Govt doctors in TN threaten strike over pay and promotions

Govt doctors in TN threaten strike over pay and promotions 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  21.01.2026

Chennai : Govt doctors in Tamil Nadu threatened to go on strike and boycott patient care if their demands for higher pay and time-bound promotions were not met. While different associations presented different recommendations on how it must be implemented, all associations insisted on better pay and a better working environment.

On Monday, associations met with health and finance officials to present their demands. The federation of govt doctors’ associations (FOGDA) said promotions and increments must be given in the 4th, 9th and 13th year of service, against the present system, where promotions come in 8, 15, 17 and 20 years of service. “We insisted that govt order number 354, issued in 2009 must be implemented,” said FOGDA convenor Dr A Ramalingam. 

Doctors argued that teachers joining arts and science, engineering or veterinary colleges earned far more than doctors working at govt medical colleges. “We offer patient care and teaching, but we are paid less,” he said. For instance, after 20 years of service, associate professors in other colleges earned at least ₹25,000 more every month compared with specialists in medical colleges, and professors earned at least ₹75,000 more every month, he said. Tamil Nadu govt doctors association asked for first promotion for a doctor when he or she got a postgraduate medical or diploma degree. “In the 5th and 10th year after this, they must get their second and third promotions. This means they would get the 4th pay grade by their 17th year of service. We asked for UGC scale payment with time-bound promotions,” said TNGDA president Dr K Senthil. 

The association also insisted the govt must allow doctors in all three directorates to take their eligible leave without hindrance. “Doctors are allowed to take off on public holidays and an additional 12 days as casual leave. If there is any emergency beyond this, they will have to lose their service seniority for leave,” he said. “Doctors swipe attendance even on days they are sick. This is inhuman and violates all labour  laws. At least 70% of the doctors who appear for transfer or promotion counselling are shifted to places that are more than 30km away from their families. We decided to agitate if the govt does not address this,” said Dr Senthil. 

FOGDA said they will go on a two-day token hunger strike in Chennai from Jan 28 in the first phase. “All govt doctors were instructed to continue their duties while wearing or holding protest badges, but if the state does not meet our demands, we will boycott patient care. We are left with no choice,” Dr Ramalingam said.

In 2023 too, -40 was good enough for NEET PG

In 2023 too, -40 was good enough for NEET PG 

Rema.Nagarajan@timesofindia.com 19.01.2026

There is much outrage in the medical community that the cut off for NEET PG 2025 has been reduced to zero percentile for the reserved category, which is equivalent to a score of -40. However, this is not the first time a score of -40 was good enough to qualify. The cut off was similarly reduced to zero percentile in 2023 for all categories and then too the equivalent score was -40. 

In 2023, when the medical counselling committee announced the reduction to zero percentile, it did not reveal that this was equivalent to a score of -40. TOI had analysed NEET scores and pointed out that zero percentile meant 14 candidates who scored zero marks, 13 with negative marks and the one getting the lowest mark of -40 out of 800 would also qualify. 

In 2025, there are 126 candidates who have scored zero or less. Zero percentile means the lowest score or that none of the candidates got less. In 2023 and in 2025, one candidate got the lowest score of -40. Interestingly, in July 2022, in response to a petition filed by three students seeking lower cut off, govt had stated in court that “minimum qualifying percentile for admission is required to be maintained to ensure minimum standard of education and general standards for admission to professional courses”. Taking govt’s argument into consideration, the court dismissed the petition and ruled against lowering the standards of medical education as it “involves in its ambit the matter of life and death”. 

In 2023, govt officials were quoted in news reports justifying lowering the cut off to zero as aone-time measure to fill vacant PG seats. However, this has become a regular feature with cut offs being lowered to abysmal levels every year. About 2 lakh to 2.3 lakh students appear for NEET PG for over 70,000 seats. However, the seats in private colleges remain vacant as the fees for clinical subjects in many of them runs into crores, which most candidates cannot afford. 

Lowering the cut off increases the pool of ‘qualified’ candidates and improves the chance of finding candidates with deep pockets who can afford the fees even if they have rock bottom scores. “To lower NEET PG qualifying marks to abysmal level is driven solely by commercial considerations. This decision ‘reserves’ post-graduate medical seats to the rich and mighty in commercial fiefdoms called private medical colleges. This is shameful and must be condemned as unadulterated corruption,” tweeted former principal health secretary of Andhra Pradesh Dr P V Ramesh.

9 years is enough punishment! Supreme Court tells university to consider apology of doctor penalised for wearing digital watch in exam

9 years is enough punishment! Supreme Court tells university to consider apology of doctor penalised for wearing digital watch in exam 

Written By : Barsha Misra

Published On 17 Jan 2026 1:27 PM 

Supreme Court of India

New Delhi: After considering the appeal of a young doctor's father, the Supreme Court has allowed the medico to tender an unconditional apology to the medical college for wearing a digital watch in an exam.

Further, the top court bench has also requested the university to consider his representation with "utmost sympathy" and an endeavour to save the young professional's career.

While considering the plea by the father, the Apex Court observed that the son's nine-year professional exile was "a more than sufficient punishment having regard to the nature of the misdemeanours", and also noted that any further blockage of his career would be "too harsh and disproportionate".

"At the end of the day, there is a father standing in court with folded hands, trying to save the academic career of his son, in whose MBBS degree, it appears that the University has made some adverse remarks based upon the history of adopting unfair means. The sheer frustration caused due to the inability of his son to pursue higher studies, is seemingly prompting the first petitioner, seemingly has brought negativity and is instigating the first petitioner to file complaints here and there. While we do not find any merit in those complaints, within the scope of interference under Article 137 of the Constitution, and consequently, we see no ground to interfere with the imprinted order passed by the Bar Council of India..." ordered the Supreme Court bench comprising Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi.

