New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has instructed all medical colleges, universities, and institutions across the country to charge fees for the MBBS course strictly for the prescribed academic duration of four-and-a-half years.
In a public notice issued on Tuesday, the commission communicated the directive to Additional Chief Secretaries, Principal Secretaries, and Secretaries of Medical Education Departments, along with Directorates of Medical Education in all states and Union Territories, as well as heads of medical institutions.
The NMC said it had received reports that some colleges were charging students fees for the entire duration of five or five-and-a-half years. It clarified that such practices are not aligned with the approved academic structure of the MBBS programme and effectively burden students with charges for periods that do not involve formal academic teaching.
Citing provisions under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, along with the Competency-Based Medical Education Guidelines 2024 framed under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, the commission reiterated that the MBBS course comprises 54 months of academic study, followed by one year of compulsory rotating internship.
The notice also referred to a ruling by the Supreme Court of India, which mandates that fee structures must remain reasonable, transparent, non-exploitative, and proportionate to the academic services provided. The NMC emphasized that charging fees beyond the academic teaching period violates these principles and must be discontinued.
The directive is expected to bring relief to MBBS students and ensure greater transparency and fairness in medical education fee structures across the country.
