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.

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.”

31-year-old woman’s mild urinary infection becomes a life-threatening emergency with kidney stones and septic shock; know the overlooked key signs

31-year-old woman’s mild urinary infection becomes a life-threatening emergency with kidney stones and septic shock; know the overlooked key signs

etimes.in | Oct 18, 2025, 10.21 AM IST

A routine urinary tract infection (UTI) nearly cost 31-year-old Lauren Carson her life, transforming what seemed like a minor health issue into a life-threatening emergency. Initially, Lauren experienced mild discomfort and assumed it was a typical UTI, expecting antibiotics to resolve the problem. 

However, her symptoms worsened, progressing to severe back pain and confusion, along with chills and an unusually high fever. Unbeknownst to her, the infection had caused kidney stones and triggered septic shock, a dangerous condition where the infection spreads into the bloodstream and causes organ failure. Within 24 hours, Lauren faced a critical risk of death and required emergency surgery to save her life. Her experience underscores the hidden dangers of UTIs, reminding women not to underestimate recurring infections or ignore warning signs such as fatigue, pain, or confusion.

From mild UTI to life-threatening crisis: Lauren Carson’s battle with septic shock

As reported by Ladbible, Lauren Carson, a resident of Belfast, first experienced what she believed were standard UTI symptoms in August. Like many women, she assumed it would be a straightforward infection resolved with antibiotics. She visited her GP and was prescribed a week-long course, expecting relief.

However, her symptoms did not improve. While on holiday in Mallorca, Lauren continued to feel unwell but dismissed it as fatigue from travelling and activity in a warm climate. Upon returning home, her condition worsened with severe back pain that left her unable to work. Following her GP’s advice, she went to hospital, where the severity of her condition was finally revealed.

"I thought I had strained a muscle from running, but it wasn’t that at all," Lauren recalled. The true cause of her pain was a UTI that had led to kidney stone formation. This complication went unnoticed until her infection became critical.

Lauren had developed six kidney stones, believed to be caused by the UTI. The infection escalated rapidly, sending her body into septic shock; a life-threatening response where infection spreads into the bloodstream. "I went into septic shock within six hours. My blood cell levels were dangerously high, and I couldn’t remember anything," she explained.

Lauren Carson undergoes urgent surgery

Doctors informed Lauren that she needed urgent surgery within 24 hours to remove the kidney stones and prevent further deterioration. The operation was successful, and she is now recovering.

Reflecting on her ordeal, Lauren said, "As a woman, you assume it’s just a UTI and that drinking water or cranberry juice will help. I never expected it to become something so serious."

Understanding UTIs and their risks

According to the NHS, urinary tract infections occur when bacteria enter the urinary system, including the bladder, kidneys, ureters, or urethra. Most UTIs are easily treated with antibiotics, and symptoms typically resolve within three to five days.

However, recurrent infections or delayed treatment can lead to severe complications such as kidney damage, kidney stones, and sepsis. UTIs are more common in women due to anatomical differences, which can make them more prone to bacterial infections.

Warning signs of severe infection and sepsis

Sepsis can develop rapidly and may present with the following symptoms:

Confusion or slurred speech

Pale, blotchy, or discoloured skin

Rashes that do not fade under pressure

High fever

Difficulty breathing

It’s crucial to understand that not all symptoms need to be present for sepsis to occur. Immediate medical attention is essential if a UTI worsens or does not improve with antibiotics.

NEET SS 2025 likely to be conducted in November

NEET SS 2025 likely to be conducted in November 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 13.10.2025 BANGALURU

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) will soon begin the application process for the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test Super Speciality (NEET SS) for the 2025 academic session on its official website. 

Interested candidates will be able to submit their applications online. Only those who complete and submit the NEET SS 2025 application before the specified deadline will be allowed to take the exam. As of now, the NBEMS has not issued an official notification regarding the application process. However, based on the tentative NBEMS schedule, which indicates that NEET SS 2025 is likely to be held in November, it is anticipated that the registration process will begin shortly. The formal announcement is still awaited. According to the provisional timetable, the NEET SS 2025 exam is scheduled for November 7 and 8, 2025. The test will be held in two sessions each day: the morning session from 9 am to 11.30 am, and the afternoon session from 2 pm to 4.30 pm. Each session will last 150 minutes. 

NEET SS is a computerbased PG entrance exam for super-speciality courses. It runs for two and a half hours and includes 15 different superspeciality subject groups. Applicants must choose their subject group during the registration process.

Cabinet adds 10,000 new MBBS, PG seats; faculty shortage could restrict seat expansion

Cabinet adds 10,000 new MBBS, PG seats; faculty shortage could restrict seat expansion

 Unless the paucity is addressed, increasing seats would risk diluting training quality of new doctors 

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com 06.10.2025

The Union Cabinet approved phase-III medical expansion in September 2025, greenlighting the addition of over 10,000 new MBBS and PG seats to boost India’s healthcare capacity. As the government pushes ahead with expanding MBBS and postgraduate medical seats across the country, experts warn that a chronic shortage of faculty and inadequate infrastructure may dilute the quality of medical education. 

A 2023 NITI Aayog report pegged the faculty shortfall at nearly 30%. According to data presented in the Rajya Sabha, approximately 40% of faculty positions in various AIIMS remained unfilled in 2025. Premier institutions, such as AIIMS New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhubaneswar, Jodhpur, Patna, Raipur, and Rishikesh, have a faculty shortage of 23%-38% across various levels. 

