To rule out irregularities, NMC asks medical colleges to submit details of admissions

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has set a final deadline of November 23 for all medical colleges in India to submit detailed information on their MBBS admissions for the 2024-25 academic year. This measure aims to ensure admissions adhere to merit-based guidelines and stay within the approved intake capacity, following instances of irregularities discovered in the previous year.

NEW DELHI: Aiming to rule out any irregularities in MBBS admissions, National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges to verify and submit details of all students enrolled for the academic year 2024-25. This includes admitted students' entrance exam (NEET) roll number, marks obtained in 10+2 (physics, chemistry, biology), merit number, date of birth, sub-category (SC/ST/unreserved), and fees charged from them annually among others. Officials said this was done to ensure that all MBBS admissions are strictly in accordance with merit and not above the sanctioned intake capacity.

"Earlier, the last date for submission of details was Nov 8 but many colleges have not filled or partially filled the required information. Thus, we have given a final deadline of Nov 23 to medical colleges to provide the required information," B Srinivas, secretary, NMC told TOI. Last year, NMC carried out an informal exercise to double-check that MBBS admissions made by colleges were in accordance with the regulations.

It was found that there were instances, at least 30-40 of them, where the admission was inconsistent with the rules. For example, sources said, students who obtained less than 50% marks in 10+2 (physics, chemistry, biology) were granted admission. The NMC secretary said they have, for the first time, developed an online monitoring system to ensure faithful adherence to norms of admission and to further promote transparency and accountability in medical education.

There are approximately 1.20 lakh undergraduate medical seats across govt and private medical colleges in the country. Srinivas said while granting admission in MBBS courses, medical colleges are required to ensure it is not beyond their sanctioned intake capacity.

Also, colleges must make sure that the students meet eligibility requirements regarding age and qualifying marks. All students who are admitted in MBBS course are supposed to have qualified NEET-UG with the required percentile; 50th percentile and above for general category, 45th percentile and above for physically handicapped and 40th percentile and above for reserved (SC/ST/OBC) candidates. In addition to this, all admissions should be made through common counselling.

"Any violation shall lead to discharge of the students from the MBBS programme and action against the medical college concerned, as is permissible in law," a circular issued by NMC states..