MBBS intern stipend disparity: NMC yet to begin CRMI amendment process, says stakeholder inputs will be sought during regulation revision
New Delhi: Despite the Union Health Ministry stating that implementing a uniform stipend policy for MBBS interns across the country falls entirely within the domain of the National Medical Commission (NMC), there has been no progress on the issue.
Earlier, the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) had directed NMC to examine the possibility of paying an equal stipend to all the MBBS interns of a State or Union Territory. In February this year, NMC acknowledged the stipend disparity across different States/UTs and further said that if any amendment to the CRMI Regulations, 2021, is required, it would have to be undertaken strictly as per the statutory process.
In response to a recent Right to Information (RTI) application filed by Kerala-based Health Activist Dr. KV Babu, who sought to know about the follow-up action on the issue of stipend disparity, NMC said, "The letter dated 18.02.2026 was for the information for the input sought by MoHFW. As and when the regulations are revised or amended the inputs will be sought from stakeholders."
Filing the RTI application on 29.05.2026, the doctor sought to know what action the Commission had taken on the communication dated 18.02.2026 from the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of the NMC to the Medical Education Policy Section under the health ministry.
Speaking on the matter, Dr Babu told Medical Dialogues, "The issue of stipend parity for interns is pending with the Govt & the NMC for more than four years. The Govt clearly wrote to NMC in December last year to consider an amendment to regulations to bring stipend parity. Though UGMEB replied in February 2026 about the need for an amendment, NMC is yet to start the process, as per the RTI response received on 30th June. Hope the NMC will amend the regulations soon to bring stipend parity."
Background:
Medical Dialogues has been reporting on the issue of the existing disparity in the amount of stipend paid to the MBBS interns across the States. 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 provision of stipend for MBBS interns, as specified in the CRMI Regulations, 2021, states that the amount of the stipend for the MBBS interns shall be fixed by either the institute/University or the State.
Clause 6.3 of the CRMI Regulations says that "STIPEND (a) All interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institution/ University or State." Therefore, the fate of MBBS interns at the private medical colleges across the country depended upon the management of private medical institutes.
The issue was first raised by the doctor in June 2022, when he wrote to the Ministry alleging that his suggestions on stipend parity were ignored while finalising the CRMI Regulations, 2021. Highlighting the problems faced by the MBBS interns due to this rule, he had urged the Health Ministry to withdraw the Gazette Notification dated 18th November 2021 regarding CRMI Regulations and gazette it again after incorporating the comments sent by him on 24th July 2021 and introduce a uniform stipend policy for the MBBS interns across the country.
Even the Supreme Court had taken cognisance of the issue of stipend disparity. In its order dated October 28, 2025, the Apex Court 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, Dr. Babu 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, "Hence 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 notified after deliberations with concerned authorities, experts and competent authorities assigned at the time of formulation of the regulation. The above regulation being statutory notified 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 statutory process and after due consultation with all concerned authorities," the UGMEB of NMC clarified.
Again, he wrote to 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.
Also Read: MBBS intern stipend disparity row: Govt says issue falls under NMC, no further action
