NMC imposes Rs 1 crore fines on seven medical colleges for stipend disclosure lapses

Summary of the action taken

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken decisive regulatory action against seven medical colleges by imposing a monetary penalty of Rs 1,00,00,000 (Rupees One Crore only) on each institution for failing to disclose information about stipends paid to MBBS interns and postgraduate (PG) medical residents. The penalty follows an internal review by the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and comes after repeated reminders and prior public directions to all medical institutions to publish stipend details on their official websites.

Colleges penalized

The institutions on which the NMC has imposed the penalty are:
– Akash Institute of Medical Sciences and Research Centre, Devanahalli, Karnataka
– Dumka Medical College, Jharkhand
– Government Medical College, Barmer, Rajasthan
– Government Medical College, Ongole, Andhra Pradesh
– RKDF Medical College Hospital and Research Centre, Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh
– Prasad Institute of Medical Sciences, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh
– Pt. B. D. Sharma Postgraduate Institute of Medical Sciences, Rohtak, Haryana

These seven colleges were identified after the NMC examined submissions and observed that the required stipend details were not furnished despite the regulatory instructions and reminders.

Why the penalties were imposed

Directive to publish stipend details

The NMC had previously issued directions mandating that all medical colleges disclose the stipend being paid to MBBS interns and postgraduate residents on their official websites. This measure was intended to ensure transparency and uniformity in stipend payments across medical institutions. The public directive, originally issued by the Commission in July 2025, was reiterated by the UGMEB in a notice dated 12 March 2026.

Legal context and court compliance

The disclosure directive was issued in compliance with court orders in two cases: State of Uttar Pradesh & Ors vs Miss Bhavna Tiwari & Ors (SLP (C) No. 9298 of 2018) and Abhishek Yadav & Ors vs Army College of Medical Sciences & Ors (WP(C) No. 730 of 2022). The NMC explicitly referenced these judgments in its public communications, noting that the directions were intended to uphold the mandate established by the Hon’ble Supreme Court with regard to stipend payment and transparency.

Regulatory basis for enforcement

Statutory and regulatory violations identified

The NMC stated that failure to provide the required information constituted a violation of the directives issued by the Commission and amounted to non-compliance with obligations under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and the associated regulations. Specific regulatory provisions cited in the notice include:
– Clauses 30 and 31 of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023
– Clause 9.2 of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023
– Clause 8 of the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023

The Commission treated the omissions as a serious and material breach of these regulatory requirements.

Penalty and potential further sanctions

In the notice, the NMC declared that a penalty of Rs 1 crore has been levied on each defaulting college in accordance with the cited regulatory provisions. The Commission also warned that continued non-compliance with the mandate — both in relation to payment of stipends and disclosure on institutional websites — would attract additional regulatory and penal measures. These may include, but are not limited to, restrictions on admissions, suspension of permissions, or other disciplinary actions as deemed appropriate by the Commission.

Notices and communication to state authorities

UGMEB and subsequent communication to state directors

The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board’s public notice dated 12 March 2026 formed the basis for the penalties. Following this, the Apex Medical Commission issued a further notice dated 13 March 2026 addressed to the Departments of Medical Education and Directorates of Medical Education of all States and Union Territories, among other stakeholders. That communication referenced the UGMEB public notice and reiterated the imposition of monetary penalties on the seven medical colleges for violations of NMC regulations and compliance with the relevant court orders.

Availability of the official notice

The NMC’s actions and the related public notices were formally documented by the Commission. For those seeking the official text, medichelpline has provided coverage of the NMC’s notices and related communications.

Wider compliance context and implications

Systemic transparency concerns

The penalty on seven colleges forms part of a broader effort by the NMC to enforce transparency in stipend payment practices. Earlier disclosures and information obtained under Right to Information processes indicated that a significant number of medical institutions had yet to submit stipend details to regulatory authorities. Such gaps prompted the Commission to reiterate its directives and take enforcement action where non-compliance persisted.

Enforcement signals and expectations

By levying substantial penalties and signalling the possibility of further sanctions, the NMC has underlined the regulatory expectation that medical colleges must adhere to statutory requirements and court-mandated directions. The Commission’s actions emphasize that transparency in stipend payment is not only a procedural requirement but also a matter of regulatory compliance with potential consequences for institutions that fail to comply.

Conclusion

The NMC’s imposition of Rs 1 crore penalties on seven medical colleges represents a firm enforcement step aimed at ensuring transparency and fairness in the treatment of MBBS interns and postgraduate residents. The Commission has cited specific regulatory provisions and court orders to justify the action and has warned that continued non-compliance will invite further disciplinary measures. Institutions, state education authorities, and stakeholders are expected to take heed of the directive and ensure timely disclosure of stipend information as mandated.