The matter goes back to February 2017, when at Chennai-based Sri Ramachandra Medical College, the petitioner's son was found wearing a digital wristwatch during an examination. Under the University's strict "unfair means" policy, the student's exam was cancelled. Despite clearing the papers later, the shadow of the incident continued to follow the student. This resulted in the family getting engaged in a relentless legal crusade, losing in the High Court and the Supreme Court, dismissing their Review and Curative petitions.

As per the latest media report by Verdictum, the student's father appeared in person, alleging a conspiracy involving "polluted counsels" and "fabricated documents". He also argued that the Bar Council of India failed to investigate his claims of fraud by legal representatives who allegedly withdrew the petitions without consent.

After considering the matter, the Court observed,

"We are conscious of the fact that Ramchandra Medical College and Research Institute, Purur, Chennai, has not been called or heard at this stage. It is so only to avoid them to be burdened with litigation expenses, especially when we are not passing an order of irreversible adverse impact on the functioning of the college. So, all that we observe is that Petition No. 2, for that matter, even his father, Dr. ***, Petition No. 1, to tender an unconditional apology to the university along with an application for expunsion of the adverse marks said to have been recorded in the marksheet of MBBS degree. We request the medical college to consider such a representation with utmost sympathy and with an endeavour to save the professional career of a young doctor. The amendments in favour of the petitioners, it shall be highly appreciated if a favourable order is passed at the earliest and preferably within one month from the date of submission of the representation." While refusing to reopen the merits of the original 2017 disqualification or the dismissed curative petition, the Court pivoted toward a humanitarian solution. The Court observed that the sheer duration of the struggle- a nine-year block on a medical career- had become a punishment far exceeding the gravity of the original offence.

The Court did not entertain further litigation against legal professionals or the university and directed the petitioners to offer an unconditional apology to the institution. Also, the Court requested the University to act with "utmost sympathy" to expunge the adverse remarks, prioritising the future of young professionals over the technicalities of past misconduct.

"However, it seems to us that the first petitioner, as well as his son, have suffered enough on account of the misdemeanours committed by Petitioner No. 2 while he was appearing in the examination held on 23rd February 2017. The multiple rounds of unsuccessful litigation, coupled with the fact that Petition No. 2 has not been able to seek admission to higher specialised courses for almost nine years, is a more than sufficient punishment having regard to the nature of the misdemeanours attributed to him, his son, attributed to the second petitioner. If his professional career as a doctor is permanently blocked, which is bound to happen if there are adverse marks in his degree issued by the medical college, such a punishment will become too harsh and disproportionate to the proven misconduct," ordered the Court. With this observation, the Court disposed of the matter.

NEET PG cut-off slashed to 7th percentile for general category

NEET PG cut-off slashed to 7th percentile for general category 

IN GUJARAT, 642 SEATS VACANT 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  14.01.2026

Ahmedabad : After prolonged deliberations and mounting pressure from states, the National Board of Examinations (NBE) officially announced a significant reduction in the NEET-PG percentile criteria for admission to postgraduate medical courses, including MD and MS. The decision came after the completion of two rounds of counselling, with a large number of seats remaining vacant across the country.

Candidates from the general and EWS categories in the 7th percentile too will now be considered eligible for PG medical admission, equivalent to 103 marks in NEET-PG. For candidates in the GeneralPwD category, the qualifying percentile reduced to 5 percentile (around 90 marks). Notably, candidates belonging to SC, ST, and OBC categories will now be eligible at 0 percentile, which corresponds to minus 40 marks.

The earlier eligibility criteria —50th percentile (general), 45th percentile (PwD), and 40th percentile (reserved categories) — were applied for the first two rounds of counselling. However, despite this, over 20,000 PG medical seats remain vacant nationwide. In Gujarat alone, around 642 seats are currently vacant due to non-reporting by candidates, unconfirmed admissions, newly approved seats, and non-converted seats. 

Following the revised percentile announcement, authorities confirmed that fresh registration was mandatory for candidates wishing to participate in the upcoming counselling rounds under the lowered eligibility criteria. There have also been demands that candidates who did not secure their preferred courses in the first two rounds be allowed to participate in the fresh round. Registration for local seats in Gujarat is expected to begin on Thursday, with the detailed admission schedule to be announced shortly thereafter.

NEET-PG cut-off slashed to fill 9,000 vacant seats amid doctor shortage

NEET-PG cut-off slashed to fill 9,000 vacant seats amid doctor shortage

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 14.01.2026

New Delhi : The govt on Tuesday lowered the qualifying cut-off for NEET-PG 2025, paving the way to fill more than 9,000 vacant postgraduate medical seats across the country, amid concerns that a large chunk of training capacity was being wasted at a time of acute doctor shortages. The decision was notified by National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), which revised qualifying percentiles across categories to expand eligibility for counselling and admissions. Officials said around 2.42 lakh candidates appeared for NEET-PG this year, but a high cut-off had left thousands of seats unfilled. 

Under the revised criteria, the qualifying percentile for general and EWS candidates has been reduced from the 50 th to the 7 th percentile, and for general persons with benchmark disability (PwBD) from the 45 th to the 5 th percentile. For SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD, the percentile has been reduced from 40 to zero, with the corresponding cut-off score fixed at –40 out of 800 (due to negative marking). 

Officials said India has around 65,000–70,000 PG medical seats, and allowing nearly one in seven seats to remain vacant would weaken teaching hospitals and strain healthcare delivery, particularly in govt institutions that rely heavily on resident doctors. The relaxation followed a representation by Indian Medical Association (IMA), which had written to Union health minister J P Nadda on Jan 12, seeking a rational revision of cut-offs to prevent large-scale vacancies.

MCC moves to lower qualifying percentile

 MCC moves to lower qualifying percentile

 PG MEDICAL INTAKE HALTED 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  11.01.2026

Ahmedabad : Round 3 of PG medical counselling for 2025 has been put on hold as the medical counselling committee (MCC) moves to revise the qualifying percentile. The MCC has instructed all state medical education departments and vice chancellors to halt third-round proceedings until a revised schedule is officially released, a move that makes it unlikely for the process to commence before Jan 15.

