Rs 57.5 Lakh Bond For MD, MS, DNB, Rs 52.5 Lakh for MDS Courses at AFMS this year

New Delhi: Candidates joining postgraduate medical courses such as MD/MS/DNB courses at the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) institutes will have to execute a bond at the time of PG medical admission for the session 2024-2027, agreeing to pay Rs 57,50,000 in case they are unwilling to join AFMS when offered a commission and undergo five years of compulsory service after completion of the course.

In case of admission to postgraduate dental courses, the MDS candidates will have to execute a bond amount of Rs 52,50,000 at the time of their admission for the session 2024-2027.

AFMS announced the bond details in the information bulletin released for NEET PG and NEET MDS admissions this year. The amount of bond for the PG medical admissions has increased from last year when the candidates were required to execute a bond of Rs 56 lakh for the session 2023-2024 and the bond amount was Rs 54.5 lakh for the academic session 2022-2024.

As per the AFMS Information Bulletin, this bond amount is applicable for the Priority V candidates i.e. civilian candidates willing to serve in the AFMS subject to their fulfilling the eligibility criteria mentioned in the Bulletin. 

The Bulletin clearly mentions that all Priority-V candidates, if selected, are required to execute a bond agreement to serve as Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Officers for 5 years with the AFMS or pay the bond amount i.e. Rs 57.5 L for MD/MS/DNB courses and Rs 52.5 L for MDS courses.

Further, it has been specified in the bulletin that if a candidate fails to complete the course successfully before crossing 35 years of age, they will have to pay the bond money to the Government of India.

Also Read: NEET PG 2023: Rs 56 lakh bond for AFMS PG medical Admissions this year

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that recently the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) issued an information bulletin for eligible NEET PG 2024 and NEET MDS 2024 candidates seeking admission into AFMS institutes.

Admissions for PG courses in AFMS PG Teaching Institutes is granted as per a Priority system. Priority-I candidates are AFMS Officers detailed on Advance Specialist Course/PG courses, Priority-II candidates are foreign students sponsored by Government and AFMS officers granted Study Leave, Priority-III candidates are Medical Officers sponsored by Para Military Organization/other Govt. of India organization, Priority-IV candidates are Ex-SSC AFMS Officers with 03 years of their release from service, and Priority-V candidates are civilian candidates, willing to serve in AFMS.

"It may be noted that offering of PG (MD/MS/DNB/MDS) seats to civilian candidates as Priority - V is with the sole objective to meet the specialist requirement of the Armed Forces Medical Services. Civilian candidates at the time of admission will have to submit a bond agreement to pay an amount as sanctioned by the Govt. of India in case they are unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission," mentioned the Bulletin.

"They also have to be medically fit as per the standards required for commission in the AFMS at the time of admission. Officers of the AFMS who have resigned their commission/ dismissed/ removed from service/ not completed their initial contractual service as SSC officers are not eligible to be considered even as Priority-V candidates, though they may fulfill the age criteria," it added.

Bond Amount and Service Conditions for Priority-V Candidates Joining AFMS Institutes: 

• AFMS Information Bulletin clearly mentioned that these civilian candidates "shall be liable to serve the Armed Forces Medical Service (AFMS) for 05 years on successful completion of PG Course (MD/MS/DNB/MDS) subject to fulfilling other eligibility criteria."
• Specifying the bond amount for NEET PG admissions, the Information Bulletin mentioned, "For admission into PG (MD/MS/DNB) courses, the candidate will have to execute a bond agreement as per Appx ‘A’ at the time of admission, to pay a sum of Rs. 57,50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Seven Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) for the session 2024-27, to Govt of India, in case unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission on completion of the course."
• As per the Bulletin, the bond amount is Rs 52.5 Lakh for the candidates joining PG dental courses. In this regard, the Bulletin added, "For admission into MDS courses, the candidate will have to execute a bond agreement as per Appx ‘B’ at the time of admission, to pay a sum of Rs. 52,50,000/- (Rupees Fifty Two Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) for the session 2024-27, to Govt of India, in case unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission on completion of the course."
• "A candidate who fails to complete the course successfully before crossing 35 years of age, due to any circumstances, WILL NOT BE ELIGIBLE for commission in the Armed Forces and rendered Non Service Liability (NSL). Such candidates will be liable to pay the bond money to the Govt of India as applicable," it further clarified. 

The AFMS Information Bulletin mentioned that the civilian candidates will have to submit the bond agreement at the time of admission to pay an amount as sanctioned by the Govt. of India.