A senior official from the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare acknowledges that the shortage of faculty remains a pressing concern. “The government has put in place stop-gap measures to address the issue as medical seats continue to expand,” he adds. “In a few streams, especially in the preand para-clinical areas, medical colleges are unable to find suitable faculty as fewer students opt for them compared to clinical subjects,” says the official. To increase the faculty number, the government has allowed MSc and PhD candidates to teach preand para-clinical subjects. “This is only for the initial years; eventually, reliance will increase on AI and e-books that will assist the faculty,” says the official.

Broadening the faculty pool through MSc and PhD candidates is necessary; however, preference will be given to candidates with MBBS/MD degrees. Once there is sufficient faculty and the system stabilises, these pressures will gradually subside, he adds.

Doubling MBBS seats without increasing the number of teachers and developing infrastructure will not help sustain the quality of education, says Dr Sajal Bansal, chief advisor, FAIMA, Maharashtra. “The student-teacher ratio is impacted negatively because of faculty shortage. Earlier, one teacher taught 20-25 students; now, a teacher is expected to handle a higher number of students,” he adds. To understand student experiences, FAIMA has launched a nationwide survey of medical students, covering issues such as faculty availability, clinical exposure, libraries, and infrastructure. 

Over 1,700 responses have been received so far. The shortage is particularly acute in non-clinical subjects such as Anatomy, Pharmacology, and Microbiology, where PG seats often remain vacant. “Most students prefer clinical branches because they want patient exposure, and non-clinical departments suffer because opportunities are limited — labs are under equipped, research exposure is poor, and job prospects are uncertain,” says Dr Bansal. Hospitals with more than 220 beds are also being converted into medical colleges to expand capacity. “These measures may bring some temporary relief, but they will not fully solve the shortage,” says Dr Sanjay Teotia, senior consultant, Balrampur Hospital, UP. 

Unless the shortage is addressed, the rapid expansion of medical seats risks diluting the training of new doctors. “Infrastructure and faculty must grow in tandem with seat expansion. Otherwise, the system will produce doctors with limited clinical exposure and inadequate guidance, which will ultimately affect patient care,” says Dr Teotia. SSC introduces reforms to make exams secure and transparent The SSC has rolled out a series of reforms to make its examinations more transparent, secure, and convenient for candidates. Candidates appearing in SSC exams can view their own question papers, responses, and the correct answers. However, restrictions apply during ongoing multishift exams to ensure that papers from later sessions are not compromised. To further assist aspirants, the Commission has also decided to publish selected past question papers as official sample sets at regular intervals. SSC has halved the fee for challenging questions, from Rs 100 to Rs 50 per question, reducing the financial burden on aspirants who wish to contest an answer. 

Another significant measure is the introduction of equi-percentile normalisation. This method compares candidates based on their percentile score rather than raw marks. It removes any 

advantage or disadvantage that may arise from variation in difficulty levels across different exam shifts. Ensuring exam security and fairness has also been a major focus. Aadhaarbased authentication has been introduced to prevent impersonation and to stop candidates from attempting the same exam multiple times.

HC: Conduct add’l mop-up counselling for NEET-SS

HC: Conduct add’l mop-up counselling for NEET-SS 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  19.09.2025

Chennai : Madras high court has directed the director general of health services and the medical counselling committee to conduct additional mopup counselling for NEET-SS 2024-25 to include the unfilled super-specialty seats in Tamil Nadu and complete the process within four weeks. 

Justice G K Ilanthiriayan issued the order following a plea by three PG doctors who wanted to pursue super-specialty courses of their choice but were denied due to the nonconduct of mop-up counselling. Representing the petitioners, senior advocate P H Arvindh Pandian submitted that the failure of the counselling committee to conduct mop-up counselling for NEET-SS 202425 has left a large number of super-specialty seats vacant, despite there being willing, eligible, and meritorious candidates available to fill them. 

The denial of a mop-up counselling round results in the arbitrary and unjustified non-utilization of valuable public and private medical education resources, particularly in high-demand specialties and prestigious institutions like the Madras Medical College, Stanley Medical College, and Madurai Medical College.

 “The authorities are under a statutory and administrative obligation under the PG Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2019, to conduct counselling for all super specialty seats in a manner that ensures maximum seat utilization. The current approach defeats this objective,” he added.

13 govt. medical colleges to have new PG courses from academic year 2026-27

13 govt. medical colleges to have new PG courses from academic year 2026-27

A total of 460 new PG seats have been proposed in 13 government medical colleges. 

THE HINDU BUREAU CHENNAI 17.07.2025

Tamil Nadu has proposed to launch new postgraduate (PG) medical courses in 13 government medical colleges from the academic year 2026-2027. Of these, 11 colleges were established in 2022 while two-year-old Kalaignar Centenary Super Speciality Hospital (KCSSH) will see an increase in its existing PG seats.

The Essentiality Certificate has been issued and permission granted to the Director of Medical Education and Research to apply for approval from National Medical Commission (NMC).

A total of 460 new PG seats have been proposed at the government medical colleges in Pudukottai, Karur, Ramanathapuram, Tiruppur, Tiruvallur, Namakkal, Virudhunagar, Nilgiris, Kallakurichi, Dindigul, Nagapattinam, Ariyalur and Krishnagiri. Except Pudukottai and Karur, the rest are among the 11 new medical colleges added in 2022.