The delay comes at a time when Gujarat has 635 vacant PG medical seats. This includes 163 seats left empty due to non-reporting by candidates allotted seats. Additionally, 354 seats were already vacant, and approval was recently granted for 118 new PG seats. 

The MCC clarified that the all-India quota and state-level schedules will only be uploaded once the authority approves the new eligibility criteria. Additionally, the Union health ministry is conducting hearings until Jan 10 regarding appeals from state-run colleges for even more PG seats. Sources suggest that if the qualifying percentile is lowered, the Round 3 process may restart entirely to allow newly eligible candidates to apply

No separate recognition needed for MBBS seats: NMC

No separate recognition needed for MBBS seats: NMC

Once seats are approved or renewed annually, that batch will be treated as recognised for that year, regulatory body tells medical colleges; directs them to submit only an annual report and fee

Earlier practice of granting separate recognition to
MBBS seats had been discontinued under fresh regulations issued in 2023. File photo

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI  11.01.2026

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical colleges not to submit separate proposals for recognition of MBBS seats, clarifying that the annual renewal of seats itself will be treated as recognition under the current regulatory framework.

“The commission has issued the clarification after the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) started receiving applications from some medical colleges for recognition, along with fees. Now we have made it clear that there is no need for separate applications for recognition of MBBS seats and fee structure,’’ said a Union Health Ministry official. The earlier practice of granting separate recognition to MBBS seats had been discontinued following the implementation of the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023.

As per these regulations, medical colleges are required to submit only the annual disclosure report (ADR) along with the prescribed fee on the NMC portal, as and when called for. The ADR is a mandatory report, which colleges submit to the NMC with details on their infrastructure and ability to maintain standards needed to conduct the medical courses.

Once MBBS seats are approved or renewed annually, the permitted batch and the seats will be treated as recognised for that particular academic year, the NMC said in its order. Such medical colleges and institutions will be considered accredited ones for the said courses, it added.

NMC charges ₹2L one-time fee for colleges to hike MBBS seats, PG intake up 450 so far

NMC charges ₹2L one-time fee for colleges to hike MBBS seats, PG intake up 450 so far

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com  08.01.2026

New Delhi : The National Medical Commission has so far cleared around 450 additional postgraduate (PG) medical seats for the 2025–26 academic year through the appeal process. It has also introduced a non-refundable one-time registration fee of Rs 2 lakh plus 18% GST and removed the earlier cap that limited applications for an increase of up to 100 MBBS seats at a time. 

On PG admissions, Dr M K Ramesh, president of Medical Assessment and Rating Board, told TOI, PG seat approvals by the first appeal committee are cumulative and ongoing. While earlier notices cited 171 and later 262 additional seats, the total cleared through appeals so far is around 450, with further additions possible. The additional PG seats — mostly incremental increases of one to four seats per programme— span high-demand specialties, including general medicine, radiodiagnosis, dermatology, paediatrics, orthopaedics, obstetrics and gynaecology, psychiatry and general surgery, across medical colleges. 

Most of these seats have gone to private medical colleges, though some govt institutions are also included, as per the available list. MARB has directed counselling authorities to include the newly sanctioned PG seats without waiting for individual Letters of Permission (LoPs), treating the consolidated list uploaded on the NMC website as a valid document for counselling. Officials said publishing consolidated appeal approvals online was introduced to speed up admissions and improve transparency. 

Separately, NMC has introduced a non-refundable onetime registration fee of Rs 2 lakh plus 18% GST for institutions seeking to start new MBBS colleges or increase undergraduate seats from the 2026–27 academic year. Explaining the move, Dr Ramesh said the fee is aimed at ensuring serious intent and accountability, stressing that establishing a medical college cannot be treated  as a routine business decision. He said the registration fee is separate from the existing application fee of Rs 5 lakh for 50 MBBS seats, which rises with higher intake, and only partly offsets the cost of inspections, including travel and stay for three to five assessors conducting multi-day assessments. On MBBS expansion, Dr Ramesh said the earlier cap allowing applications for a maximum increase of 100 MBBS seats at a time was withdrawn because it had no explicit backing in existing regulations and could not be legally sustained.

Regulatory grey area ?

Regulatory grey area ? 

BRD Medical college student remains in MBBS first year for 11 years

Written By : Divyani Paul Published On 31 Dec 2025 2:00 PM  

Uttar Pradesh: An unprecedented academic case has come to light at BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur, where an MBBS student has remained in the first year of his course for over eleven years now. Following this, the college has now come under scrutiny.

According to media reports, the student was admitted in 2014 under the Scheduled Caste (SC) quota. Even after 11 years, he has not been able to pass the first-year MBBS exams. However, according to college sources, the student only attempted the exams once. He failed all the papers and subsequently stopped appearing for the exams altogether.

Meanwhile, as per the latest report by Hindustan, action has begun in the case. On Monday, a meeting of the Academic Committee was held in the Principal’s office, chaired by the college Principal, Dr Ramkumar Jaiswal. The committee has eight members, six of whom are heads of departments. The hostel warden was also called to the meeting and asked to present the complete details of the matter. After this, the committee decided to summon the student’s father for discussions. The student’s father is a police sub-inspector. The student will also be spoken to. Any course of action will be decided only after hearing both sides.

Teachers present in the Academic Committee agreed that the student should be given an opportunity. However, this would require certain initiatives from the student as well. He will have to study, prepare seriously, and appear for examinations on time. The Academic Committee has also decided to provide counselling to the student. Additionally, it was resolved that if the student is willing to study, teachers will conduct extra classes for him and offer academic counselling, adds the Hindustan

Student's enrollment:

The student has been enrolled in the MBBS first year for the past 11 years. The student is a resident of Azamgarh, and his father is a police sub-inspector. He took admission in 2014 through the CPMT examination. Over the past 11 years, he has appeared for the MBBS first-year examination only once, in which he failed all papers. Since then, he has never appeared for the examination again. He continues to reside in one of the medical college hostels.

