DRP: Maharashtra bans inter-district transfers of PG medicos
Mumbai: Postgraduate medical students undergoing training under the District Residency Programme (DRP) in Maharashtra will not be allowed to avail inter-district transfers as the State Government has enforced a blanket ban in this regard.
The Hindustan Times has reported that the State has taken this decision, aiming to ensure continuity of medical services in rural, tribal and other underserved regions of the State.
The directions in this regard were issued by the Maharashtra Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) on December 19, 2025. In the circular, it was mentioned that all the PG medical students admitted from the academic year 2020-2021 onwards would be required to mandatorily complete a three-month district residency programme as part of their training. During this tenure, the students would not be allowed to seek transfers to other districts under any circumstances, the circular further mentioned.
As per the latest media report by the Hindustan Times, in its communication addressed to all the medical colleges, government, private, municipal corporation-run and recognised institutions, the DMER has directed the authorities to strictly refrain from forwarding proposals related to inter-district transfers of PG medicos during their district residency tenure.
Further, the circular by DMER also warned that any violations of these instructions would be viewed seriously.
Commenting on the matter, the Director of Maharashtra DMER, Dr. Ajay Chandanwale, told HT, "It should be noted that inter-district transfers of postgraduate medical students under the District Residency Programme have been stopped. It has also been observed that some postgraduate students are not reporting for duty at the places where they have been allotted under the district residency programme. This matter is extremely serious."
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the District Residency Programme was proposed by the National Medical Commission back in 2021 with the aim of "strengthening of services of the District Health System". NMC had earlier mentioned about the programme at the District Hospitals in the Draft Regulations on Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2021.
It was proposed that all the PG medical students pursuing their MD/MS in broad specialities should undergo a compulsory residential rotation of three months in District Hospitals/ District Health Systems as a part of the course curriculum. The Commission had clarified that such rotation would take place in the 3rd or 4th or 5th semester of the Postgraduate programme.
Undergoing the District Residency Programme is a mandatory component of postgraduate medical education, introduced in accordance with guidelines issued by NMC.
A senior DMER official in Maharashtra told HT on the condition of anonymity that, "As per NMC norms, inter-district transfers of postgraduate medical students under the District Residency Programme are not allowed. The state government had also clarified this position in 2021."
Officials said that frequent transfer requests undermine the objective of the residency programme and adversely affect healthcare services in districts that already face a shortage of specialist doctors. Amid this, the blanket ban imposed by the State Government aims to bring discipline, uniformity and transparency in the implementation of the DRP across government, municipal, aided and unaided medical colleges in Maharashtra.
Also Read: NMC orders deployment of PG medicos in flood affected areas under DRP, check details
