States responsible for determining, disbursing FMG Internship stipend: Health Ministry tells Parliament
New Delhi: The payment of stipend to medical interns, including Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) is regulated in accordance with the stipend rates prescribed by the respective State Governments or Universities, as applicable to the concerned medical college/institution, the Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare Shri Jagat Prakash Nadda, informed Parliament.
The Minister shared the information in response to queries raised in the parliament by a member who sought to know whether it is a fact that, despite a recent Supreme Court order that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) are entitled to internship stipends at par with Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) and the National Medical Commission (NMC) guidelines in this regard, most States have not made such payments leaving thousands of FMG interns in limbo and the details of the action taken thereon, if any, to help FMG interns in this regard.
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Responding to the queries, MoS Health said that the National Medical Commission (NMC), an apex statutory body responsible for regulating medical education in India has issued Circulars/Public Notices dated 04.03.2022, 19.05.2022,and 07.12.2023 clarifying that Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) undergoing Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI) are entitled to receive stipend, which is to be determined and disbursed by the respective State Government/State Authorities.
"Also, the Hon’ble Supreme Court has passed an interim order in WP(C) No.793 of 2025 that FMGs are entitled to Internship Stipends at par with Indian students. The NMC has, vide its Public Notice dated 12.03.2026, reiterated the existing regulatory position, penal provisions and the directions of the Hon'ble Court to ensure strict compliance with the prescribed norms relating to the payment of stipend by all medical colleges, State Medical Councils and +Directorates of Medical Education (DMEs)," the Minister added.
The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC, in its 12.3.2026 notice, imposed a penalty of Rs 1 crore each on seven medical colleges for failing to disclose information regarding payment of stipends to MBBS interns and postgraduate medical residents.
NMC had earlier directed all medical colleges and institutions across the country to publish details of stipends paid to interns and PG residents on their official websites to ensure transparency and uniformity in stipend payment. The directive was issued in compliance with court orders in the cases of State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors vs Miss Bhavna Tiwari & Ors and Abhishek Yadav & Ors vs Army College of Medical Sciences & Ors.