KCSSH, which is attached to the Government Kilpauk Medical College Hospital, currently offers 38 PG seats. The State government has now proposed 28 additional seats across seven specialties of Nephrology, Urology, Medical Gastroenterology, Surgical Gastroenterology, Cardiology, Aneasthesiology and Radiology.

The courses proposed in the 13 medical colleges include MD in General Medicine, Paediatrics, General Surgery, Orthopaedics, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Radio diagnosis, Anaesthesiology.

Doctors’ concern

However, some government doctors have pointed out that institutions such as the Government Omandurar Medical College and Tamil Nadu Government Multi Super Speciality Hospital have not been included. “The increase in seats could have been better distributed. Many of us expected an increase in seats in a number of specialties here according to the patient load, but have been left out.” said a doctor who did not wish to be named.

A. Ramalingam, general secretary of Service Doctors and Postgraduates Association, said the government is gradually phasing out junior and senior resident posts. “The State government is misusing PGs as manpower to address the prevailing shortage of doctors,” he said.

Pvt medical colleges to pay govt PGs stipend only

Pvt medical colleges to pay govt PGs stipend only 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 16.07.2025

Chennai : Madras high court has clarified that private self financing medical colleges are required to pay only a stipend, and not a full salary, to in-service govt doctors pursuing postgraduate or super-specialty courses under the govt quota. 

A division bench of Justice R Subramanian and Justice K Surender passed the order while partly allowing a batch of appeals moved by Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College and others. They challenged a single judge's order that directed private colleges to pay salaries to in-service doctors studying in their institutions. 

The appeals were moved based on a GO dated Feb 7, 2020, which permits salary payments only to in-service doctors studying in govt medical colleges, including Raja Muthiah Medical College (a govt-acquired institution), and denies the same to those studying in private colleges. 

The institutions argued that they should not be compelled to pay full salaries, as the inservice doctors were not employees of the private institutions. They cited Regulation 13.3 of the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, which mandates payment of a stipend on par with govt medical colleges but does not refer to salary. Concurring with the submissions, the judges said private colleges are liable to pay only the stipend fixed by the state govt for postgraduate medical students and not the full salary that govt-employed doctors receive while studying in govt institutions. 

“Inservice doctors in private colleges do not retain employee status with those institutions and are to be treated as students,” the bench said.

BREAKING | NBE Moves Supreme Court Seeking Permission To Conduct NEET-PG 2025 Exam On August 3

BREAKING | NBE Moves Supreme Court Seeking Permission To Conduct NEET-PG 2025 Exam On August 3

LIVELAW NEWS NETWORK

3 June 2025 6:48 PM

The National Board of Examination has filed an application in the Supreme Court seeking to postpone the NEET-PG 2025 exam to August 3, 2025 in the 1st shift from 9 am to 12:30 pm.

Earlier, the NBE had decided to postpone the NEET-PG exam, initially scheduled on June 15, following the Supreme Court's direction to hold it in single shift instead of double shifts.

The Court, in its order passed on May 30, had criticised the NBE decision to hold the exam in two shifts.

In its application, NBE said August 3 is the earliest possible available date given by its technology partner TCS to conduct the exam in single shift.

As per TCS, time remaining between May 30 and June 15 was insufficient to hold the exam in a single shift— as now there will be a requirement to provide a greater number of Centres in a greater number of Cities and an extensive hardware supply chain management.

"The current booking of test centres is double the capacity as the examination was planned at the centres in two shifts...1000+ Centres shall need to be booked and engaged which will require considerable time. The infrastructure needed to be engaged to execute a shift of 242679 Candidates with Buffer would require Infrastructure for 2.70 Lakh to be made available across the country which will require considerable amount of time," the application states.

Further, the application window will need to be reopened and candidates will need to be given a fresh opportunity to opt for the test city of their choice in accordance with the Information Bulletin. After the receipt of new test city choices from the candidates, the distribution of candidates at the test centres shall need to be done afresh. This process would also take some time.

After the completion of the aforementioned process, candidates will be informed of their test city at least two weeks prior to the date of the examination and the admit card informing the candidates of their specific centre at least 4 days before the said exam for the purposes of enabling the candidates to make appropriate arrangements for travel, etc. to take the exam.

There will also be requirement of additional manpower, ranging from Invigilators, Security Staff, Network Admins, etc. "The hiring of the high volume of quality manpower, Training, and preparation of such high number of Manpower and conducting multiple dry runs and mocks with them would require considerable time," the application adds.

NBE also highlighted that NEET PG is a high stake exam and tackling malpractices is a major challenge for which, all law enforcement agencies will be required to join hands.

Overall, NBE has cited reasons like time required for arranging secure examination premises, adequate number of compatible computer systems, three-tier power backup systems, network infrastructure, security software and hardware, trained technical manpower, anti-cheating and surveillance measures, operational readiness of each test centre, mock drills, load tests, system audits

NBE seeks SC nod to conduct NEETPG exam on Aug 3

NBE seeks SC nod to conduct NEETPG exam on Aug 3 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 4.6.2025

New Delhi : The National Board of Examination (NBE) has moved Supreme Court seeking to conduct the NEET-PG 2025 exam on August 3, days after the apex court directed it to conduct the exam in one shift instead of two shifts.

