NMC issues 12-point FAQ on FMG online classes compensation rules, clarifies on registration, internship, clerkship

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a set of Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) to clarify the implementation of its public notice dated March 18, 2026, concerning Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who completed compensatory physical training during the COVID-19 pandemic and the Ukraine-Russia war period.

The clarifications address key issues relating to compensation certificates, registration, internship obligations, and recognition of training completed abroad.

Issuing the FAQ document on June 8, 2026, the NMC said the FAQs have been issued solely for guidance and facilitation of uniform implementation of the Public Notices issued by NMC.

The Commission also clarified that "FAQs are explanatory in nature and shall not be construed as creating any right, entitlement, exemption, or relaxation beyond the provisions contained in the applicable Acts, Regulations, Guidelines, Public Notices, and decisions of the competent authority. In the event of any inconsistency between these FAQs and the applicable statutory provisions, Regulations, Public Notices, or directions issued by the NMC from time to time, the latter shall prevail."

What NMC's March 18, 2026 notice says?

The notice issued on 18.3.2026 by the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC mentioned that FMGs who had to attend online classes during their MBBS course abroad due to the COVID-19 pandemic or war will not be required to undergo additional clerkship in India if they have already completed the required compensation through physical classes at their parent foreign medical institution. 

However, such candidates must produce a valid compensatory certificate issued by their foreign medical institute, confirming that the online portion of their course has been duly covered through physical training, additional classes, or extended course duration. Once verified, these FMGs will be considered eligible for registration in India.

Earlier, in its notice dated March 6, 2026, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC had stated that FMGs who took admission on or before Nov 18, 2021 and have already compensated for online classes and completed internship abroad will be governed by the old rules (Screening Test Regulations). Those admitted after Nov 18, 2021, will follow FMGL 2021 and must do a 1-year mandatory internship in India (CRMI).

This triggered protests and opposition from FMGs, who argued that the notice was unfair, as they had attended online classes due to the COVID-19 pandemic and should not be required to undergo additional training again in India. Several representations from associations like AIMSA, AFA, and Tamil Nadu Medical Students Association's Foreign Medical Graduates Wing, Democratic Medical Association (DMA India) were submitted to the NMC for a rollback. 

Taking note of this, the Commission withdrew its earlier notice on March 6, 2026 and issued a fresh clarification on physical onsite compensation for online studies undertaken by FMGs on March 18, 2026.

On May 20, 2026, representatives of All FMGs Association (AFA) and All India Medical Students' Association - Foreign Medical Students Wing (AIMSA-FMSW) met officials of the National Medical Commission (NMC) and raised concerns over the alleged non-implementation of the NMC’s March 18, 2026 public notice by several State Medical Councils.

During the meeting, the associations highlighted the problems being faced by the medicos and sought clear clarification on issues related to the implementation of the notice.

Following this, the NMC issued clarifications through replies to several communications, including matters related to states such as Assam, Odisha, and Bihar and also issued a detailed FAQ document to address the common doubts and concerns of FMGs across the country.

FAQs

Q1. What is the objective behind issuing NMC Public Notice dated 18.03.2026?

Answer: The NMC Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 was issued to provide further clarification regarding implementation of the Public Notice dated 07.12.2023, particularly concerning the verification and recognition of compensatory physical training undertaken by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) during the period affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or Ukraine-Russia War. The NMC Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 does not create any new category of eligibility or confer any additional relief beyond what is already permissible under the applicable regulations and earlier NMC Public Notices.

Q2. Does the NMC Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 supersede the NMC Public Notice dated 07.12.2023?

Answer: No. The NMC Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 is clarificatory in nature and shall be read in conjunction with the NMC Public Notice dated 07.12.2023 and other relevant notifications issued by the NMC from time to time.

Q3. As per the public notice, NMC rules state FMGs must complete physical compensation classes before their final exams. However, some students attended these physical classes after their exams or during their internships because their universities had already conducted the finals. How should these cases be handled?

Answer: The primary objective of the NMC framework is to ensure that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) acquire the requisite practical and clinical competencies through adequate physical training. Accordingly, where compensatory offline physical training has been undertaken after completion of the final examination due to circumstances attributable to the academic schedule of the foreign medical institution, such cases shall not be rejected solely on the ground that the training was completed after the final examination. Therefore, the specific stage at which such compensation is undertaken is not the primary issue under consideration at this stage.

Each case shall be considered on its own merits based on documentary verification by the concerned State Medical Council.

Q4. What should be the duration of compensation classes in relation to the duration of online classes? Some of the FMGs have long duration of online classes and short duration of compensation classes. Is it necessary that the duration of compensation classes be equal to the duration of online classes?

Answer: Appropriate decisions may be taken by concerned State Medical Councils following the relevant notifications and guidelines issued from time to time. As per the clarifications issued by UGMEB through its Public Notices including the 18th March, 2026 Public Notice, the requirement of compensation of any period of medical course that has been carried out by the FMGs through online mode is required to be compensated. By " Any period", the NMC intends the period of study through " Online Mode".

Q5. What is the meaning of “Supported by Relevant Transcripts” as termed under Public Notice dated 18.03.2026?

