The National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced draft amendments that would prohibit approvals for new medical colleges, additional courses, or increases in MBBS seats unless institutions meet full infrastructure requirements at the time of application. Released on July 8, the proposal signals a decisive shift away from granting permissions to projects still under development.
Under the new framework, institutions with ongoing construction or reliance on temporary facilities will be disqualified outright. Both hospital and academic blocks must be fully operational, and all statutory requirements must be satisfied before an application is submitted.
The draft also tightens the application process. Incomplete submissions will face immediate rejection, with no opportunity for correction. Missing mandatory documents will invalidate proposals under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Applicants will additionally be required to submit updated solvency certificates and valid university affiliation letters.
Financial safeguards have been strengthened, with all institutions required to maintain a dedicated corpus fund to support operations. The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) will oversee and periodically revise the minimum fund requirements.
The NMC has also introduced strict anti-corruption provisions. Any attempt to influence regulators will result in immediate termination of the review process, while violators may face suspension or multi-year bans on seat expansion. The draft rules are expected to significantly raise compliance standards across the medical education sector.