NEET-PG is an entrance examination conducted by the NBE to determine eligibility for admission to postgraduate medical programmes in govt and private medical colleges across the country. Earlier, the exam was scheduled to be held on June 15 in two shifts which was challenged in the court. The NBE’s plea, among other things, sought the top court’s “permission to schedule the NEET PG 2025 on August 3, 2025 which is the earliest possible available date given by its technology partner, i.e., M/s Tata Consultancy Services Ltd. (TCS) in accordance with the directions passed by this vide order dated May 30, 2025”. 

“TCS was requested to confirm the availability of the adequate number of test centers, feasible for conducting the exam in a single shift on June 15, 2025. TCS responded vide email dated May 30, 2025 at 3.52 pm stating that the time available was insufficient to hold the said exam in a single shift on the scheduled exam date, i.e., June 15, 2025,” the NBE said. TCS in a subsequent email on June 2 elaborated on the reasons for not being able to conduct the exam in a single shift and indicated the earliest possible date to conduct the exam was August 3, 2025. 

Referring to some of the reasons cited by TCS, the NBE said there was a need to augment the number of centers in more cities, approximately 250 plus cities requiring the application to be reopened for all the candidates.

NBEMS faces logistical hurdles as SC orders NEET PG in a single shift to ensure transparency

NBEMS faces logistical hurdles as SC orders NEET PG in a single shift to ensure transparency 

Apex court directive clarified that the board may request extension of time to make arrangements for conducting the exam

 Ayushi.Gupta1@timesofindia.com 02.06.2025 TIMES EDUCATION

To restore fairness and transparency in the NEET PG exam, the Supreme Court (SC) has directed the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) to conduct the NEET PG exam in a single shift on June 15 using a common question paper. No two question papers can have an identical difficulty level, the top court observed. The bench passed the order while hearing a plea challenging a notification on holding the NEET PG 2025 examination in two shifts. 

Normalisation Process 

NEET PG candidates alleged that the normalisation process in the double-shift exam was arbitrary and failed to account for the uneven difficulty levels between the two shifts. A senior faculty member from a medical college says, “The board has earlier acknowledged that while the normalisation formula is meant to level the playing field, it is inherently artificial and cannot guarantee absolute fairness. However, the board only introduced the dual-shift exam model last year to prevent the probability of malpractices, considering what happened during the NEET UG exam in 2024. 

Given the limited number of exam centres, the board’s focus was to hold the exam in a controlled environment with proper security measures in place.” While the decision has been widely welcomed by the medical fraternity, it presents significant logistical challenges for NBEMS. “The board is currently in discussions with the third party, Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), to expand the number of exam centres across the country. 

Conducting the NEET PG in a single shift will require additional centres, as well as upgraded security measures, including signal jammers and surveillance systems to prevent cheating,” informs the NBEMS source, requesting anonymity. The counsel appearing for NBEMS informed the Supreme Court that the board will have to arrange 900 extra centres to hold the exam in a single shift, which is not possible by June 15. 

This has fuelled speculation about a potential postponement. The senior faculty says, “There are chances of the exam getting delayed due to the logistical scale-up. Moreover, the apex court has also clarified that NBEMS may request an extension if required.” However, students have been advised not to rely on the likelihood of a delay and to continue their preparation as scheduled. 

This move to a singleshift format is being viewed as a significant step forward in restoring student trust in the examination process. While logistical execution remains a challenge, the reform is expected to uphold merit and streamline the exam process.

Hold NEET-PG in one sitting, SC tells board

 Hold NEET-PG in one sitting, SC tells board 31.05.2025

New Delhi : Supreme Court Friday directed the National Board of Examinations (NBE) to conduct the NEETPG exam in one sitting for all 2.4 lakh candidates instead of the scheduled test in two shifts in 900 centres across India on June 15. 

A bench of Justices Vikram Nath, Sanjay Kumar and N V Anjaria said it was not ready to accept that the body conducting the examination could not find enough centres to accommodate all candidates in one shift. “Holding the examination in two shifts is arbitrary and does not allow candidates to have the same question paper. Any two different question papers will vary in their difficulty levels,” the bench said. 

The SC said normalisation of marks could be adopted only in exceptional circumstances and not routinely year after year.

இரு வேளைகளாக முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வு நடத்த எதிா்ப்பு: மனுவை விசாரிக்க ஒப்புதல்

இரு வேளைகளாக முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வு நடத்த எதிா்ப்பு: மனுவை விசாரிக்க ஒப்புதல் 

இருவேளைகளில் முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வு- 2025 நடத்துவதற்கு எதிா்ப்பு தெரிவித்து தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்ட மனுவை விசாரிக்க உச்சநீதிமன்றம் ஒப்புக்கொண்டது.

Din Updated on: 27 மே 2025, 5:07 am 

இருவேளைகளில் முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வு- 2025 நடத்துவதற்கு எதிா்ப்பு தெரிவித்து தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்ட மனுவை விசாரிக்க உச்சநீதிமன்றம் திங்கள்கிழமை ஒப்புக்கொண்டது.

நிகழாண்டுக்கான முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வு ஜூன் 15-ஆம் தேதி நடைபெறவுள்ளது. கணினிவழித் தோ்வாக இரு வேளைகளில் நடத்தப்படும் இந்தத் தோ்வின் முடிவுகள் ஜூலை 15-ஆம் தேதி வெளியிடப்படவுள்ளது.

