NMC issues clarification on fee chargeable for MBBS course duration

Mansoor Peer
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27 Apr 2026

Medical colleges asked to comply with statutory provisions

Srinagar, April 27: The National Medical Commission has clarified that MBBS fees must be charged only for the 4.5-year academic duration, directing colleges to strictly comply with provisions of the NMC Act 2019.

In a communication to heads of medical colleges and universities, the medical commission said it has received complaints that some institutions are charging fees for the full five or five-and-a-half-year duration.

In a communication issued to heads of all medical colleges, institutions and universities, the medical regulator said it has been brought to its notice that certain medical colleges under the purview of NMC, are charging fees for the entire duration of five years or five and a half years from MBBS students.

“Such practices are not consistent with the prescribed academic structure of the MBBS programme and result in charging fees for periods which do not constitute academic teaching,” the NMC communication said.

The NMC cited Sections 10 and 24 of the NMC Act, 2019, and CBME Guidelines, stating MBBS includes 4.5 years of study followed by a one-year compulsory rotating internship.

The commission also referred to interim directions issued by the Supreme Court of India in Abhishek Yadav v. Union of India, where issues like non-payment of stipend and internship-related charges were taken seriously.

It further cited key rulings, including T.M.A. Pai Foundation, Islamic Academy of Education, and P.A. Inamdar, which mandates that fee structures must be fair, transparent, and non-exploitative and commensurate with the academic facilities and services actually rendered.

Accordingly, levy of fees for periods beyond the prescribed academic study duration, where no corresponding academic instruction is imparted, would be inconsistent with the aforesaid principles.

In view of the above, all the medical colleges have been directed that the fee for the MBBS course shall be charged only for the prescribed academic duration of four and a half years.

They have been directed to strictly comply with the statutory provisions contained in the National Medical Commission Act 2019, applicable regulations, and judgments passed by the Courts.

Accordingly, all institutions have been directed to charge fees only for the 4.5-year academic duration and ensure strict compliance with legal provisions, failing which action will be taken.