NMC Allows Appointing Medical MSc, PhD degree holders as 30 percent faculty in 5 depts
Medical MSc Degree Holders as Medical College Faculty
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations have allowed medical MSc, PhD degree holders to be appointed as faculty in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology departments.
This follows a 2020 change that reduced non-medical faculty appointments in these departments to 15%, with some departments like Microbiology and Pharmacology restricted to 0%. The 2025 regulations restore non-medical faculty appointments to 30% in these subjects.
The Apex Medical Commission recently released the final Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025, in the official Gazette on June 30, 2025, and laid down the eligibility qualifications of medical teachers at medical institutes.
Relaxing the existing norms for appointing non-medical faculty in medical colleges, NMC has specified in these new regulations that non-MBBS holders can teach in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology Departments in medical colleges if they possess a Master of Science or Doctor of Philosophy Degree in the respective fields of Medical Anatomy, Medical Biochemistry, Medical Physiology, Medical Pharmacology, and Medical Microbiology.
In this regard, the Apex Medical Commission mentioned in the Gazette notification, "Any person possessing the academic qualfications specified in column (3) of the table below, in the corresponding specialties specified in column (2) of the said table, shall be eligible for appointment as a non-medical faculty as per the minimum standards requirement specified by the Commission from time to time, if such qualification is obtained through a regular, incampus course from a recognised medical institution..."
Medical MSc Degree holders were allowed to teach in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Microbiology and Pharmacology departments of medical colleges until 2020. Back then, the intake of Medical MSc and PhD teachers was allowed up to 30% of capacity per subject (50% in biochemistry).
However, in October 2020, NMC reduced the permissible percentage of Medical MSc/PhD faculty in subjects like Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology from 30% to 15%, while in Microbiology and Pharmacology, NMC decreased it to zero percent.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that releasing the "Guidelines for Undergraduate Courses under Establishment of New Medical Institutions,l Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023", NMC had clarified that only 15% of the total number of posts in the Anatomy, Physiology, and Biochemistry departments could be filled by non-medical teachers.
The National M.Sc Medical Teachers' Association (NMMTA) protested against NMC's decision for a long time. Earlier this year, NMC released the Draft TEQ 2024 regulations and clarified that non-medical teachers can work as senior residents and faculties in medical colleges to teach three subjects including Anatomy, Biochemistry, and Physiology.
NMC had mentioned in the Draft that to become eligible to teach these subjects in medical colleges, non-medical teachers must have an MSc and PhD degree in these specialities. However, the Commission had also clarified that non-medical teachers would be eligible for appointment as Senior Resident and Faculty (Assistant Professor and beyond) to teach these Broad Specialty subjects during the transitional period.
NMMTA had earlier expressed several doubts regarding the Draft TEQ 2024, and the association had also sought clarity regarding the transitional period. Now, releasing the final Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025, the Apex Medical Commission has specified that Medical MSc and PhD holders can teach in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology Departments in medical colleges.
Non-Medical Teachers Allowed in up to 30% of Total posts:
Now, on July 2, 2025, NMC released an amendment to the UG-MSR 2023 and clarified that Medical MSc and PhD holders would now be allowed in Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology departments to the extent of 30% of the total number of posts in the department, subject to the non-availability of medical teachers.
"In exercise of the powers conferred by subsection (d) of subsection (1) of Section 24 read with Sections 26, 28 and 29, 10(1)(d) read with sub-section (r) of subsection 2 of Section 57 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 (Act No. 30 of 2019), the National Medical Commission hereby makes the following amendment in the "Guidelines under Regulation 10 of the Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment and Rating Regulation 2023 in short (UG-MSR 2023)" and Regulation 19 of the Graduate Medical Education Regulations 2023 notified in Extraordinary Gazette of India Part-III Section 4 vide ADVT-III/Exty/360/2023-24 dated 16.08.2023..," NMC mentioned in the Gazette notification dated 02.07.2025.
The UG-MSR 2023 document mentioned that in the department of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 15% of the total number of posts in the department subject to non-availability of medical teachers. The above-mentioned non-medical teachers and the Statistician in the department of Community Medicine should possess a qualification in that particular subject from a recognised University as per requirements in Teacher Eligibility Qualification Regulations.