Also Read: Rs 54.5 lakh bond for AFMS MD, MS, DNB Admissions this year

Bond Agreement for Civilian Candidates under Priority-V Category: 

The Bulletin mentioned "All Priority-V candidates, if selected, are required to execute a bond agreement to serve as Short Service Commissioned (SSC) Officers for 5 years with the AFMS or pay an amount as sanctioned by the Govt. of India at the time of admission in case they are unwilling to join AFMS when offered commission. For the academic session 2024-27, the bond amount is Rs. 57.5 Lakhs (Rupees Fifty Seven Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) (Authority: Govt of India, Ministry of Defence letter No.17436/DGAFMS/DG1D/334/21/D(Med) dated 15 th Mar, 2021) for MD/MS/DNB courses and Rs. 52.5 Lakhs (Rupess Fifty Two Lakhs and Fifty Thousand only) for MDS courses."

"The bond is to be executed on a Rs.500/- non judicial stamp paper and registered/ notarized with office of sub-registrar and submitted on the day of admission. Expenses in connection with registration of Bond Agreement are to be borne by the respective candidate. The conditions in which the civilian candidates are not eligible to join the AFMS as SSC Officers are laid down in the Surety Bond which will be executed at the time of admission," it added.

Non-Completion of Course:

Once registered, the candidate is expected to complete the course of the respective University. The students shall be liable to give an undertaking to this effect as per the regulations of respective university. Any candidate opting to forgo his seat mid-session/ before completing the course will have to pay the university charges to which the college is affiliated and bond money as laid down in the Surety Bond executed at the time of admission, as applicable, mentioned the Bulletin.

Surety Bond for Priority-V Student Seeking Admission to Post Graduate (PG) Medical Courses [2024 to 2027 Batch]: 

The Bulletin also includes a form of Surety Bond for Priority-V Student seeking admission to PG medical courses (MD/MS/DNB) for the session 2024-2027.

As per the Surety Bond, "That the PG student after grant of short service commission, if applies for release from service within Five years of grant said commission for any reason whatsoever and provided his/ her release is sanctioned by the Govt of India, as per rules in force, he/ she shall be relieved only after he/ she has refunded Bond money at the rate of Rs. 11.5 Lakhs (Rupees Eleven Lakhs and fifty Thousand only) per completed year or part thereof of unfulfilled liability limited to the Bond money as contained in the Bond agreement executed at the time of admission."

If a candidate leaves the course midway, the conditions mentioned in the Surety Bond are as follows:

• That if the PG student leaves the institution without completing the course due to any reason after the last date of admission to the PG course as specified by NMC/affiliated University, he/ she will be required to pay a sum of Rs. 19,16,667/- (Rupees Nineteen Lakhs Sixteen Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Seven only) per year or part thereof of the education at the institution based on extant rules subject to the conditions laid down in the subsequent paras.
• That the PG student made Non service Liability (NSL) on medical grounds will be required to pay Bond money at 50% of amount laid down, for further period of study from the date declared NSL, before he/ she is allowed to continue his/her studies. He/ She will be liable to pay the remaining 50% of the Bond money on completion of the course. However, in case of student becoming medically unfit for commission due to any disease or disability contracted in the circumstances over which he/ she has no control (on which the decision of the DGAFMS shall be final) and for which he/ she has not refused treatment, he/ she will not be required to pay any Bond money but will have to pay the cost of training as applicable for further period of study from the date declared NSL.
• That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student leaves the training institute voluntarily without completing the course due to any reason (other than medical grounds) after the permissible withdrawal period as governed by the prospectus, if any, will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to the amount of time they have trained in the institute, limited to the total Bond money as contained in the Bond executed at the time of admission.
• That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student rendered as Non Service Liability (NSL) due to reasons other than medical grounds (viz. indiscipline, failure to adhere to the stipulated code of conduct, violation of medical ethics etc.) will be removed from the College Rolls and will be liable to pay the Bond Money as applicable to student and will not be allowed to continue further studies.
• That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student found to be medically unfit in the precommission medical exam due to pregnancy, will be reviewed by a medical board within six months of delivery and if found fit, will be offered SSC. The candidate will report to her parent teaching institution for such medical examination within six months of delivery. If the candidate fails to report to her parent teaching institution for the medical examination within the stipulated time or fails to join on being declared fit and offered SSC, she will be liable to pay the full Bond Money. If after review, she is found medically unfit for commission, she will be treated as NSL case and would be liable to pay Bond Money as contained in the Bond executed at the time of admission.
• That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) Student who on completion of the course wants to be released from service liability before completion of the Liability period, provided the same is accepted by the Government, will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to each complete year or part thereof of unfulfilled liability, limited to the total Bond Money as contained in the Bond or the total amount as contained in the undertaking executed at the time of admission.
• That if the PG (MD/MS/DNB) student leaves the institution and refuses to fulfill any of the Bond conditions, his/her original documents will not be handed over until he/she pays the surety Bond money as applicable and anyother dues decided by the Commandant of the AFMS PG (MD/MS/DNB) institution.

"The Terms and conditions mentioned in the agreement may get revised/amended as per the directions of Govt of India as far as related to payment of Bond money in default of honoring this agreement. The SURETY will be liable to agree to the same. In case of dispute, the decision of Govt of India will be final and binding on the Sureties or either," the Surety Bond specified.

