NEWS TODAY 13.04.2026

NMC invalidates teaching experience from unrecognised departments

NMC invalidates teaching experience from unrecognised departments 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 13.06.2024

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a fresh advisory warning medical institutions and universities against counting postgraduate teaching or training experience obtained in unrecognised departments, declaring such experience invalid for academic and faculty-related purposes. 

In a notification dated April 10, 2026, the Commission circulated an advisory issued by its Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), directing all health universities, state directorates, and medical colleges to ensure strict compliance. 

The advisory makes it clear that any postgraduate training or teaching experience acquired in departments or units not approved by the NMC will not be considered valid for: Eligibility to appear in postgraduate examinations; recognition as a postgraduate teacher or guide; appointment or promotion to faculty positions; or any academic, regulatory, or administrative purpose. This reiteration aligns with provisions under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations 2023 and the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations 2025, which mandate that teaching experience must be earned only in recognised institutions and departments with approved infrastructure, faculty strength, and permitted postgraduate seats. 

Medical colleges and affiliating universities have been made responsible for verifying the recognition status of departments before issuing experience certificates. The advisory explicitly instructs institutions to: Issue certificates only after verifying NMC recognition status, and avoid issuing any certificate for experience gained in unapproved departments.

Headache that disappears on lying down? Don’t brush it off, say docs

Headache that disappears on lying down? Don’t brush it off, say docs

 Jahnavi@timesofindia.com 13.04.2026

Bengaluru : For nearly 10 years, a man in his late 30s from Chennai lived with relentless headaches, repeatedly misdiagnosed as migraines. The pain had a peculiar pattern — it disappeared when he lay down and worsened when he stood up — a classic red flag that went unnoticed for over a decade. 

It was only after he was hospitalised that doctors finally ordered detailed imaging. An MRI and dynamic myelogram revealed the real cause: a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak. By then, the condition had become chronic, requiring surgery. Following treatment, his longstanding pain finally disappeared. Doctors say his story is far from unique. Such misdiagnoses are common among patients with CSF leaks, a rare but debilitating condition often mistaken for migraines or sinusitis. 

Dr Sharath Kumar GG, consultant in radiology and interventional neuroradiology at Manipal Hospital, Kanakapura Road, who treated the patient, explained: “The brain and spinal cord float in a fluid called cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), which provides support and buoyancy — similar to how a ball floats in water. This fluid is contained within a tough, protective covering called the dura. In some cases, the dura develops a hole, causing CSF to leak out. When the loss of fluid exceeds the body’s ability to produce it, the brain loses its cushioning and begins to sink.” Though considered rare — affecting 5 to 10 people per lakh population — experts say the condition is significantly underdiagnosed. 

“In a city like Bengaluru, we may see around 500 cases a year, but most go undiagnosed because of a lack of awareness,” Dr Kumar added. One of the biggest challenges is that the symptoms closely resemble more common conditions. Dr Rakshith Srinivasa, consultant in neurosurgery at Ramaiah Memorial Hospital, said, “Clinically, the presentation can be confusing. Many of these patients are treated for migraine for a long time. Patients may already have a pre-existing migraine. On top of that, they develop this condition. 

When the headache worsens, it can trigger a migraine, making it more difficult to differentiate and diagnose,” said . He stressed the importance of recognising a key symptom pattern: “A high level of suspicion is very important for diagnosis. If a patient presents with a headache that worsens on standing and improves on lying down, we should suspect spontaneous intracranial hypotension.” “To diagnose this condition, we need to ask specific questions about when the headache worsens or improves, as patients often only describe its positional nature when prompted. 

A history of postural headache is followed by an MRI scan, which typically shows characteristic findings such as brain sagging due to fluid loss. However, many cases are missed because imaging is incomplete or not done at the right time — often only the brain is scanned, even though the leak is usually in the spine,” Dr Kumar explained.

JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait

JEE (Main) key row: NTA reviews chemistry errors flagged by students, urges them to wait 

Manash.Gohain@timesgroup.com 13.04.2026

New Delhi : Allegations of errors in the JEE (Main) answer key have again put the spotlight on the National Testing Agency (NTA), with the testing body stepping in early to review complaints and pause challenge payments for a disputed paper. 

The agency said it has reviewed the provisional answer keys of JEE (Main) 2026 Session 2 and made them available online, while acknowledging concerns over the April 5, Shift 2 chemistry paper. 

“Reports regarding discrepancies...are under verification,” it said, advising candidates not to pay challenge fees until further clarification. The provisional key and response sheets were released on Saturday, with the challenge window open from April 11 to 13 at ₹200 per question. However, social media quickly saw a surge in complaints, with candidates and parents alleging “gross mistakes” and claiming multiple incorrect answers in chemistry. 

A widely shared post urged NTA to recheck the key, arguing that it was “practically impossible” for students to challenge a large number of questions while preparing for other exams. Faculty members also flagged concerns, with one Delhi-based govt college teacher writing to authorities citing “major error” and student distress. In one complaint shared with officials, a parent claimed at least 11 answers were incorrect, warning that such errors could impact high-performing candidates, including those scoring above 99 percentile in earlier sessions. 

Responding publicly, NTA director general Abhishek Singh said he would personally have the paper reviewed by experts. “Given the large number of comments... I will get it checked,” he posted, promising an update within a day. Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases, re-evaluations, and in some instances, bonus marks. Previous editions of JEE (Main) and other national tests have seen multiple questions dropped or revised after challenges, fuelling criticism over quality control. This time, however, the agency’s early acknowledgment marks a departure from its typically reactive approach, even as student anxiety remains high. 

‘RECHECK THE KEY’: Answer key discrepancies have been a recurring issue for NTA in recent years, often leading to court cases