It has been reported that the hostel warden had complained three to four times to the former Principal, Dr Ganesh Kumar, but no action was taken. The warden has now lodged a complaint with the current Principal, Dr Ramkumar Jaiswal.

MCI and NMC Regulations:

At the time of the student’s admission, medical college admissions were governed by the rules of the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI). Under the MCI rules, there was no restriction on the duration within which students had to complete their studies; they could take as many years as required. In 2023, the provisions of the National Medical Commission (NMC) came into force for medical colleges.

Whether the NMC rules apply to this student or not is a legal question. Under the current NMC regulations, MBBS students must pass the first-year examination within four attempts, and the entire course, including internship, must be completed within nine years.

Therefore, this case falls into a regulatory grey area, making disciplinary action difficult.

Gorakhpur Student Completed MBBS in 22 Years

This is not the first instance of an MBBS course being completed over many years at the medical college. Several students have taken 10 to 12 years to complete the 4.5-year course. It is said that a student admitted in 1980 completed the course in nearly 22 years. This is considered the longest duration taken by a student to complete MBBS at the college.

On this, speaking to India Today, Dr Ramkumar, the principal of BRD Medical College, said that the issue had recently come to his attention. He further added that the matter would be discussed in the academic committee and then referred to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for guidance on further action. However, this incident has raised serious questions about institutional oversight, academic accountability, and regulatory shortcomings in medical education governance.

Clinical research no longer optional, to be integrated into MBBS, PG medical curriculum: NMC Chief

Clinical research no longer optional, to be integrated into MBBS, PG medical curriculum: NMC Chief 

Written By : MD Bureau Published On 5 Jan 2026 12:45 PM  

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to integrate clinical research as a core component of medical education, moving it out of the optional category and embedding it into the mainstream clinical curriculum, including assessment and training.

NMC Chairperson and NBEMS President Dr Abhijat Sheth said the decision has been approved in principle by the NMC Board.

A joint committee involving ICMR, IISc, IITs and medical experts will be formed to draft a framework for large-scale integration of clinical research across undergraduate and postgraduate medical education. The initiative is expected to enhance the quality of medical education and foster a stronger culture of clinical research within the medical fraternity.

Speaking to ANI, Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairperson NMC and President NBEMS said, "Clinical research is an important subject and we realise that it should be integrated into the mainstream part of the clinical medicine rather than optional or side subjects."

Hence, the National Medical Commission has decided that clinical research will be an integral part of clinical medicine, where not only the curriculum, but also curriculum assessment and training will be a part of the medical curriculum, said.

"I am happy to say that recently, the National Medical Commission Board has approved this in principle.Now, we will form a committee with ICMR, with the Indian Institute of Science and Technology and IITs and the experts from the medical fraternity to frame the draft proposal on how we will go for the clinical research on a large scale that includes both, undergraduate as well as postgraduate medical education as well as what ICMR has suggested that they will be very happy to start new PhD courses for clinical research and same also has been expressed by Indian Institute of Science and Technology and few of the Indian Institute of Technologies across India which has already far advanced into innovations and discovery. 

This will be a big advantage in terms of enhancement of quality in the medical education as well as a big advantage to the nation to build up the culture of clinical research amongst the medical fraternity, which is the need of the hour," added Dr Sheth, quotes ANI.

MBBS student remains in first year for over a decade at Gorakhpur college

MBBS student remains in first year for over a decade at Gorakhpur college 

Grappling with regulatory hurdles, the BRD Medical College administration has now approached the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking its guidance to resolve the issue. 

PTI Last Updated : 05 January 2026, 15:20 IST Follow Us :

Gorakhpur: An unusual case has come to light at the BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur where an MBBS student of the 2014 batch has remained in the first year for more than a decade after failing to clear the first-year examination.

Grappling with regulatory hurdles, the college administration has now approached the National Medical Commission (NMC) seeking its guidance to resolve the issue.

According to college authorities, the student, who could not clear the first-year MBBS examination in 2015, has been residing in the UG hostel since 2014.

The student has neither filled the examination form nor appeared for any subsequent attempts in the last 11 years. He is also not engaged in regular academic activities, officials said.

Under existing medical education rules, a student who fails the first-year MBBS examination is not required to seek fresh admission and can reappear by simply filling the examination form. Due to this provision, the student's enrolment continues to remain technically valid, preventing the college from cancelling his admission.

Repeated counselling sessions by the college authorities failed to yield any result, following which the administration contacted the student's father.

However, despite three phone calls from the principal's office asking him to visit the college, the student's father has not turned up so far, the officials said, adding that the father has shown little concern for his son's academic future.

It has further complicated matters for the college as the student's active enrolment status makes it difficult to evict him from the hostel.

The officials said mess fees are collected along with the examination form, and since the student has not filled the form for years, he has not paid mess charges but continues to avail free boarding and lodging facility.

The college has now sought guidance from the NMC to resolve the issue.

"A final decision will be taken only after clear directions are received from the NMC," BRD Medical College Principal Dr Ramkumar Jaiswal said.

MBBS student stuck in first year for over a decade at a Gorakhpur medical college;

MBBS student stuck in first year for over a decade at a Gorakhpur medical college; 

NMC asked to step in A medical student in Gorakhpur has remained enrolled in the first year of MBBS for over a decade without clearing exams or appearing for them.

This regulatory loophole prevents the college from cancelling his admission or evicting him from the hostel, prompting a referral to the National Medical Commission for guidance.

Apeksha TanwarTOI Education

Jan 5, 2026, 10:11 IST

MBBS student stuck in first year for over a decade at a Gorakhpur medical college; NMC asked to step in 

At a government medical college in Gorakhpur, an undergraduate medical student has remained enrolled in the first year of the Bachelor of Medicine, Bachelor of Surgery (MBBS) course for more than a decade, exposing a regulatory gap that the institution says it cannot resolve on its own. 

