NMC directs medical colleges to charge MBBS fees only for 4.5 years, warns against non-compliance

New Delhi: Noting that certain medical colleges under its purview are charging fees for the entire duration of five years or five and a half years from the MBBS students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has strictly directed all medical colleges to charge fees only for the prescribed academic duration of four and a half years.

The Commission stated that any instance of non-compliance with the directive will be viewed seriously, and appropriate action will be taken as per existing statutory and regulatory provisions.

Issuing a public notice in this regard on April 7, 2026, the Commission also said that such practices are not consistent with the prescribed academic structure of the MBBS programme and result in charging fees for periods that do not constitute academic teaching.

"It has been brought to the notice of the National Medical Commission (NMC) that certain Medical Colleges / Institutions / Universities, under the purview of NMC, are charging fees for the entire duration of five (5) years or five and a half (5½) years from the MBBS students. Such practices are not consistent with the prescribed academic structure of the MBBS programme and result in charging fees for periods which do not constitute academic teaching," the notice read.

Drawing the attention of the medical colleges, institutions and universities to Section 10 and Section 24 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 and the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Guidelines, 2024 framed under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER), the Commission stated that these provisions clearly state that the duration of the MBBS course comprises 4½ years (54 months) of academic study, followed by one (01) year of compulsory rotating internship (CRMI).

The Commission further referred to the interim directions issued by the Supreme Court of India in the case of Abhishek Yadav v. Union of India, where concerns such as non-payment of stipends and the imposition of internship-related charges or fees were examined and taken seriously.

Referring to another Supreme Court ruling in T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka, Islamic Academy of Education v. State of Karnataka, and P. A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra, the Apex Medical Commission noted that fee structures must be reasonable, transparent, non-exploitative, and commensurate with the academic facilities and services actually rendered.

"Accordingly, levy of fees for periods beyond the prescribed academic study duration, where no corresponding academic instruction is imparted, would be inconsistent with the aforesaid principles," the Commission said in the notice.

Following this, the Commission has directed all medical colleges, institutions, and universities to charge fees only for the 4½-year academic period of the MBBS course.

"All Medical Colleges / Institutions / Universities are hereby directed to strictly comply with the statutory provisions contained in National Medical Commission Act 2019, applicable Regulations and Judgements passed by the Hon’ble Courts. Any instance of non-compliance shall be viewed seriously and appropriate action initiated by the Commission, as per the extant statutory & regulatory provisions," the notice further added.

To view the notice, click on the link below:

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