In a major reform aimed at reducing administrative delays and strengthening institutional autonomy, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that medical colleges and universities will now independently decide faculty appointments, promotions and designations. Under the new framework, the NMC will no longer issue routine eligibility certificates or intervene in standard faculty appointment cases, placing greater responsibility on institutions to implement the Medical Institutions Qualification of Faculty Regulations (MI-QFR) 2025.

The decision, announced through a public notice issued by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), is expected to streamline faculty recruitment and promotion processes across medical colleges while reducing the regulatory burden on the Commission.

Medical colleges to take independent decisions

According to the NMC, a significant number of institutions had been referring routine eligibility cases to the Commission even though they could have been resolved under the existing regulations. These referrals included matters related to faculty appointments, promotions and designation changes that were already covered by the provisions of MI-QFR 2025.

To address this, the Commission has clarified that medical colleges, universities and other appointing authorities will now be responsible for determining whether candidates fulfil the eligibility criteria for faculty positions.

The NMC said institutions should evaluate candidates based on the provisions already laid down in the MI-QFR 2025 regulations, which specify the required academic qualifications, teaching experience, research publications, training requirements and other eligibility norms for faculty appointments and career progression.

As a result, the PGMEB will no longer examine cases that can be decided directly by institutions using the existing regulations.

NMC to step in only for exceptional cases

While routine cases will now be handled internally by institutions, the NMC will continue to consider complex or exceptional cases that involve ambiguity in interpreting the regulations.

Such cases may include disputes regarding the equivalence of qualifications, interpretation of transition provisions, or issues requiring coordination with other regulatory frameworks.

The Commission has clarified that these applications must be submitted only through the Dean, Director, Principal or Registrar of the concerned institution. Institutions must clearly identify the specific provision of the MI-QFR 2025 that requires clarification and provide all relevant supporting documents.

₹25,000 processing fee for special applications

For cases requiring NMC intervention, institutions must submit a processing fee of ₹25,000, along with the applicable 18% GST, making the total fee payable higher. The Commission has stated that this fee is non-refundable, irrespective of the outcome of the application.

The NMC has also made it clear that applications submitted directly by individual faculty members or candidates will not be accepted under normal circumstances.

However, an exception has been introduced to safeguard applicants. If a medical college or university fails to forward a genuine request to the NMC within 60 days of receiving it, the concerned candidate may apply directly to the PGMEB.

In such cases, the applicant must submit a signed declaration, proof that the institution failed to act within the stipulated period, all supporting documents and the prescribed processing fee. If the institution had already collected the fee from the candidate, it will be required to refund the amount.

New rules effective immediately

The Commission has announced that the revised procedure has come into force with immediate effect.

However, applications received by the NMC before July 16 will continue to be processed under the previous system, while all applications received on or after July 16 will be governed by the new guidelines.

The latest move is expected to accelerate faculty recruitment and promotion decisions by empowering institutions to implement the MI-QFR 2025 regulations independently, while allowing the NMC to focus on policy interpretation and complex regulatory issues rather than routine administrative approvals.