The student, admitted to the 2014 batch at Baba Raghav Das Medical College, failed to clear the first-year MBBS examination in 2015. Since then, he has neither filled the examination form nor appeared for any subsequent attempt over the past 11 years, according to college authorities quoted by PTI. 

Despite this prolonged academic absence, the student continues to hold a technically valid enrolment under existing medical education rules. The college has now approached the National Medical Commission (NMC), seeking guidance on how to proceed.

Enrolment without progression

Under current regulations governing medical education, a student who fails the first-year MBBS examination is not required to seek fresh admission. The student can reappear by filling the examination form whenever they choose. As a result, the enrolment does not automatically lapse. In this case, that provision has left the college with little room to act. Officials told PTI that because the student remains enrolled on paper, the institution cannot cancel his admission.

The student has been residing in the undergraduate hostel since 2014 and is not participating in regular academic activities, the officials said. 

Hostel stay and unpaid dues

The situation has been further complicated by the student’s continued stay in the hostel. According to college authorities, mess fees are collected along with the examination form. Since the student has not filled the form for several years, he has not paid mess charges but continues to avail boarding and lodging facilities. The college said the active enrolment status makes it difficult to evict him from the hostel, even though he is not attending classes or appearing for examinations. 

Counselling efforts and family response 

College authorities said they conducted repeated counselling sessions with the student, but these efforts did not lead to any change. The administration then contacted the student’s father. According to officials, the principal’s office made three phone calls requesting the father to visit the college. He has not done so, and has shown little concern for his son’s academic future, the officials added. 

Matter referred to the NMC

With no clear mechanism available under existing rules to resolve the situation, the college has formally sought guidance from the National Medical Commission. “A final decision will be taken only after clear directions are received from the NMC,” Principal Dr Ramkumar Jaiswal told PTI. The case underscores how regulatory provisions designed to offer flexibility to students can, in rare instances, leave institutions without a clear path to act when academic participation ceases altogether.

NBEMS to train doctors in AI, ML

 NBEMS to train doctors in AI, ML 

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com 05.01.2026

The National Board of Examinations (NBEMS) has recently announced introduction of online programme in Artificial Intelligence in Medical Education for postgraduate doctors and faculty, to facilitate precision medicine in Indian medical systems, enable datadriven decision-making during public health emergencies, improve hospital management, ensure uniform quality of training, and prepare doctors for a digital future. 

Furthermore, the NBEMS will soon launch a two-year fellowship for doctors to train in AI and ML in IITs. NBEMS is primarily an exam-conducting authority and does not traditionally run academic programmes. Moreover, doctors consulting large language models (LLMs) for diagnosis could create a trust deficit between patients and physicians. Against this backdrop, it is essential to examine why AI, including LLMs, is being integrated into healthcare systems and how its role is being defined.

“India produces nearly 75,000 postgraduate doctors every year, yet the country continues to face a specialist deficit estimated at 10-15 lakh. With over 17,000 hospitals spread across vastly different geographies and capacities, ensuring uniform quality of training has become challenging. AI, ML, and digital health technologies can help bridge gaps in healthcare delivery. Integrating AI in medical education is driven by two converging realities. First, healthcare delivery is becoming increasingly data-intensive—from imaging and pathology to genomics and hospital management. 

Second, human cognition alone can no longer process the sheer volume of clinical data being generated daily,” says Dr Minu Bajpai, vice president, NBEMS. Reducing Human Error A global survey by Elsevier across 111 countries, covering over 3,000 physicians, found that 83% of doctors without technological literacy risk being left behind. “AI will not replace doctors, but doctors trained in the latest technology will replace those who are not. AI will reinforce and standardise clinical diagnosis. For example, digitised biopsy slides can be analysed through AI software, enabling accurate reporting even in districts without specialist pathologists. X-rays, CT scans and MRIs can be increasingly interpreted with AI assistance, reducing reporting delays and  human error,” says Dr Bajpai.

AI processes genetic data, disease history, comorbidities, and lifestyle factors to suggest personalised treatment, particularly for chronic diseases such as diabetes and cancer. “Patients need different treatment pathways, and that precision is not possible without data analytics,” he adds. The NBEMS has developed modules to train doctors in AI and ML at IITs and will soon launch a fellowship that will enable doctors to learn algorithm development at premier engineering institutions.

Scalpel losing edge: Few medical grads opt for surgery

Scalpel losing edge: Few medical grads opt for surgery 

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 

New Delhi : India’s top-performing medical graduates have made their preference clear in this year’s NEET-PG counselling — career stability is trumping the operating table. In the first round of NEET-PG 2025, medicine and radiology dominated choices among high-rankers while general surgery saw one of its steepest drops in recent years, reflecting growing concerns over stress, long training pathways and mounting medico-legal pressures. 

Among the first 1,500 candidates, 632 (42%) chose MD General Medicine and 447 (30%) opted for MD Radiodiagnosis. Only 99 students (6.6%) selected MS General Surgery, indicating a widening shift away from high-risk procedural fields. A strong preference for Delhi also emerged, with six of the top 10 candidates choosing Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital. 

Dr Neeraj Nischal from the department of medicine at AIIMS said, “MD Medicine is the gateway to almost all superspecialities, so it has always been in high demand. Students feel diagnostics offers a more controlled work life, though that may not always be true.” The fall in interest for surgery, senior clinicians say, is rooted in deeper anxieties. “Surgical branches are very demanding — you need passion. Otherwise, burnout is inevitable,” Dr Nischal said. 

Surgeons themselves acknowledge that the field has steadily lost appeal. “It takes much longer to settle down because general surgery is only the first step — you usually need to super-specialise in neurosurgery, cardiac surgery, urology or paediatric surgery,” said Dr Piyush Ranjan from AIIMS surgery department.

