NMC Removes Duplicate Regulatory Process, Keeps Medical College Inspections in Place

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023. The move aims to eliminate overlapping regulatory processes while reaffirming that medical education standards and oversight of medical colleges will continue.

The said regulations have been de-notified with effect from October 14, 2026, and the commission clarified that the step would remove the additional annual renewal requirement but would not result in medical colleges being exempted from disclosure, inspections or adherence to standards as required by law.

As per the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board and the Postgraduate Medical Education Board are mandated to prescribe standards, minima and norms for academic and educational aspects of medical colleges.

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) is entrusted with the responsibility of evaluation, inspection of medical institutions, compliance audit and any other regulatory action against a college which does not meet the prescribed standards.

The regulations which have been withdrawn introduced another framework of institutional evaluation, renewal and regulatory mechanism resulting in a duplication of effort and jurisdiction. 

Medical colleges will continue to submit the Annual Disclosure Reports (ADRs) which include information on faculty, infrastructure, clinical facilities, patient load, and other prescribed requirements.

The NMC stated that these reports will continue to be subject to scrutiny and verification via MARB’s assessment and inspection processes. It also made clear that the withdrawal does not mean medical colleges can provide information without regulatory checks..

The requirements for faculty, infrastructure, clinical material, teaching facilities, attendance and academic standards will continue to apply. MARB’s authority to inspect medical institutions, including without prior notice where necessary, and take action against those that fail to comply with applicable rules, will remain.

The withdrawal will not affect actions taken, liabilities incurred or proceedings initiated under the 2023 regulations, the commission said. Medical colleges will not receive immunity for past violations of the regulations and the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 would continue to apply.

The major change which has been brought by the withdrawal of the aforesaid regulations is the removal of the additional requirement of annual renewal process. Annual disclosures, minimum standards, institutional assessments and regulatory oversight will remain.

The NMC stated that the move is designed to simplify and streamline the regulation while maintaining the standards that ensure the quality of medical education.