NMC to end PG diploma admissions after 2026-27; drives conversion to MD, MS courses
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that the academic year 2026-27 will be the last year of admission to postgraduate medical courses, setting the stage for a transition to specialist degree-based training across the country.In a notice issued on June 22, the commission directed medical colleges to run postgraduate programs to initiate the process of converting these seats into corresponding Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) seats.
Diploma admissions will stop after 2026-27
The move comes after a public notice issued by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), which said admissions to postgraduate courses will not be allowed from the academic year 2027-28 onwards. The existing diploma courses will cease to function thereafter.The commission said several institutions currently offer both diploma and degree courses in the same major, while others continue to offer only diploma programs. According to the regulator, many of these colleges already have the infrastructure, teaching staff and clinical resources needed for undergraduate studies.“All graduate courses will be phased out and converted to broad specialty (MD/MS) graduate courses,” the public notice said.
The colleges requested the conversion
Medical colleges intending to convert diploma seats into degree seats will have to apply to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) through a dedicated online portal to be launched by the board. Detailed deadlines and application procedures will be published separately.The NMC said approval of the conversion will depend on whether the institutions meet the standards and requirements prescribed by the commission from time to time.
Why the change?
The regulator said the decision aims to standardize postgraduate medical education, improve recognition of specialist training and align qualifications with current educational standards. He also hopes that the movement will make better use of existing institutional capacity.The notification has been sent to all NMC medical colleges, state medical education departments and universities for compliance.
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