Hidden costs increase PG medical course fee past ₹16 lakh cap at universities in TN UPTO ₹75 LA YEAR

Hidden costs increase PG medical course fee past ₹16 lakh cap at universities in TN UPTO ₹75 LA YEAR 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  22.11.2025

Chennai : Deemed universities across Tamil Nadu have increased tuition fees for postgraduate medical courses, with some setting it at ₹75 lakh a year, taking the threeyear fee tally for highdemand clinical courses to ₹2.2 crore. Health department officials said attempts to cap the fee according to Madras high court’s direction failed, as matters are pending in court. While deemed universities display the total fee on their admission brochures, self-financing medical colleges and state private medical universities conceal it. 

The fee-fixation committee capped the 2025 tuition fee for clinical and non-clinical courses at ₹16 lakh towards tuition fees at selffinancing colleges. But candidates say they are asked to pay up to ₹35 lakh, citing rising costs of hospital operations, hostel maintenance, mess, and transport costs. “We won’t know the cost until we go to the colleges with allotment letters,” said a doctor waiting for admissions to a postgraduate course. Directorate of medical education officials say this happened in undergraduate education in 2025. At least 50 undergraduate medical students, who were allotted seats in self-financing medical colleges and state private universities in 2025, have written to the state selection committee complaining that colleges are demanding higher fees, officials said. “There is no syntax. I was asked to pay ₹8 lakh more by the committee for management quota in one college during my son’s admission. My friend was asked to pay ₹10 lakh in another college,” said Shankar R. They paid the fees not just because they could afford it, but also because they did not want to forfeit deposits in the third round.

 While in the first two rounds of counselling, students are allowed a “free exit” where they are not punished for not taking the seat allotted to them, students must forfeit the security deposit of ₹1.3 lakh. If they download admit cards, they lose the first-year tuition fee of ₹16 lakh. Despite this, candidates withdrew from the third round. “One candidate was confident of taking the seat. He downloaded the admit card after paying ₹15 lakh. When they went to the college, they were asked to pay ₹8 lakh more. Nowhere was this fee mentioned. 

They have no budget,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “Sometimes it seems like the deemed university method is better as there is no hidden fee. Parents opt for it if they can afford it,” he said. The family, he said, has filed a complaint with the selection committee for violation of fee committee norms. Directorate of medical education officials said they will forward complaints to the fee committee headed by Justice R Pongaiappan. On Thursday, the judge told TOI that according to the GO, his term has ended. “The complaints will be dealt with by my successor,” he said. Parents are upset. “By the time they appoint a new committee, this admission season would have ended,” said Saravanakumar K, a parent.

Docs warn against relying on AI tools for med advice

Docs warn against relying on AI tools for med advice 

Ajay.Tomar@timesofindia.com 10.11.2025

Hyderabad : Doctors in Hyderabad have cautioned people against relying solely on artificial intelligence (AI) tools such as ChatGPT for medical advice. They emphasised that patients, especially those with chronic or serious health conditions, must always consult a qualified healthcare professional before making any changes to medication, diet, or treatment plans. 

The warning comes after at least two alarming incidents were recently reported in the city. In the first case, a 30-year old woman who had undergone a kidney transplant under the Jeevandan programme at the Nizam's Institute of Medical Sciences (NIMS) lost her transplanted kidney after discontinuing her prescribed antibiotics based on ChatGPT’s suggestion.

 “The woman, who had been on dialysis for seven years before the transplant, reportedly stopped all her medication after ChatGPT told her that since her creatinine levels were normal, she no longer needed the drugs,” said Dr Sree Bhushan Raju, senior nephrologist, NIMS. 

Within weeks, her condition deteriorated, and her creatinine levels spiked again. She eventually required surgery and had to be put back on dialysis before being discharged recently. “We are seeing a worrying trend where even educated patients are relying on AI-generated advice instead of consulting doctors,” said Dr Mohd Taif, another senior nephrologist. 

Similar patterns Doctors said similar patterns are being noticed among the elderly as well, with many seeking advice on medicines or dosage changes from ChatGPT despite being advised otherwise by their doctors. “This over-reliance on AI is becoming a dangerous habit,” said Dr Taif. In another incident, a 62year-old diabetic man from the city suffered sudden weight loss and dangerously low sodium levels after following a diet plan suggested by ChatGPT. 

The AI tool had advised him to completely reduce salt intake, which proved harmful given his pre-existing condition. “These incidents show that while AI can provide general information, it lacks the clinical judgment and contextual understanding that a trained doctor brings,” said Dr K Rakesh, a senior govt nephrologist. 

In Aug this year, a 60-year-old man from New York was reportedly hospitalised after following a ChatGPTgenerated diet plan that advised him to replace all table salt (sodium chloride) with sodium bromide, a toxic substance. “People are starting to believe that ChatGPT is superior to doctors, but no AI can match the intellect, intuition, and experience of a medical professional,” said Dr Raju.

Repeated delays in NEET PG counselling disrupt academic cycle, burdening resident docs

Repeated delays in NEET PG counselling disrupt academic cycle, burdening resident docs 

Experts warn that unless the schedule is streamlined and accountability is fixed, the ripple effects will continue to affect the postgraduate training cycle year after year

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com  27.10.2025  TIMES EDUCATION 

In 2025, the delay in NEET PG counselling and admissions has affected the academic cycle and is causing significant stress among PG aspirants and resident doctors due to uncertainty and increased workload. The NEET PG exam was held on August 3, 2025, and the results were declared on August 19, 2025. However, more than 60 days have passed since the exam, and admissions are still pending. 

In 2024, too, the NEET PG counselling was delayed, and the round 1 admissions were conducted in October. The PG counselling has been struggling with a steady schedule for the last five years; only in 2020 and 2023 did the counselling schedule start on time, giving PG students enough time to settle into their first-year routine. A delayed academic cycle creates a vicious loop and has a domino effect on the entire PG course. The authorities must ensure the academic cycle returns to track in 2026 to ensure a smooth admission process.

