NMC Rule to Cap MBBS Seats per population on Hold till Academic Year 2024-25: MoS Health informs Parliament

New Delhi: The Minister of State for Health, Dr. Bharati Pravin Pawar clarified recently before the Rajya Sabha that the National Medical Commission's rule of capping the MBBS seats in a particular State/UT has been put on hold up to the academic year 2024-2025.

Referring to the "Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023", which was issued by NMC on 16th August, 2023 and which prescribed a ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in a State/UT, the MoS Health informed that the concerned rule has been put on hold for now.

The Minister was responding to the questions raised by Parliament member Shri P. Wilson who questioned whether the Government has taken any steps to address raised by Tamil Nadu government regarding the NMC notification, restricting new medical college and additional seats in existing medical colleges. He also asked whether any consultation process with the States had been undertaken by the Ministry regarding the notification in question.

Other queries included whether any clarification/report sought with regards to bill exempting NEET for medical examination in Tamil Nadu is pending for approval and whether the Government has considered approving the NEET exemption bill and if not, the reasons for the same.

Responding to these queries, the MoS Health Dr. Pawar informed, "The "Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023" issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC) on 16th August, 2023 have provision of the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in the State/UT. However, NMC, vide Public Notice dated 15th November, 2023, has declared that ‘OBJECTIVE’ clause under Chapter-1 of these Guidelines, which includes this provision, has been put on hold upto academic year 2024-25."

Regarding the queries on NEET exam, he informed that as per Section 14 of the NMC Act, 2019, all the admission to the undergraduate and postgraduate super-speciality medical/dental education courses in all medical/dental institutions of the Country are to be done based on performance in NEET UG/PG and this provision applies across the country without any exemption to any State.

"NEET is a historic reform promoting meritocracy and providing opportunity to meritorious students to get admission in the best medical institutions in the country. It has resulted in curbing malpractices in medical admission, greater transparency and reducing the burden on prospective students of appearing in multiple entrance exams," the MoS Health mentioned.

Also Read: After deferring Rule to Cap MBBS Seats per population, NMC Reopens Portal to apply for new medical colleges or increase in MBBS seats

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that in September last year, NMC released the ""Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023" and prescribed a ratio of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population.

These Guidelines mentioned, "After A.Y. 2023-24, Letter of permission (LOP) for starting of new medical colleges shall be issued only for annual intake capacity of 50/100/150 seats; Provided that medical college shall follow the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population in that state/ U.T."

As a result of this new norm, several southern states including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh, Kerala and Telangana became ineligible to apply for any new medical college or MBBS seats.

All the Southern States including Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, and Andhra Pradesh opposed these new NMC rules for setting up new medical colleges. Kerala, on the other hand, decided to seek relaxation based on specific requirements.

However, after the Health Ministry faced an intense pushback from the States which already have the required or more MBBS seats/medical colleges than the prescribed ratio.

Following a Health Ministry directive in this regard, NMC put the dictim on the MBBS seat cap per population till the year 2025. Issuing a notification, Dr Aruna Vanikar, President of NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), announced the deferment of the clause regarding provisions of the ratio of 100 MBBS seats for 10 lakh population for one year.

"With reference to Ministry of Health and Family Welfare letter No V. 11025/253/2023-MEP(Pt.1) dated 1 st November, 2023 for re-examining the provisions of the ratio of 100 MBBS Seats for 10 lakh population in the states, it is informed that a decision has been taken by the Undergraduate Medical Education Board, National Medical Commission that the “OBJECTIVE” clause under Chapter-1 of "Guidelines for Under Graduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023" (notified by UGMEB on 16 th August, 2023) shall be implemented from academic year 2025-26," mentioned the NMC notice.

Also Read: After severe backlash from states, NMC defers MBBS seat to population plan