NMC MARB required to decide on new PG medical course, seat increase applications within 6 months: MoS Health

New Delhi: The Central Government has informed the Rajya Sabha that under the National Medical Commission (NMC), Act, 2019, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) is required to approve or disapprove applications for new postgraduate courses and increase in PG seats within six months of receiving them.

In a written reply to an unstarred question by a Rajya Sabha member on the timelines for disposing of applications submitted to the NMC for introducing new PG courses and increasing PG seats, whether the government plans to expedite the scrutiny and approval process before the commencement of the academic session, and the steps taken to ensure time-bound and efficient processing of such applications, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Smt. Anupriya Patel referred to the provisions of Section 28 of the NMC Act, 2019.

The MoS Health stated that under Section 28(3) of the Act, MARB shall, having due regard to the criteria specified in section 29, consider the scheme received under sub-section (2) and either approve or disapprove such scheme within a period of six months form the date of such receipt, provided that before disapproving such scheme, an opportunity to rectify the defects, if any, shall be given to the person concerned.

The reply further stated that under Section 28(5), if a scheme is disapproved under Section (3), or where no decision is taken within six months of submitting a scheme under sub-section (1), the person concerned may prefer an appeal to the Commission for approval of the scheme within fifteen days (15) of such disapproval or, as the case may be, lapse of six months, in such manner as may be specified by the regulations.

Anupriya Patel also said that under Section 28(6), the Commission shall decide the appeal received under sub-section (5) within a period of forty-five days (45) from the date of receipt of the appeal and in case the Commission approves the scheme, such approval shall be the permission under sub-section(1) to establish a new medical college and in case the Commission disapproves the scheme, or fails to give its decision within the specified period, the person concerned may prefer a second appeal to the Central Government within thirty days of communication of such disapproval or, as the case may be, lapse of specified period.

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