Answer: For the purpose of the NMC Public Notice dated 18.03.2026, the phrase "supported by relevant transcripts" refers to official academic records issued by the parent foreign medical institution that adequately document the subjects studied, duration of study, clinical postings, practical training, undertaken by the candidate. Such transcripts shall be examined by the concerned State Medical Council along with passport records and other supporting documents to establish compliance with the applicable NMC requirements. No single document shall be regarded as conclusive, and the concerned State Medical Council may consider the totality of documentary evidence available.

Q6. In the absence of Transcript records in the compensation certificate, what should be the verification mechanism?

Answer: In cases where a separate Transcript record is not available, the concerned State Medical Council may examine alternative academic documents issued by the parent foreign medical institution, including mark sheets, compensation certificates, internship completion certificates, or any other authenticated records containing relevant academic and training details. The sufficiency and acceptability of such documents shall be determined by the concerned State Medical Council on the basis of the facts and documents available in each case.

Q7. Kindly clarify the applicability of the Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 to FMGs who had already been allotted and/or are presently undergoing Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI), including those allotted one/two years of internship prior to issuance of the said Public Notice. Are such FMGs eligible for permanent registration without completing the ongoing internship, or is it mandatory for them to continue and complete the internship already allotted?

Answer: The Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 is merely a clarification of the Public Notice dated 07.12.2023 and does not operate retrospectively. Accordingly, any order, decision, allotment, registration, internship duration, internship direction, or any other action validly taken by a competent authority, including a State Medical Council, prior to issuance of the Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 shall remain unaffected. FMGs who have already been allotted internship, including those allotted one/two years of CRMI, and those presently undergoing internship pursuant to decisions taken under the Public Notices dated 07.12.2023 and 19.06.2024, shall continue and complete such internship in accordance with the directions of the concerned State Medical Council. Nothing contained in the Public Notice dated 18.03.2026 shall invalidate, modify, or disturb any such prior decision or action.

Q8. Kindly clarify whether the compensation certificate and official transcript issued by the parent foreign university at the time of graduation, in the format originally issued by the university, are considered valid proof of compensation as per the NMC public notice dated 18.03.2026?

Answer: Yes. A Compensation Certificate and/or official transcript issued by the parent foreign medical institution may be accepted as documentary evidence of compensatory physical training, provided such documents are duly authenticated and contain sufficient particulars enabling the concerned State Medical Council to verify compliance with the applicable NMC requirements. Acceptance of such documents shall remain subject to scrutiny and verification by the concerned State Medical Council on a case-to-case basis.

Q9. Whether candidates who took admission prior to 18.11.2021 in foreign medical universities, where the internship is recognized under the Screening Test Regulation, 2002, and who have completed their internship in offline mode in the same country along with a valid compensation certificate, are eligible to be granted permanent registration in India without undergoing an additional internship in India?

Answer: Yes, FMGs who were admitted prior to 18.11.2021 and whose internship is recognized under the provisions applicable to the Screening Test Regulations, 2002 may be considered for grant of Permanent Registration without undergoing additional internship in India, provided they satisfy all conditions stipulated under the relevant NMC Regulations and Public Notices dated 07.12.2023, 19.06.2024, and 18.03.2026, as applicable. The final determination shall be made by the concerned State Medical Council subject to satisfaction of all statutory requirements and verification of records by the concerned State Medical Council on a case-to-case basis.

Q10. Will FMGs who have already compensated online studies at their parent institution be required to undergo additional clerkship in India?

Answer: No. FMGs who have successfully completed the requisite compensatory physical training and internship at their parent foreign medical institution, and who are able to substantiate the same through satisfactory documentary evidence, shall not ordinarily be required to undergo additional clerkship or compensatory training in India solely for duplication of training already satisfactorily completed abroad, unless otherwise required under applicable Regulations or upon deficiencies being noticed by the State Medical Council, during verification.

Q11. Does mere issuance of a compensation certificate automatically entitle an FMG to registration?

Answer: No. A compensation certificate is one of the documents that may be considered during verification. Grant of provisional registration, permanent registration, internship, or any other benefit shall remain subject to compliance with applicable NMC Regulations, Public Notices, and verification of all relevant records by the concerned State Medical Council.

Q12. What is the effective date for the purpose of implementation of clause under Public Notice dated 07.12.2023 regarding capping of the limit` to qualify FMG within a period of 10 years?

Answer: The requirement for completion of the medical course by the FMGs within a period of 10 years, as referred to in the Public Notice dated 07.12.2023, shall be construed in consonance with the provisions of the Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2019, which first prescribed that the MBBS course must be completed within 10 years from the date of admission. Accordingly, the implementation shall be applicable in line with the regulatory framework introduced under the GMER (Amendment), 2019. Therefore, the FMG who has taken admission in medical course outside India after year 2019, they are required to clear the FMG examination within 10 years from the date of admission.

Commenting on the matter, Dr Samar, Vice President AIMSA FMSW told Medical Diaogues, "Today, we are pleased to see that the NMC has officially released an FAQ addressing many of these concerns. The release of this FAQ is a significant step toward ensuring uniform interpretation and implementation of the regulations. It also reflects the continuous efforts, representations, and constructive engagement by AIMSA, AFA, and FMGs from across India. We sincerely thank all FMGs for their support and participation, and we appreciate the positive response of the NMC in addressing these long-pending concerns."

To view the FAQs, click on the link below:

Also read- No extra clerkship if compensated abroad: NMC issues fresh clarification on FMG online classes compensation