 “To regularise the academic cycle, some adjustments need to be made. This year, the seat metrics (seat data) were shared on October 15, and counselling registrations could begin only after the NMC shared the seat matrix. There’s only one way to make the process smoother: conduct inspections and release results on time,” says a Health Ministry official on condition of anonymity. Often, students are partly responsible for delays; they file petitions and delay the process further. If exams and metrics are completed on time, counselling will automatically begin on time.

 “NMC is facing staffing issues — it has 33 members, of whom just two are active. If exams and metrics are delayed, the entire timeline shifts. Ideally, exams should take place by March, and the counselling process should start by May or June. But when the initial flow breaks, the delay compounds. 

This year, the session should start around November, after the first round of counselling,” adds the official. The NEET PG course spans three years. In the first year, students must submit their thesis protocol; in the second year, they write the thesis; and in the third year, they take their final exam followed by the district residency programme.

 “If metrics come as late as October-November, everything shifts,” says the official. The PG course runs year-wise, and students must take one final exam after three years. “Postgraduates become eligible for taking superspeciality exams. Hence, when PG courses end late, super-speciality exams get delayed too. The delay starts from the very first year. The NMC conducts inspections regularly. Usually, they should start around September and ideally finish by March. It was delayed this year due to a lack of staff and court cases,” says the official. 

Resident doctors say that the NMC keeps updating the seat matrix long after the results have been announced and the counselling schedule released, and this lack of accountability and the inability to adhere to fixed timelines have become a pattern over the past three to four years. “Every year, counselling gets delayed and batches overlap; there’s no strict timeline for when postgraduate residency starts. There are two sets of students — those who’ve just finished their internship and are appearing for the PG exam for the first time, and those who’ve taken a drop of one or two years to secure their preferred branch. Those who’ve taken a drop spend heavily on rent and coaching fees, amounting to Rs 50,000 60,000 a month.

 It’s stressful for both the students and their parents,” says Dr Devaunshi Kaul, senior resident, Department of Anaesthesia and Intensive Care, Safdarjung Hospital, and national president, FORDA. FAIMA executive, Dr Aman Kaushik, a NEET PG aspirant, says, “When the INI CET exam can be conducted on schedule, then it should not be untenable to conduct the NEET PG exam on schedule. AIIMS releases the schedule much in advance. It is important that NBEMS releases its exam schedule on time for the 2026-27 cycle.”

MBBS counselling impacted after MCC adds new seats midway

MBBS counselling impacted after MCC adds new seats midway

 Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 27.10.2025

TIMES EDUCATION   BANGALURU

Addition of 11,000 MBBS seats and introduction of new medical colleges midway has impacted the ongoing NEET UG 2025-26 counselling process adding to the troubles of aspirants. While the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has allowed seat upgrade options till the third round since last year (2024-25), the introduction of seats midway has led to disruption in seat allotment. Candidates who secured seats in the first two rounds felt cheated after new seats were opened in top medical colleges, as they already paid fees and reported to their allotted colleges. Since new seats have been added in a few AIIMS and govt medical colleges, candidates who had to settle for lesser-known colleges are clearly frustrated. 

Since many candidates did not choose the upgrade option, they have now missed the chance to compete for the newly added seats. The untimely addition of seats has created unequal opportunities for several talented candidates. Delhi-based counselling expert, Ashish Sinha, says, “NMC delayed the process of inspections and granting approvals to medical colleges. 

By the time new seats were added, aspirants had already joined elsewhere and could not participate in further rounds, as they did not select the upgrade option during the first round of counselling. If seats were added well before the counselling, the cut-off would not look elevated. High ranking students would have thoughtfully opted for the seat in a prominent college, based on their NEET scores.” Candidates who chose upgrade option will have to face significant financial strain as most of them have paid the fee, which is not fully refundable. Several medical colleges, such as MGM Medical College, Panvel, Maharashtra, charge up to Rs 50,000 as are location fee if a candidate decides to transfer to another institution, adds Sinha. 

According to the new MCC rules, aspirants can opt out of locking their seats until round III, which is mandatory during the stray vacancy phase. Dr B Srinivas, member secretary, MCC, says, “The decision to allow upgrade option in the third round was made to accommodate delayed seat approvals by NMC and ensure fair opportunities for all candidates. We knew that seat allotments were getting delayed repeatedly, so we consciously introduced upgradation in the third round this year.” 

The move benefits students seeking government medical colleges after initially being allotted private colleges. “If a student got a private medical seat earlier but now prefers a government college, with the help of this option, they can move to the college of their choice. The vacated seat will automatically be allotted to another candidate, ensuring that all available seats are filled. This system is expected to create a dynamic flow of seat reallocation, giving more students the chance to secure better placements,” Dr Srinivas adds.

However, aspirants appearing for the state counselling face difficulty in switching from state colleges to the colleges offering All India Quota (AIQ) seats. “State counselling bodies impose strict regulations that prevent students from switching to MCC seats after Round II. In one case, during the 2025-26 counselling cycle, an aspirant who had secured admission in Karnataka paid Rs 44 lakh as annual fees, but he was unable to move to DY Patil Medical College, Pune, in Round III. New seats introduced in Round III under MCC significantly lowered the cut-off for DY Patil, Pune. Had all seats been released at once, the student would likely have secured admission there in Round II. Rules stipulate that if an aspirant surrenders a seat after Round II, the entire first-year fee is forfeited—locking them into their initial choice,” says Sinha.

India’s medical education sees historic surge as MBBS seats reach 1,37,600: State-wise distribution here

India’s medical education sees historic surge as MBBS seats reach 1,37,600: 

State-wise distribution here 

India's medical education is transforming with a historic increase in MBBS seats and new colleges. The National Medical Commission is spearheading this expansion to boost healthcare access and train more doctors. This move is set to significantly enhance medical education infrastructure across the nation. The country is on track to meet its ambitious targets for medical seat additions.

