NEET PG 2026: IIT Kharagpur to offer 6 MD programmes with 12 seats
Kharagpur: In a significant and much-awaited development, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has entered postgraduate medical education, becoming the first IIT in the country to offer MD programmes accredited by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
The institute will introduce six MD specialisations at its Dr B C Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre from the 2026–27 academic session. A total of 12 seats will be available, with two seats in each specialisation: MD General Medicine, MD Radiology, MD Physiology, MD Pathology, MD Community Medicine and MD Biochemistry.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that IIT Kharagpur had applied to the NMC seeking permission to introduce postgraduate Doctor of Medicine (MD) programmes. At the time, the proposal was awaiting regulatory approval as it required coordination among several ministries, with the Ministry of Education reportedly supporting the initiative.
Also read- IIT Kharagpur applies to NMC for MD programme
Now, with the NMC nod for six postgraduate medical specialisations, IIT Kharagpur is set to begin admissions for the 2026–27 academic session, offering a total of 12 MD seats across these disciplines.
Admission to these programmes will be based on NEET-PG 2026 scores and conducted through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) online counselling process. Candidates will be able to select these courses during the second round of counselling, subject to the official schedule, eligibility requirements and seat availability.
With this move, IIT Kharagpur is expanding its academic activities beyond engineering and technology to include specialised medical education. The initiative is aimed at bringing together medical science, engineering, artificial intelligence (AI) and research to address healthcare challenges.
Commenting on this, IIT Kharagpur Director Professor Suman Chakraborty said as reported by India Today, "The institute aims to create an ecosystem where clinical excellence meets engineering, AI and translational research. The goal is to develop not just skilled medical specialists but also innovators capable of addressing major healthcare challenges."
The initiative is also linked to the vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, which focuses on improving access to affordable and technology-based healthcare, particularly in underserved areas.
Established in 1951, IIT Kharagpur was the country's first IIT. Its entry into postgraduate medical education marks a new step in the institute's academic expansion and reflects the growing role of technology and research in healthcare.
How to apply
Eligible candidates seeking admission to the six MD programmes will have to participate in the second round of NEET-PG 2026 online counselling. The 12 seats will be available across the six specialisations at the Dr B C Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre.
Candidates can check the MCC and IIT Kharagpur websites for updates on seat availability, choice filling, counselling dates, eligibility conditions and admission procedures.
Students enrolled in this program will receive clinical training at the institute's healthcare facilities, including the Dr B.C. Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre and the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Super-Speciality Hospital.
Additionally, IIT Kharagpur has already recruited 20 qualified doctors who will be responsible for teaching and training the students enrolled in the MD course.
The proposal to launch the MD program was first presented to the Institute's Board of Governors on September 23, 2025, where it received approval to proceed.
Also read- IIT Kharagpur set to launch MD programme, awaits NMC approval, MBBS on hold
