NMC to Introduce Centralised Software System to Streamline MBBS Admissions, Clip Backdoor Entries

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is in talks with the State Counselling authorities to launch a centralized software system for MBBS admissions in the next academic session, Education Times has reported.

NMC is introducing this software to bring transparency and accountability in medical admissions as this software is expected to streamline the admission process across the States and reduce irregularities by integrating a common platform for student intake verification.

Confirming the Commission's plans in this regard and the fact that NMC is in talks with the State counselling authorities, Dr. B Srinivas, the Secretary of NMC said, "Currently, counselling takes place at the state level. If we have a common software in place, many irregularities will be caught in the initial stage. We are in talks with several state counselling authorities to come together for a centralised system."

Also Read: NMC Extends Deadline to Submit MBBS Admission Details

"However, we think that this might take time and will be only possible by the next academic cycle. Until then, the NMC will continue to enforce its current online monitoring system, which has already proven effective in identifying and preventing unauthorised admissions," he further informed Education Times.

At present, under the NMC rules, the medical colleges are required to submit the details of the students enrolled in the first year of the MBBS programmes. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently the Apex Medical Education Regulatory Body directed NMC to submit the details of students admitted to the MBBS course for the academic year 2024-2025 by November 8, 2024. This deadline was further extended later to 23.11.2024.

NMC introduced the online monitoring system to effectively monitor that all MBBS admissions made are in conformity with the requirement of the Regulations. Earlier this year, it directed all the medical colleges to submit the requisite information through an online system that can be accessed through the Commission's website. Asking the medical colleges to submit the students' admission data within the specified deadline, it had clarified that institutes would not be allowed to enter the details of the students into "UG Admission Monitoring Module" Students Entry System for the academic year 2024-2025.

In the notice, the Commission had also asked the medical colleges to ensure that MBBS admissions for 2024-2025 are made in accordance with the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) based selection process notified by the Graduate Medical Education Regulation 2024. NMC has directed the institutes to ensure that the admissions are made in terms of the following parameters such as sanctioned intake capacity, eligibility, age limit, qualifying marks, and common counselling.

Referring to this directive, the Secretary of NMC, Dr. B Srinivas told Education Times, "The directive is a routine practice to ensure that the admissions made by the colleges are on time, and eligible candidates are selected. The system that was initiated last year, was created to improve transparency, ensuring that only eligible candidates secure seats in medical colleges. The directive aims to curb backdoor admissions, which often allow ineligible students to enrol through unauthorised means, sometimes without even passing their class XII exams or the NEET exam."

"Last year, when this system was first implemented, the NMC discovered approximately 30-35 cases where colleges attempted to admit ineligible students. Some of these students had not passed the exams, and in some cases, colleges had not cross-verified details adequately. As a result, the NMC imposed heavy penalties, including monetary and seat reduction, on several defaulting colleges," he added.

The system by the Commission acts as a safeguard to filter admissions and if they fail to submit accurate details and if they admit ineligible candidates, they would risk sanctions from the NMC. In this regard, Dr. Srinivas said, "The NMC has also made it clear that any admission not processed through authorised channels will not lead to a recognised degree... It has become mandatory that there will be no admissions through institutions, and only counselling authorities."

Also Read: NMC Deadline for Medical Colleges to Submit Details of MBBS Students Admitted this academic year