இந்நிலையில், இரு வேளைகளில் தோ்வு நடத்துவதற்கு எதிா்ப்பு தெரிவித்து உச்சநீதிமன்றத்தில் மனு தாக்கல் செய்யப்பட்டது. அதில், ‘இரு வேளைகளில் தோ்வு நடத்தும்போது தோ்வின் கடினத்தன்மையில் மாறுபாடுகள் ஏற்பட வாய்ப்புள்ளது. எனவே, முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வு வெளிப்படைத்தன்மையுடனும் நோ்மையுடனும் நடைபெறுவதை உறுதிசெய்ய அதை ஒரே வேளையில் நடத்தி முடிக்க வேண்டும். இதன்மூலம் அனைத்துத் தோ்வா்களும் சரிசமமான போட்டியில் தோ்வெழுதுவதை உறுதிப்படுத்த முடியும்’ எனக் குறிப்பிடப்பட்டது.

இந்த மனு மீது பதிலளிக்குமாறு தேசிய தோ்வுகள் வாரியம், தேசிய மருத்துவ கவுன்சில், மத்திய சுகாதார மற்றும் குடும்பநல அமைச்சகத்துக்கு உச்சநீதிமன்றம் கடந்த 5-ஆம் தேதி உத்தரவிட்டிருந்தது.

அதன்பிறகு இந்த மனு மீது உச்சநீதிமன்றத் தலைமை நீதிபதி பி.ஆா்.கவாய், நீதிபதி அகஸ்டின் ஜாா்ஜ் மாசி ஆகியோா் அடங்கிய அமா்வு மே 23-ஆம் தேதி விசாரணை நடத்தியது. அப்போது அடுத்த வாரம் இந்த மனுவை விசாரணைக்கு பட்டியலிடுவதாக நீதிபதிகள் அமா்வு கூறியது. ஆனால் பட்டியலிடப்படவில்லை. இதை திங்கள்கிழமை மனுதாரா் தரப்பில் ஆஜரான வழக்குரைஞா் சுட்டிக்காட்டினாா்.

இதையடுத்து, இந்த வாரத்தில் மனுவை விசாரணைக்கு பட்டியலிடுவதாக நீதிபதிகள் அமா்வு கூறியது. ஆனால் ஜூன் 2-ஆம் தேதி முதுநிலை நீட் தோ்வுக்கான அனுமதிச் சீட்டு வெளியிடப்படுவதால், அதற்கு முன்பே விசாரணை நடத்த வேண்டும் என மனுதாரா் தரப்பு வழக்குரைஞா் வலியுறுத்தினாா்.

இதைத் தொடா்ந்து, இன்னும் ஒன்று அல்லது இரண்டு நாள்களில் இந்த மனுவை விசாரணைக்கு பட்டியலிடுவதாக தலைமை நீதிபதி பி.ஆா்.கவாய் தெரிவித்தாா்.

NEET-PG: Supreme Court mandates pre-counselling fee disclosure by universities

NEET-PG: Supreme Court mandates pre-counselling fee disclosure by universities 

The Bench further ordered authorities to enforce strict penalties for seat blocking including forfeiture of security deposit, disqualification from future NEET-PG exams and blacklisting complicit colleges

 Published - May 22, 2025 05:55 pm IST - New Delhi

PTI 23.05.2025

Expressing concern over widespread seat blocking in postgraduate medical admissions, the Supreme Court has mandated pre-counselling fee disclosure by all private and deemed universities for NEET-PG.

A Bench of Justices J.B. Pardiwala and R. Mahadevan said the malpractice of seat blocking distorted the actual availability of seats, fostered inequity among aspirants, and often reduced the process to one governed more by chance than merit.

"Seat blocking is not merely an isolated wrongdoing – it reflects deeper systemic flaws rooted in fragmented governance, lack of transparency, and weak policy enforcement. Although regulatory bodies have introduced disincentives and technical controls, the core challenges of synchronisation, real-time visibility, and uniform enforcement remain largely unaddressed," the Bench's April 29 order said.

The verdict added, "Achieving a truly fair and efficient system will require more than policy tweaks; it demands structural coordination, technological modernisation, and robust regulatory accountability at both state and Central levels."

The top court, as a result, directed implementation of a nationally synchronised counselling calendar to align All India Quota and state rounds and prevent seat blocking across systems.

"Mandate pre-counselling fee disclosure by all private/deemed universities, detailing tuition, hostel, caution deposit, and miscellaneous charges. Establish a centralised fee regulation framework under the National Medical Commission," it said.

The Bench further ordered authorities to enforce strict penalties for seat blocking including forfeiture of security deposit, disqualification from future NEET-PG exams and blacklisting complicit colleges.

"Permit upgrade windows post-round two for admitted candidates to shift to better seats without reopening counselling to new entrants. Publish raw scores, answer keys and normalisation formulae for transparency in multi-shift NEET-PG exams," the order said.

The top court's judgement came on a plea filed by UP government and the director general of Medical Education & Training, Lucknow, challenging an order passed by the Allahabad High Court in 2018.

The High Court had directed the director general to give compensation to two aggrieved students who had appeared in the NEET PG exams and take action against blocking of seats.

