and other applicable regulations.

In a notice issued on July 17, 2026, the NMC clarified that it may consider references in exceptional cases involving ambiguity, difficulty in interpretation of regulations, equivalence of qualifications, transitional provisions or other matters requiring regulatory clarification.

The Commission stated that such references must be forwarded only through the Dean, Director, Principal, Registrar of the university or another competent appointing authority. The application must clearly mention the provisions of MIQFR-2025 that are unclear and include all relevant supporting documents and justification.

NMC further stated the following:

(iii) A non-refundable processing fee of ₹25,000/- (rupees twenty five thousand only) plus applicable GST (presently 18%) shall be payable for each reference, to be paid by the applicant, through the authorities mentioned in para 5 (i) above.

(iv) References submitted directly by individuals shall not be entertained or acknowledged, nor their fee refunded.

(v) In exceptional circumstances, where an aggrieved applicant alleges that a genuine case involving ambiguity or interpretation has not been forwarded by the Head of Institution/competent authority to the NMC even after 60 days of submission to them, such applicants only may submit a representation directly to the PGMEB/NMC along with:

• A duly executed undertaking affirming the correctness of facts submitted by them;
• Documentary evidence demonstrating refusal or failure of the institution in forwarding the case to NMC;
• Complete supporting documents;
• Proof of payment of the prescribed processing fee to the concerned competent authorities; and
• Submission of Rs. 25,000/- plus applicable GST (presently 18%) to the NMC.

(vi) Such cases shall be examined by PGMEB/NMC on their merits, and interpretation/clarification provided to the applicant directly, under intimation to the concerned competent authority, on the basis of such representation. However, it shall be the responsibility of the concerned competent authority to dispose of N-P051(12)/21/2025-PGMEB-NMC-Part(2) I/3881313/2026 the applications at the earliest and in no case later than 60 days of its receipt.

(vii) In cases where the applicants are compelled to submit their applications directly to the NMC as mentioned in para 5 (v) above, the fee if any paid by the applicant to the institution/university/appointing authority shall have to be returned to them by such authorities for failure to not have processed the application within 60 days.

Further, if an applicant is dissatisfied with the decision taken by an institution, university or appointing authority, they may approach the NMC within 30 days of the decision by submitting all relevant documents along with the prescribed fee. A fee of Rs. 25,000/- plus applicable GST (presently 18%), will be charged for review of the decision. The PGMEB will then review the matter and pass appropriate orders.

It has advised all appointing authorities to determine faculty eligibility strictly in accordance with MIQFR-2025 and avoid sending routine references to the Commission.

"The PGMEB/NMC shall examine those cases involving genuine regulatory ambiguity or interpretation issues, and shall summarily reject routine eligibility assessments that can be determined by the concerned competent authorities themselves in the light of MIQFR-2025. Where required, the PGMEB/NMC may seek further documents from the concerned competent authority for examination, and may issue a letter of eligibility or convey ineligibility with reasons or return with the advice to examine it at their level itself if the case is not considered to be difficult or complicated. In addition, the PGMEB/NMC shall also examine cases received directly from applicants for review of the decisions passed by the competent authority in the manner mentioned in para 6 above. While efforts will be made to process such difficult cases or review such decisions at an early date, there will be a time limit of 60 days for disposal by PGMEB/NMC. Until further notice, if required, the existing form, as is available in the website of NMC, may continue to be used for submission of proposals to PGMEB/NMC," the notice mentioned.

It added, "Whether a case is routine or difficult to interpret will be decided by the PGMEB/NMC, and such decisions will be final. The PGMEB/NMC may either decide the case on its own or if the competent authority in the Board so decides, the case will be referred to an Expert Committee, which may be constituted for a fixed duration or on a case to case basis depending on the number of cases received and proposed to be referred to the Committee and/or other considerations, as may be decided by the competent authority in the Board."

The NMC stated that the notice should come into force with immediate effect, and only such eligibility references received in NMC and/or payments for the purpose credited to the concerned account of NMC until the date prior to the date of this notice should be processed in the old manner.

All other applications/payments received in NMC on the date of issue of this Public Notice or thereafter will not be processed in the old manner. The payments made, if any in the latter cases, will be refunded to the applicant on submission of adequate documentary evidence to the PGMEB/NMC.

This measure is intended to:

(i) Promote institutional accountability in faculty appointments and promotions.

(ii) Reduce repetitive processing of routine eligibility requests.

(iii) Minimize administrative burden on PGMEB/NMC, public grievances, RTI applications, and avoidable litigations.

(iv) Ensure efficient and optimal utilization of available resources.

(v) Facilitate timely disposal of genuine cases requiring regulatory interpretation.

Referring to this notice, NMC Secretary Dr Raghav Langer asked all Medical Colleges/Institutions and concerned stakeholders to take note of the notice and the other instructions/directions for compliance and necessary action on their part.

"Reference is invited to Public Notice dated 16-07-2026 as issued by Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of National Medical Commission (NMC) on the above subject matter [as enclosed] being self explanatory inter-alia clarifying the role and responsibility of PBMEB for the various requests as being received from individual faculty members, medical colleges, medical institutions, universities, NBEMS-accredited hospitals, and other stakeholders for issuance of Eligibility Certificates or eligibility clarifications for appointment and promotion to various teaching positions in medical institutions. The Public Notice also indicate the type of cases / references which may be considered by PGMEB being ambiguous or difficult to interpret and duly mention the procedure as to be followed and the conditions as to be complied with. Accordingly, all Medical Colleges/Institutions and concerned stakeholders are requested to take note of the contents of the above said Public Notice and the other instructions/directions for compliance and necessary action on their part," the letter mentioned. 

To view the official notice, click on the link below:

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