The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a warning to students and parents regarding unauthorized medical colleges operating in India without the necessary approvals. These colleges are misleading individuals by falsely claiming recognition and offering admissions in medical courses that are not legally sanctioned.
NMC Secretary Raghav Langer sent an advisory to states outlining important points for parents and students to consider when seeking admission to medical courses in India. The commission also highlighted rules for students intending to pursue medical education in foreign countries.
The NMC specifically identified two medical colleges – Singhania University in Rajasthan and Sanjiban Hospital and Medical College in Howrah, West Bengal – for offering MBBS courses without NMC recognition.
Sukh Kal Meena, Director of the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, stated, “The NMC has observed instances of unauthorized medical colleges operating in the country without the necessary approvals. These institutions are misleading students and parents by falsely claiming recognition and offering admissions in medical courses that are not legally sanctioned.”
The advisory emphasized that only medical colleges listed on the official NMC website are permitted to offer MBBS and other medical degree programs in India. Any institution not appearing on the list is considered unauthorized and in violation of NMC regulations.
Additionally, the NMC outlined the requirements for students pursuing medical education in foreign countries. The Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations of 2021 establish standards for foreign medical education to be eligible to practice medicine in India.
Key requirements include a minimum of 54 months of education at a single institution, a 12-month internship at the same foreign university, and clinical training that is not divided among different countries. The medium of instruction must be English, and students must have studied mandatory subjects specified in Schedule-I. Foreign medical graduates must also be registered with the respective professional regulatory body or have the competence to grant a license to practice medicine in their country.
The NMC warned that foreign medical graduates who fail to meet these regulations may be disqualified from registering to practice medicine in India. Students graduating from non-compliant institutions will be ineligible to take licensing exams, such as FMGE in India.