Published - May 22, 2025 05:55 pm IST

NMC slaps a penalty of Rs 50,000 against medical colleges defaulting on stipends, admission information

NMC slaps a penalty of Rs 50,000 against medical colleges defaulting on stipends, admission information

 Institutions are required to provide details related to stipends and submit supporting documents 

Sonal.Srivastava@timesofindia.com 07.04.2025

The National Medical Commission (NMC) routinely asks medical colleges to submit information regarding admissions including details of stipends given to the resident doctors and MBBS interns. To control irregularities related to admission, details of admitted students and distribution of stipends, NMC plans to impose a penalty of Rs 50,000 on erring colleges. Besides the colleges might face the threat of a reduction in the number of seats, if colleges are found flouting NMC norms. According to a PGMEB public notice dated March 29, 2025, the last date for online submission of this information has been extended to April 7. All institutions are required to provide details related to stipends, whether or not stipends are being paid. If not, institutions must give reasons and submit supporting documents in hard copy. These must include details such as the amount of stipend paid, the stipend paid by government institutions in the respective state, and the name of the postgraduate teacher under whom the student is admitted.

 “The 50,000 penalty is a general fine applicable to institutions that have failed to submit admission data for the 2024–2025 academic year. Some institutions have cited technical reasons for the delay,” said a source in the Ministry of Health, on the condition of anonymity. Unless the NMC has complete data, it cannot act appropriately against erring institutions. “The institutions must submit all required information with an undertaking. This includes stipend details; some institutions have yet to provide this data. The NMC cannot impose penalties arbitrarily; there must be a structured process. 

The Rs 50,000 penalty is more of a reminder with consequences. If colleges still do not comply, stricter action can be taken. The NMC is currently short-staffed, but new members are expected to join soon, who will scrutinise the reports, and if an institution is found guilty, penalties may be imposed, including a reduction in seats,” the source added. 

In 2023-24 AY, 80–90% of colleges paid penalties, depending on the deficiencies noted. Penalties ranged from Rs 5 lakh to Rs 20 lakh and even Rs 50 lakh. The Rs 50,000 fine is specifically for colleges that fail to submit data to the NMC within the deadline. “There is a general rule regarding payment of stipends. A standard amount has been mandated for all, but students often do not raise complaints. This is also a law-and-order issue—students are legally entitled to file an FIR. However, they must first approach their college, then the university, followed by the state counselling authorities, and finally the NMC. The state is the first responder. It must escalate the matter to the NMC if it cannot resolve the issue. After all, the state issues the essentiality certificate to a medical institution,” says the source. 

Currently, some private state medical colleges are not strictly adhering to stipend regulations. Dr KV Babu, RTI activist, has been following the issue of nonpayment of stipends, for nine years and demands strict action against such medical colleges. “As per the NMC, the state medical councils should keep a check and attend to complaints. I have also written to the Prime Minister’s Office as the current situation is extremely demotivating for interns and resident doctors. 

In Kerala, interns in some private colleges receive as little as Rs 100-200 per day, while their counterparts in government colleges earn Rs 26,000,” says Dr Babu. The Federation of Resident Doctors Association (FORDA) has been consistently advocating for mandatory, uniform stipend structures across all medical colleges. “There should be strict penalties for institutions that fail to pay or underpay interns, and a transparent monitoring system where interns can report stipendrelated grievances without fear of retaliation,” says Aviral Mathur, former president, FORDA. Failing to pay stipends raises serious ethical concerns as it undermines the principle of fair compensation for work, especially in a profession as critical as medicine.

 “It reflects poorly on the institution’s commitment to student welfare and creates inequities between interns in government and private colleges, thereby harming the fairness of the medical education system,” says Dr Partha Pratim Mandal, convener, IMA Junior Doctor Network, West Bengal.

Government increases NEET UG and PG seats to meet rising demand for medical professionals

Government increases NEET UG and PG seats to meet rising demand for medical professionals 

The Indian government has announced a significant increase in medical seats, with MBBS seats reaching 1,18,190 and PG seats at 74,306. This move aims to address the gap between medical aspirants and available seats, supporting healthcare needs across the country. 

Plans include expanding medical colleges and upgrading existing ones, alongside the establishment of new medical institutions attached to district hospitals. The government's initiative seeks to enhance healthcare delivery and provide more opportunities for aspiring doctors.

TOI Education

Apr 3, 2025, 18:10 IST

Government increases medical seats to address rising demand for healthcare professionals in India. (AI Image) NEET UG and PG seats 2025: In a bid to tackle the growing demand for medical professionals in India, the government has announced a significant increase in the number of medical seats available across the country. This includes both undergraduate (UG) and postgraduate (PG) medical courses, as part of ongoing efforts to enhance the capacity of India’s healthcare system. Union Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare, Anupriya Patel, revealed that the total number of MBBS seats in India has now reached an impressive 1,18,190, while PG seats have increased to 74,306. 

This marks a major achievement, as the number of medical seats has grown substantially in recent years. The government’s efforts are in line with the promises made in the 2025 budget, which highlighted the addition of 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years. The government has already made significant strides in this area, adding 13,436 new medical seats in the academic year 2024-25 alone.

