Fact Check: Are MBBS, MD, MS Degrees from Singhania University Recognised?
New Delhi: The claims made by Singhania University, Jhunjhunu, Rajasthan that their MBBS courses are recognised by the National Medical Commission (NMC) is FALSE
Even though the University claims it to be "constitutionally recognized as a class by itself", and alleges that its MBBS/MD/MS courses are duly recognised by councils, the erstwhile Medical Council of India, the University Grants Commission (UGC), and the NMC, the Apex Medical Education Regulatory Body in India, have time and again warned the public against such baseless claims made by the University.
The Claim:
Several documents on Singhania University's website claim their MBBS/MD/MS courses are recognised medical qualifications. These also feature in the Google Search FAQ section. A simple search on "Singhania University MBBS" on Google takes you to the FAQ section in Google which again is redirected to the University Website.
By clicking on the answer to the Question "Is MBBS Valid from Singhania University?" the page is redirected to a Public Notice available on Singhania University's website. The public notice, which appears to be an old one, accuses the Medical Council of India (MCI) which was the esrtwhile recognition body for MBBS/MD/MS courses was spreading misinformation.
It also mentioned that the Delhi High Court in the IGNOU judgment had held that statutory bodies like IGNOU and likewise Singhania University, does not require any permission from the Central Government or MCI to take admission in MBBS/MD/MS & other medical courses and award degrees/diploma.
This public notice further mentioned, "...that degree holder will be automatically recognized & eligible to apply for registration with State Medical Council and in Indian Medical Register. Taking into consideration relevant provisions of the MCI Act, the High Court further held that theMCI Act stipulates recognition of qualification and not recognition of university i.e.the degree holder shall be eligible for registration if the degree/diploma is listed in First Schedule of the MCI Act."
Therefore, the University claimed that MBBS/MD/MS & other medical qualifications offered by it were duly recognised and the pass outs would be registered as per Rule 2(ee) (i) of the Drugs and Cosmetics Rules, 1945.
The website of Singhania University also features "Frequently Asked Questions Regarding Medical Qualifications Awarded by Singhania University", which can be found with a simple Google search on "Singhania University MBBS".
This document states that Singhania University is eligible and recognized under various provisions of the NMC Act 2019. The NMC replaced MCI in 2019 as the apex medical regulator with the power to recgonise MBBS/MD/MS qualifications. However, as per the University, it was established by an Act of State Legislature and is duly recognized under Section 2(f) of the UGC Act, 1956 and under Section 2(x) of the NMC Act. It claims that it is different and distinct from any other medical institution/medical college and is "constitutionally recognized as a class by itself". It also mentioned that MBBS/MD/MS/Diploma/PG Diploma etc degrees imparted by the University were duly recognized and did not require any further recognition from any other authority.
Fact Check:
All these claims made by Singhania University on its website documents are FALSE. MBBS/MD/MS courses offered by Singhania University are not recognised medical qualifications.
Warnings against this university have been issued by several regulatory bodies including MCI, NMC as well as UGC which reiterated time and again that Singhania University lacked the required permission for running MBBS/MD/MS courses. These include
1) MCI Board of Governors 2019 clarification
Medical Dialogues, in the past, has reported several times clarifying that the medical degrees offered by Singhania University are false. Back in 2019, Medical Dialogues reported about the warning issued by the Medical Council of India Board of Governors (MCI-BoG) against the unrecognised medical courses offered by Singhania University.
In its clarification, MCI debunked the University's claim referring to certain HC judgment that the State Medical Council had to recognise such degrees. Back then, the erstwhile MCI had pointed out that the University was violating the MCI provisions, running unrecognized courses in modern medicine, adding that medical practice of any degree holder of the said courses from the Singhania University would amount to Quackery.
Read about the MCI BOG 2019 clarification by clicking on this link
2) MCI 2020 Clarificiaton
Again in 2020 Medical Dialogues reported about another clarification issued in this regard by the erstwhile MCI, before NEET 2020 admissions. MCI had mentioned that admissions made by any institute imparting courses in modern medicine such as MBBS/MD/MS/DM/MCh without prior permission of the Central Government were illegal and such students would not get recognized medical qualifications to be allowed to practice medicine.
Click on this link to read about this MCI 2020 clarification
3) UGC 2021 Clarificaiton
Back in the year 2021, we reported about the notice issued by the University Grants Commission (UGC) highlighting how Singhania University was running MBBS, MD and Diploma in Medicine Courses illegally.
Requesting students and their parents to not get admission in those courses in Rajasthan-based Singhania University, UGC had clarified that the graduated students having such unrecognized degrees cannot register for practice either.
Click here to read the UGC 2021 clarification
4) Clarification Issued by NMC 2022:
We also reported about the clarification issued by the NMC in this regard back in 2022, when the Apex Medical Commission ( which had replaced the MC) had clearly mentioned that running MBBS/MD/MS or any other medical courses without prior permission from the NMC was illegal.
Taking cognizance of the unpermitted MBBS and other medical courses being offered by Singhania University, NMC back in 2022 issued an alert warning medical aspirants about the varsity's mischievous claims.
"The provisions of the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, prior permission of NMC is required to establish a new Medical College and impart courses in modern medicine. Such permission is granted by NMC only. The admissions made by any Institution that imparts courses in modern medicine, namely, MBBS, or Diploma in various streams of medicine; MD/MS/DM/MCh without the prior permission of the NMC is illegal and students so admitted shall not get recognized medical qualification entitling them to practice medicine," NMC had mentioned in the notice.
Read about the NMC 2022 clarification here
5) Rajasthan High Court Cognizance
Recently, the Rajasthan High Court also took cognisance of the issue and sought answer from the State Government for its failure to take action against Jhunjhunu's Singhania University, which is offering MBBS admission despite not having the required approval from the NMC.
Further, the single-judge bench of HC comprising Justice Sameer Jain on Monday asked the Additional Chief Secretary of the State Higher Education Department to appear before it and explain why action was taken against the institute i.e. Singhania University even after a complaint was filed in this regard by the NMC.
Medical Dialogues Final take
The various claims that Singhania University makes through its websites and pages that its MBBS, MD/MS degrees are recognised in India are FALSE. Students have to be careful while coming across these admissions claims and should verify on the official NMC webportal whether the degrees of the college are recognised or not
