MBBS intern stipend disparity row: Govt says issue falls under NMC, no further action

New Delhi: Amid the long-standing demand to amend the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations, 2021, to ensure a uniform stipend for MBBS interns across the country, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has now stated that it will not take any further action, saying the matter falls entirely within the domain of the National Medical Commission (NMC).

The information in this regard was shared in response to a Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Kerala-based ophthalmologist and RTI activist Dr KV Babu, who sought clarity on whether the NMC and its Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) plan to amend the CRMI Regulations to remove disparity in stipend paid to interns across institutions.

On February 22, 2026, Dr Babu submitted RTI applications to the UGMEB and the Medical Education Policy (MEP) section of the Ministry, seeking action on stipend parity.

While the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board reiterated its earlier position that any amendment to the CRMI Regulations, 2021 would require consideration through the statutory process and consultation with all concerned authorities, the Medical Education Policy (MEP) section of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, in its RTI reply, clearly outlined its stand on the issue.

In its response dated April 2, 2026, the Ministry stated, "The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the apex statutory body constituted under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, for regulating medical education and profession in the country. All matters relating to framing, amendment, and implementation of medical education regulations fall within the domain of NMC. Therefore, in view of the above, no further action is required to be taken by the MEP Section in the matter, as the subject falls within the domain of the National Medical Commission (NMC)."

Stipend disparity:

The issue was first raised by Dr Babu in June 2022, when he wrote to the Ministry alleging that his suggestions on stipend parity were ignored while finalising the CRMI Regulations, 2021. Despite this, he continued to send multiple reminders.

Medical Dialogues had previously reported that the doctor requested that the centre withdraw the Gazette Notification dated November 18, 2021, which notified the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations, 2021. He stated that his earlier comments submitted on July 24, 2021, regarding stipend parity were not incorporated before the regulations were finalised. He requested the Government to re-gazette the regulations.

In his representation, he specifically sought an amendment to Clause 6.3 relating to the stipend, which includes - "All the candidates pursuing compulsory rotating internship at the institution from which the 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."

While the government medical colleges pay interns between Rs 20,000 and Rs 30,000, private colleges either pay half of that or none at all. Data from NMC in 2025 showed that 60 of 555 medical colleges were not paying stipends, and many were paying nominal stipends of less than Rs 5,000 per month.

The Supreme Court in its order dated October 28, 2025, pulled up the NMC for delaying action on stipend-related issues. The Court observed that the Commission was “dragging its feet” and directed it to take appropriate steps, while also asking the Ministry to ensure compliance.

Following this, the doctor again approached the Ministry in November 2025. On this, the MEP section wrote to the NMC in November and December 2025, asking it to examine the issue of stipend provisions for undergraduate interns under CRMI Regulations, 2021, keeping in view similar provisions in PGMER Regulations, 2023.

However, in its reply dated February 18, 2026, the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) under NMC noted that any amendment to the existing rule would require a statutory process.

It stated, "As per the CRMI Regulation 2021 it is stated that, the existing regulation already provides for the payment of stipend to interns. However, the actual implementation, including the rate of stipend, is undertaken by the respective States/UTs in accordance with their financial capacity and budgetary provisions. The regulation has been notifled after deliberations with concerned authoritles, experts and competent authorities assigned at the time of formulation of the regulation, The above regulation being statutory notifled after due approval and consultation with MoHFW and the same is laid in the parliament. In view of the above, any amendment to the CRMI Regulations, 2021 , if required would need consideration in accordance with the statritory process and after due consultation with all concerned concerned authorities."

The issue of 19 posts being vacant at NMC, out of the 54 sanctioned strength, was also highlighted in the Parliament.

In response, he again wrote to both the Ministry and NMC on February 22, 2026, requesting an amendment of the regulations. He later filed RTI applications with both authorities. While the UGMEB reportedly reiterated its earlier response, the Ministry declined to intervene, stating the matter is under NMC’s jurisdiction.

"The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the apex statutory body constituted under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, for regulating medical education and profession in the country. All matters relating to framing, amendment, and implementation of medical education regulations fall within the domain of NMC. Therefore, in view of the above, no further action is required to be taken by the MEP Section in the matter, as the subject falls within the domain of the National Medical Commission (NMC)," mentioned the government's response to the RTI. 

Dr Babu further alleged inconsistency in the Ministry’s approach, stating that while MEP section of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare has been reluctant to direct the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board on amending the CRMI Regulations for stipend parity, it had promptly intervened in May 2022 on another matter. He pointed out that, based on a representation dated May 3, 2022, the Ministry had directed the National Medical Commission to convene a joint meeting under Section 50 of the NMC Act by May 31, 2022, regarding suggestions for the “Swasth Bharat” roadmap.

Commenting on the matter, Dr Babu told Medical Dialogues, "The issue of stipend parity has been pending with the NMC & GOI for almost five years. Though following the SC order of 28th October 2025, the Govt took a proactive decision to amend CRMI regulations in line with PGME regulations, the nominated, almost vacant, UGMEB is not inclined to amend the regulations for stipend parity even after harsh criticism from the SC & communications from the Govt."

He further said, "It should be noted that, though GOI have the authority to direct the NMC/UGMEB to amend the regulations for stipend parity, they are absolving the responsibility, though they had no hesitation in directing the NMC to act on issues which suits them earlier. It should be presumed that the GOI & the nominated vacant UGMEB are hand in glove in denying stipend parity to the interns."