The Minister emphasized that increasing the number of medical seats is part of a broader strategy to strengthen the healthcare system in India, addressing the rising need for doctors and specialists in both urban and rural areas. Patel further noted that the number of medical colleges has risen sharply, with the total number of medical institutions now standing at 780, up from just 387 in 2014. This represents a remarkable 101.5% increase in the last decade. Moreover, the number of MBBS seats has grown by 130%, from 51,348 in 2014 to over 1.18 lakh today, while PG seats have increased by 138%. These efforts have been supported through various government schemes, including the Centrally Sponsored Scheme (CSS) for establishing new medical colleges, particularly in underserved and aspirational districts. Under this scheme, new medical colleges have been attached to existing district and referral hospitals to ensure the availability of healthcare education in remote areas. So far, the government has approved the establishment of 157 such medical colleges, with 131 already functioning. Additionally, the government has worked on upgrading existing medical colleges to increase the capacity for both MBBS and PG seats. This includes an ongoing initiative that provides financial assistance for civil works, devices, and furniture to enhance the infrastructure of government medical colleges.

As part of this initiative, 4,977 new MBBS seats have been added in 83 colleges, and PG seats have been increased by 8,058 across various phases in 137 colleges. The rise in the number of medical seats aims to bridge the significant gap between the number of students aspiring to pursue medical education and the seats available.

According to the National Testing Agency, more than 24 lakh students registered for the NEET UG exam in 2024, while 2.28 lakh students applied for the NEET PG exam. The increase in seats is expected to provide opportunities to many more aspiring medical professionals. 

A key focus of the government’s plan is to address the needs of underserved regions, where access to healthcare and medical education has been historically limited. With this initiative, the government hopes to improve healthcare delivery and meet the growing demands of India's vast and diverse population. In related developments, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital in Delhi will see an expansion of its medical facilities, including the increase of MBBS seats from 100 to 250. This will not only provide more opportunities for students but also add 666 new beds, increasing the hospital’s capacity from 1,532 to 2,198 beds, in a bid to provide better healthcare services to the public. 

The government’s ongoing focus on improving medical education and healthcare infrastructure reflects a commitment to building a robust healthcare system to meet the challenges of the future. As the country prepares for the NEET UG exam on May 4, 2025, students will have more opportunities to pursue their dreams of becoming doctors, with a greater number of seats available in both undergraduate and postgraduate medical courses. This significant expansion of medical seats is a crucial step toward addressing the medical workforce shortage in India, ensuring a healthier future for the nation.

PG NEET: NRI application rejection doubles at 324

PG NEET: NRI application rejection doubles at 324 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  17.03.2025 BANGALURU

Bengaluru : Karnataka Examinations Authority (KEA) rejected 324 applications for NRI (nonresident Indian) quota in PG NEET admissions this time, more than twice the number it did last year. As the PG NEET admissions for 2024-25 come to a close, a closer look at the data shows that KEA received 1,090 applications for NRI seats. This was 91 more than last year. While 766 of these were approved, 324 were rejected. At the same time last year, 850 were approved and 149 rejected. The bigger rejection rate is because of the stringent scrutiny KEA adhered to after a scam in allotting NRI seats was reported from Tamil Nadu. 

It may be recalled that in TN, a verification by the selection committee at the Directorate of Medical Education found that at least 44 doctors faked their certificates in their applications. Candidates applying under NRI sponsorship must have a real blood relation to the financial supporter. “As per the SC rulings, it should be up to first-degree relation. But many of the applications had only distant relations with the sponsor, resulting in their rejection. We also wrote to various embassies asking about the genuineness of the certificates, but we are yet to receive any reply from them,” said H Prasanna, KEA executive director.

“Many candidates approached us and asked us to consider their applications under general category,” he said. The number of seats allotted to NRI quota has also fallen drastically this year. Only 87 seats were allotted, while 344 vacant seats were converted to management. Last year, 394 seats were allotted for NRIs, and only 254 were converted to management. “We are unable to understand why only fewer students took up NRI seats this year. Students try through various states and the All India quota. They might have got better seats elsewhere,” he said.

Lack of grace marks reels in medicos as 14% fail exam

Lack of grace marks reels in medicos as 14% fail exam

Mar 5, 2025, 23:56 IST

SLUG: PG MEDICAL 7.3.2025

Ahmedabad: As many as 14% postgraduate medical students out of 300 who had appeared in their exams in Dec 2024 failed to clear it. All had sought re-checking of the marks. However, as the Gujarat University (GU)'s digital assessment system did not show any scope for alteration, the students and members of Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarthi Parishad (ABVP) on Wednesday demanded faculty-led re-evaluation. Sources said that the high failure rate was due to discontinuation of grace marks awarded to students.

The result for the MD, MS and DNB courses was declared on Feb 20. The students claimed that they had performed adequately well, but majority have failed in paper 2 and 3. They have submitted a formal request to the university authorities seeking physical re-verification of their answersheets.

In response to the student demonstration, GU authorities plan to petition the National Medical Commission (NMC) for a review. Subject to approval, physical rechecking would be undertaken. Students and ABVP members alleged that their request for manual rechecking remained unaddressed for over a week.

Experts associated with medical examinations stated that earlier practice of awarding minimal grace marks to students who marginally failed was discontinued following recent NMC regulations. "If the student was failing the exam for up to cumulative 5-7 marks, the examiners would often provide the grace marks. But this year, this practice is not followed, and is believed to be one of the reasons for relatively higher failure percentage," said an official associated with medical fraternity.

Private medical colleges save crores on stipends as NMC dithers

Private medical colleges save crores on stipends as NMC dithers

Private medical colleges are saving significant amounts by underpaying or not paying stipends to MBBS interns and resident doctors, despite regulations. The National Medical Commission (NMC) has been ineffective in enforcing standards, leading to disparities and financial exploitation in private institutions.