TOI Education

Oct 20, 2025, 9:58 IST

India’s medical education sees historic surge as MBBS seats reach 1,37,600 

India’s medical education sector is witnessing an unprecedented transformation, with a historic surge in MBBS seats and new medical colleges across the country. Spearheaded by the National Medical Commission (NMC), this expansion aligns with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s 2024 pledge to create 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years, aiming to improve healthcare access and address the persistent shortage of trained doctors.

 According to PTI, NMC Chairperson Dr. Abhijat Sheth described this growth as a major regulatory milestone, noting that, for the first time, all appeals against MARB decisions were resolved without court intervention. In a parallel move to strengthen medical education, the NMC has partnered with the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) to integrate clinical research into the MBBS curriculum, boosting research infrastructure in medical colleges nationwide. India 

Latest developments In October 2025, the NMC approved 10,650 new MBBS seats and sanctioned 41 new medical colleges for the 2024–25 academic year. This raised the total number of institutions offering MBBS programs to 816 across India. Including seats under Institutes of National Importance such as AIIMS and JIPMER, India’s total MBBS seat count now stands at approximately 1,37,600. 

The approvals followed the commission receiving 170 proposals for expanding undergraduate capacity. Of these, 41 were from government colleges and 129 from private institutions. States such as Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Uttar Pradesh, and Telangana saw significant additions. 

Medical seat expansion trend over 2025 Data from the NMC and the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) indicate a steady increase in MBBS seats throughout 2025. Here is a month-by-month run down based on the MARB and NMC data: 

May 2025 The NMC began reviewing proposals for new undergraduate medical seats and institutions for the 2025–26 academic cycle. Preliminary evaluations indicated around 1,17,750 MBBS seats across 808 medical colleges, establishing the baseline for expansion. 

June and July 2025 During this period, multiple states, particularly Uttar Pradesh, Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, and Karnataka, submitted proposals to the NMC and MARB for new colleges and capacity expansions. Review committees prioritised underserved regions, including northeastern and central Indian districts. 

August 2025 The NMC announced the first wave of inspections and renewals to finalise the seat matrix ahead of NEET-UG counselling 2025. Provisional letters of permission (LOPs) for college upgrades added approximately 1,800 to 2,000 seats nationally.

September 2025 

On September 24–26, 2025, the NMC published an updated seat matrix adding 7,075 new MBBS seats. This increased capacity from 1,17,750 to 1,24,825. The revision included both renewal approvals and newly sanctioned seats across government and private colleges, marking the start of the largest expansion phase since 2020. 

Early October 2025 Between October 10 and 13, 2025, the NMC released another seat matrix revision for NEET-UG 2025. This approved 9,075 new MBBS seats while phasing out around 456 seats due to pending lawsuits or non-compliance. The total number of MBBS seats reached 1,26,600 across 812 medical colleges. Andhra Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Maharashtra, and Karnataka received the largest increases. 

Mid-October 2025: Record expansion announced On October 19, 2025, the NMC formally approved 10,650 new MBBS seats and 41 new medical colleges, bringing the national total to 1,37,600 seats and 816 colleges, as reported by PTI. This approval represents the largest single-year seat expansion in Indian medical education history and advances the government’s target of adding 75,000 new medical seats over five years.

State-wise expansion highlights 

The October 2025 NMC report highlights the following state-wise increases: Uttar Pradesh: Over 1,100 seats across 5 colleges 

Maharashtra: Over 950 seats across 4 colleges 

Tamil Nadu: Over 850 seats across 3 colleges 

Gujarat: Over 800 seats 

Rajasthan: Over 700 seats 

Karnataka: Over 650 seats

Madhya Pradesh: Over 600 seats 

Most of the new colleges and seat expansions are being established in tier-2 and tier-3 cities. This strategy improves geographical access to medical education and reduces regional disparities. 

The road ahead 

The NMC has indicated that further proposals for 2025–26 seat expansions are under review, with the application window opening in early November. If the current pace continues, India is likely to achieve its goal of adding 75,000 new medical seats well before 2029. This expansion represents a transformative moment for India’s medical education landscape, benefiting NEET aspirants and addressing the country’s long-term healthcare needs. 

With inputs from PTI.

MBBS, BDS admissions halted due to tech glitch, seat uncertainty

MBBS, BDS admissions halted due to tech glitch, seat uncertainty 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 17.10.2025

Chennai : MBBS/BDS admissions for 2025 have been halted amid a technical glitch on the website and seat uncertainty though medical colleges opened on Sept 22 for all freshmen. On Thursday, the process was stalled after Medical Counselling Committee's official portal went down when students attempted to log in and lock their college choices. The committee, which admits students to central institutions, deemed universities and All India quota seats in state-run medical colleges, gave candidates until midnight to make choices. 

This technical glitch comes even as National Medical Commission (NMC), the regulatory authority, continues to approve additional seats for existing medical colleges and grant recognition to new colleges for the 2025 academic year. “This is the third round of counselling, and the seat matrix still does not reflect all sanctioned seats,” said student counsellor S Shanmugam. 

“Some seats were added on Wednesday. If they are not added to the seat matrix, they will be available only for students in the stray round. How is this process justified?” he said. Officials at the central counselling committee said arevised schedule will be released once the final seat matrix is received from NMC. 

Meanwhile, the state selection committee stated that the counselling process for admission to govt quota seats in state-run medical colleges, self-financing medical colleges, and state private universities will commence only after the MCC completes its third round. “That way, students will be able to make informed decisions,” said a senior official. Medical college faculty say students joining late tend to miss at least two months of college. 

“By the time the last batch of students join college, they would have missed at least two months of classes. How will they catch up on portions?” said a senior anatomy professor of a govt medical college. “Faculty don’t have the time to conduct special classes, and it’s tough for new students to cope with these portions,” he said.