The directive follows representations citing large differences in stipend payments between private and government medical colleges in many states, with some private institutions allegedly not providing stipends at all. The ministry’s instruction refers to provisions under the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023, which mandate parity in stipends for postgraduate trainees across colleges within a state or union territory.

Currently, the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations 2021 require all medical colleges to pay stipends “as fixed by the appropriate authority,” allowing variability across states and institutions. The government has now asked the NMC to revisit this clause and consider aligning it with PG stipend norms to ensure equity.

The development also comes in the backdrop of recent Supreme Court observations urging the NMC to take strict action against medical colleges not paying or underpaying stipends to interns.

If the NMC issues updated guidelines, all medical colleges — including private institutions — may be required to offer a uniform stipend fixed by the respective state authority for MBBS interns.

What’s Next

The NMC is expected to review the matter and propose regulatory amendments after stakeholder consultation. A uniform stipend policy could impact thousands of MBBS graduates entering internship programs every year.