Rema NagarajanTNN

Mar 2, 2025, 18:17 IST

Private medical colleges are saving crores of rupees by either not paying stipends to MBBS interns and resident doctors or paying them a fraction of what government medical colleges pay. According to the National Medical Commission (NMC), the data on stipend payment submitted by colleges showed that 60 (33 govt colleges and 27 private ones) were not paying MBBS interns any stipend.

Most private colleges have not even submitted the information on how much stipend is being paid. After initially threatening to take action, in the face of colleges not even submitting data sought from them, the apex regulator, the NMC, has passed the buck to state authorities.

Thousands of MBBS students doing clinical duties during the final year internship are being paid less than the national floor minimum wage of Rs 5,300 per month according to the data submitted to Supreme Court by NMC. Data from 20 private colleges shows that they pay Rs 5,000 or less. Many colleges have admitted that they do not pay any stipend. Though this information was available to NMC in July last year, no action has been taken against any college.

The NMC’s PG Medical Education Regulation 2023 stipulate that private colleges have to pay a stipend equivalent to what government colleges of the state pay resident doctors. However, the NMC (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) Regulations, 2021 are vague about how much MBBS interns should be paid. They state that "all interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institution/University or State". Taking advantage of this, many private colleges pay MBBS interns a pittance.

“I had alerted the health ministry to the vague wording in the clause regarding stipend for MBBS interns in 2022, when the draft was put up for comments from the public, and later raised objections when the suggestion was not incorporated. I had requested them to amend the clause to make it mandatory for all colleges to pay stipend at par with government medical colleges of the particular state. Neither the health ministry nor the NMC has done anything about it,” said Dr KV Babu, an RTI activist who has been pursuing the issue over five years.

The stipend paid by some private colleges is as low as Rs 2,000 per month though they take several lakhs as fees per year. For instance, in Andhra Pradesh, government colleges pay MBBS interns Rs 22,500 per month. However, many private colleges are paying just Rs 2,000-5,000 as stipend per month. The tuition fee alone for the MBBS course in these private colleges is Rs 65 lakh for management quota students and over Rs 1.2 crore for NRI quota students. Most of these colleges with about 150 seats each would have had to spend roughly Rs 4 crore per year if they paid stipend equal to what government colleges are paying. By paying the interns a pittance, a college could save over Rs 2 crore or more each year, even as they collect around Rs 50 crore just from tuition fees.

Similarly, in Karnataka, MBBS interns in state government colleges are paid a stipend of Rs 30,000 per month. But many private colleges are paying just Rs 10,000-12,000, while their annual tuition fees for management and NRI seats could be as much as Rs 25 lakh to Rs 45 lakh per year. In Pondicherry, while government colleges pay Rs 20,000 as stipend, a deemed university medical college with 250 seats, where annual tuition fees are Rs 25 lakh, pays just Rs 5,000. The college earns over 1.2 crore from each MBBS student, but spends less than one lakh rupees on stipend for each student.

There is wide variation even in the stipend paid in government colleges from about Rs 35,000 in Assam to just Rs 12,000 in Uttar Pradesh. This is despite a long-standing demand of MBBS students for the amount to be centrally fixed and made mandatory for all colleges whether government or private. NMC was not even acting on the issue of non-payment of stipend till the Supreme Court categorically stated that paying stipend was mandatory. The case drags on as NMC claims to be struggling to get data from medical colleges. Instead of asking colleges, which are under its direct control, the NMC has been writing innumerable letters to the directorate of medical education of various states asking them to submit the data from all colleges on payment of stipend.

Stipend paid to MBBS interns (in Rs)

State

Govt

Pvt

Assam

35,000

NA

West Bengal

29,700-32,000

12,500-28,000

Karnataka

30,000

10,000-25,000

Odisha

28,000

15,000

Tamil Nadu

25,000-27,300

2,750-13,500

Delhi

26,300

no info

Meghalaya

26,300

NA

Kerala

26,000

10,000-16,000

Telangana

25,900

2,000-10,000

Arunachal

25,000

NA

Andhra Pradesh

22,500

2,000-10,000

Tripura

20,500

no info

Bihar

20,000

10,000

Goa

20,000

NA

Himachal Pradesh

20,000

no info

Pondicherry

20,000

2,500-5,000

Gujarat

18,200

12,000

Maharashtra

18,000

4,000-12,000

Uttarakhand

17,000

5,000

Punjab

15,000

15,000

J&K

12,300

no info

Haryana*

12,000

no info

Mizoram

12,000

NA

Uttar Pradesh

12,000

4,000-7,500

Sikkim

NA

14,500

NA- not applicable since the state may not have a private college, or a govt college in the case of Sikkim

No info- the information has not been submitted by the state/college

*only one college has given data and the amount is wrong since Haryana revised the stipend to Rs 17,000 in 2018 and last year it was revised again to Rs 24,310.

States which had not submitted any information included Chhattisgarh, Jharkhand, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Manipur, Nagaland, and the union territories of Chandigarh and Andaman and Nicobar Islands. The stipend in govt colleges in Rajasthan is Rs 14,000, in Jharkhand it is Rs 17,000, Rs 15,900 in Chhattisgarh and almost Rs 14,000 in Madhya Pradesh.

Source: Affidavit filed by the NMC in court in July 2024