However, NMC mentioned that these rules shall now be substituted with the following:
“In the department of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Microbiology, and Pharmacology, non-medical teachers may be appointed to the extent of 30% of the total number of posts in the department, subject to the non-availability of medical teachers. The above mentioned non-medical teachers and the Statistician in the department of Community Medicine should possess qualification in that particular subject from a recognised University as per requirements in Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations.”
NMMTA Welcomes New Rules:
NMMTA has welcomed the National Medical Commission's decision to appoint Medical MSc and PhD holders as faculty members in Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology departments.
It has also lauded the amendment notification through which the Commission restored the permissible 30% appointment limit for teachers with medical M.Sc./Ph.D. qualifications in these departments.
Issuing a Press Release, the association mentioned, "Through the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 dated 30th June 2025 and the Amendment Notification dated 2nd July 2025, the National Medical Commission & Health ministry has restored the permissible 30% appointment limit for teachers with medical M.Sc./Ph.D. qualifications in the five non-clinical subjects—Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology."
According to the association, this correction brings a "much-needed end to years of injustice that stemmed from the MSR-2020 guidelines, which had severely impacted the careers, livelihoods, and dignity of non-medical teachers while also aggravating faculty shortages in medical colleges across India."
Welcoming the change, the President of NMMTA Dr. Arjun Maitra said "Ministry has stood by the principles of fairness and meritocracy, and we are deeply grateful for this decisive and inclusive policy change. We are grateful to Shri J.P. Nadda ji as he delivered his promise to resolve the issues."
The association also pointed out that its legal challenge filed in 2020 still remains pending and it thanked the Ministry for acting faster and more effectively to address the genuine concerns of thousands of affected faculty members.
"However, certain concerns remain unresolved. These include the lack of clarity surrounding the “transition period,” which must be clearly defined and time-bound to prevent anxiety and uncertainty," said Dr. Ayan Das, the Secretary of NMMTA.
He also explained that the unfair disparity in entry-level qualifications, where Tutors require only an MBBS while Demonstrators must possess both M.Sc. and Ph.D.—a requirement that should be rationalized; and the misinterpretation of UGC norms regarding Ph.D. modes of study, where only distance-mode degrees are invalid, not part-time Ph.D.s pursued while in service.
NMMTA’s founder Dr. Shridhar Rao mentioned that "the continued denial of Head of Department (HOD) positions to senior faculty with M.Sc./Ph.D. qualifications—despite their experience and competence—is discriminatory and unjust. We urge the Ministry to address these issues through timely executive action and to include a permanent saving clause to ensure that in-service faculty are protected from any future reversals or disqualifications."
"NMMTA views this policy shift as long awaited justice and victory earned through years of advocacy, petitions, and perseverance. The association thanks the Ministry, NMC, all members and all supporters who stood by and reaffirm association’s commitment to upholding the standards of medical education in India," read the release.
What is the Transition Period?
NMC in these new regulations defined the "Transition Period" as such period as may be determined by the Commission based on the recommendations of the Postgraduate Medical Education Board for the purposes of allowing alternate qualifications for eligibility of faculty in a broad or super specialty, till adequate faculty with qualifications specified for such specialty are available.
Appointment of Faculty During Transition Period:
The Commission mentioned that where there is a shortage of qualified faculty in a particular specialty, any person possessing the qualifications specified in the regulations shall be eligible for appointment as faculty in that specialty, for the transition period, and having any of the following experience:
(a) at least three years of experience in a medical institution with an exclusive department or unit dedicated to the specialty, having separate and dedicated infrastructure and faculty members who are not concurrently shown as part of any other department or unit; or
(b) at least three years of experience in an institute of national importance with a dedicated department or unit in the specified specialty; or
(c) at least three years of experience in a reputed or recognised institute of excellence in India or abroad, approved by the Commission, running a department or unit dedicated to the specified specialty; and
(d) shall have at least two research publications in the concerned specialty during the three years period specified above and must be amongst first three authors.
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