Delhi FMGs protest outside NMC office, flag INI CET, NEET PG eligibility risk amid PSM postings delay

New Delhi: Around 290 Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) interns in Delhi have been waiting for nearly a month for allotment of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) postings, alleging a lack of response despite repeated representations to the National Medical Commission (NMC).

Due to the delay, the interns fear they may become ineligible for the upcoming INI-CET, which requires completion of the internship by July 31. If the situation continues, they also fear missing the NEET PG 2026 eligibility window, which typically has a similar internship deadline.

Speaking to Medical Dialogues, one of the interns, Dr Sachin Chhikara said that some students have been waiting since February 18, 2026, while others, including those from Deen Dayal Hospital, have been waiting since March 22.

"It has been over a month, but we have not received any response from NMC," he said. The interns have been regularly staging protests outside the National Medical Commission office, holding placards and raising slogans.

Another intern, Dr Abhishek Yadav raised concerns over the lack of stipend. “We are not even getting a stipend in the national capital. Interns in Uttar Pradesh get around Rs 12,000, Odisha offers Rs 35,000, and West Bengal gives around Rs 42,000. But in Delhi, we get nothing. We feel treated like daily labourers,” he said, demanding a structured policy for FMGs.

Medical Dialogues had previously raised the issue about the delays in the allotment of Preventive and Social Medicine (PSM) postings. Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) previously, approached the NMC, urging the regulatory body to address their concerns.

The interns are blaming an administrative deadlock rather than academic reasons for the alleged delay.

As per a directive of the Supreme Court of India, FMG interns are entitled to receive a stipend during their internship. Following this, NMC issued instructions to all state medical councils, including the Delhi Medical Council (DMC), to implement this directive.

In Delhi, PSM postings are conducted through the Municipal Corporation of Delhi. However, MCD has expressed its inability to provide stipends, citing a lack of funds, and redirected the interns back to DMC.

On approaching DMC, they were informed that they are willing to initiate PSM postings. However, they asked the interns to seek clarification from NMC on whether they can submit an undertaking stating that they are voluntarily foregoing their stipend and will not claim it in the future.

"When we approached NMC for clear guidance on this matter, we were met with repeated delays and no definitive response. This delay is not just administrative — it has serious consequences for our careers. Due to this uncertainty, Delhi FMG interns may become ineligible for the upcoming INI-CET, which requires completion of the internship by 31st July. If this situation continues, we also risk being ineligible for NEET PG 2026, which typically requires internship completion by 31st September 2026," the interns said.

They further added, "Beyond eligibility, this raises a critical concern — if we remain occupied in delayed postings and administrative processes, when will we get adequate time to prepare for these highly competitive postgraduate exams? It is important to note that no authority can override or dilute a directive issued by the Hon’ble Supreme Court. Yet, at the ground level, FMG interns continue to remain stuck between institutions, with their training, timelines, and future at stake."

Also read- FMGs face internship delays in Delhi amid PSM posting deadlock, seek NMC intervention