"In the event of non compliance of the aforesaid clauses or failure on the part of Sureties to comply with the Bond, the sum due hereunder will be liable to be recovered as an arrear of Land Revenue," it added.

"Under no circumstances does the clauses mentioned under section 133 & 135 of the Indian Contract Act, 1872 or any other rule of law or equity as applicable on that behalf, any indulgence of forbearances shown by the Govt of India to the candidates whether with or without consent of the sureties or either shall not operate as discharge of the sureties obligations under the said Bond," the declaration further mentioned.

Surety Bond for Priority-V Student Seeking Admission to Post Graduate (PG) MDS Courses [2024 to 2027 Batch]:

Just like the civilian (priority-v) candidates seeking PG medical admissions in AFMS institutes, the Information Bulletin also includes a Surety Bond form for Priority-V Student Seeking Admission to Post Graduate (PG) MDS Courses for the session 2024-2027.

As per the Surety Bond, "That the PG (MDS) student after grant of short service commission, if applies for release from service within Five years of grant said commission for any reason whatsoever and provided his/ her release is sanctioned by the Govt of India, as per rules in force, he/ she shall be relieved only after he/ she has refunded Bond money at the rate of Rs. 10.5 Lakhs (Rupees Ten Lakhs and fifty Thousand only) per completed year or part thereof of unfulfilled liability limited to the Bond money as contained in the Bond agreement executed at the time of admission."

If a candidate leaves the MDS course midway, the conditions mentioned in the Surety Bond are as follows:

• That if the PG (MDS) student leaves the institution without completing the course due to any reason after the last date of admission to the PG course as specified by NMC/affiliated University, he/ she will be required to pay a sum of Rs. 17,50,000/- (Rupees Seventeen Lakhs Fifteen Thousand Six Hundred and Sixty Seven only) per year or part thereof of the education at the institution based on extant rules subject to the conditions laid down in the subsequent paras.
• That the PG (MDS) student made Non service Liability (NSL) on medical grounds will be required to pay Bond money at 50% of amount laid down, for further period of study from the date declared NSL, before he/ she is allowed to continue his/her studies. He/ She will be liable to pay the remaining 50% of the Bond money on completion of the course. However, in case of student becoming medically unfit for commission due to any disease or disability contracted in the circumstances over which he/ she has no control (on which the decision of the DGAFMS shall be final) and for which he/ she has not refused treatment, he/ she will not be required to pay any Bond money but will have to pay the cost of training as applicable for further period of study from the date declared NSL.
• That if the PG (MDS) student leaves the training institute voluntarily without completing the course due to any reason (other than medical grounds) after the permissible withdrawal period as governed by the prospectus, if any, will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to the amount of time they have trained in the institute, limited to the total Bond money as contained in the Bond executed at the time of admission.
• That if the PG (MDS) student rendered as Non Service Liability (NSL) due to reasons other than medical grounds (viz. indiscipline, failure to adhere to the stipulated code of conduct, violation of medical ethics etc.) will be removed from the College Rolls and will be liable to pay the Bond Money as applicable to student and will not be allowed to continue further studies.
• That if the PG (MDS) student found to be medically unfit in the precommission medical exam due to pregnancy, will be reviewed by a medical board within six months of delivery and if found fit, will be offered SSC. The candidate will report to her parent teaching institution for such medical examination within six months of delivery. If the candidate fails to report to her parent teaching institution for the medical examination within the stipulated time or fails to join on being declared fit and offered SSC, she will be liable to pay the full Bond Money. If after review, she is found medically unfit for commission, she will be treated as NSL case and would be liable to pay Bond Money as contained in the Bond executed at the time of admission.
• That if the PG (MDS) student who on completion of the course wants to be released from service liability before completion of the Liability period, provided the same is accepted by the Government, will be liable to pay the amount of the Bond Money at a rate proportionate to each complete year or part thereof of unfulfilled liability, limited to the total Bond Money as contained in the Bond or the total amount as contained in the undertaking executed at the time of admission.
• That if the PG (MDS) student leaves the institution and refuses to fulfill any of the Bond conditions, his/her original documents will not be handed over until he/she pays the surety Bond money as applicable and any other dues decided by the Commandant of the AFMS PG (MDS) institution.

General Rules for All Category Students: 

The Bulletin mentioned, the liabilities of vacating an allotted seat in respect of any candidate admitted under any priority on conclusion of the counselling will be as per the policy and directions of the NBE/ NMC/ DCI/ NDC/ MoHFW/ MCC/ DGAFMS/ Hon’ble Court. Any candidate leaving a seat mid-session after the commencement of course as a result of which a seat gets wasted, will not be considered eligible to participate in the AFMS counselling from the next session onwards and will be liable to pay the University charges to which the college is affiliated and bond money as laid down in the Surety Bond executed at the time of admission, as applicable. 

Also Read: Applying for AFMS NEET PG 2024, NEET MDS 2024 admissions this year, know eligibility criteria, required documents, counselling details