Students get 20L fee shock after counselling allotment at city univ

Students get 20L fee shock after counselling allotment at city univ

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 06.10.2026

Chennai: Students allotted govt-quota seats on merit at Sri Venkateswaraa University said they were asked to pay an annual fee of 20 lakh, more than three times the 6.4 lakh fee published before the first round of seat allotment. Admissions to medical colleges in the state — govt-quota seats in govt colleges and all seats in self-financing colleges and state private universities — are conducted by the state selection committee through single-window counselling, based on NEET merit and reservation rules.

Private universities and self-financing colleges surrender 50%-65% of their seats for admission under the govt quota. Under the present structure, annual MBBS tuition, fixed by the fee committee, ranges from about 4.35 lakh to 5.40 lakh for govt-quota seats in self-financing colleges and state private universities. For management-quota seats, annual fees range from 15 lakh to 16.20 lakh. Before the first round of counselling in the second week of Aug, the selection committee listed Sri Venkateswaraa University’s total fee at 6.4 lakh, with an additional 2.25 lakh to 3.35 lakh for students opting for hostel accommodation. 

Students said they locked in their choices based on this amount. However, after students locked in their choices and before the first-round results were announced, the selection committee revised the fee structure to 11.5 lakh, excluding hostel charges. The university subsequently revised the fee twice on its website: to 21.9 lakh on Sept 30 and to 23.9 lakh on Monday. This is yet to be updated on the selection committee portal. 

In an advertisement announcing a uniform fee for govt and management-quota seats, the university said it was authorised, under a Supreme Court order in SLP No. 29551/2026 dated Sept 31, to collect 20 lakh as MBBS tuition from govt and management-quota students and 25 lakh from NRI-quota students for 2026-27, as fixed by its fee committee. 

Students admitted in the first two rounds were asked to pay the additional fee or opt for an upgrade and seek a seat in another college in subsequent rounds. “I joined this college because I could not afford fees in deemed universities. Now, the fee is on a par with them. I do not know if I will get a seat in round 3 or 4,” said a student. 

Several students said they had taken education loans based on the initially displayed fee. Banks had sanctioned loans for that amount and were unwilling to increase the limit after the revision, they said. Student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam said the selection committee must intervene. “It must either tell the college that the order cannot be implemented retrospectively or place students in colleges of their choice before the third round,” he said. He added that the Selection Committee’s webpage carried no mention of the revised fee. State health department officials said they were working with the legal team to move the Supreme Court.

‘Med college makes hostel stay mandatory, seeks extra 8.2L’

‘Med college makes hostel stay mandatory, seeks extra 8.2L’ 

29.09.2026

Chennai: Students allotted seats at private medical colleges in the state have written to Directorate of Medical Education, saying they were told after allotment that the MBBS programme was fully residential and would cost an extra 8.2 lakh. 

“We received complaints that students were asked to pay excess fees, including hostel charges. Complaints were forwarded to the fee committee for further action,” said selection committee secretary Dr V Lokanayaki. The fee fixation committee decides annual tuition fees for private institutions, excluding deemed universities. 

For 2026, MBBS tuition fees in private colleges range from 4.35 lakh to 5.4 lakh for govt-quota seats in self-financing colleges and state private universities, and from 15 lakh to 16.2 lakh for management seats. 

Parents said Kanyakumari Medical Mission Medical College and Research Centre made hostel accommodation compulsory while admissions were under way. “My niece chose this college because she can stay at my place. Her travel time will be just half an hour. Why should she stay at a hostel for 8.27 lakh? If they had informed us about this before counselling, we would not have opted for a seat here,” said S Sarala. 

The college, a constituent of St Joseph University, told parents that it has made it mandatory for MBBS students to stay in approved hostels for the four-and-a-half-year course and the one-year internship. Attempts to reach the college administration by TOI were unsuccessful. 

“Doctors at the college told parents the policy was intended to ensure academic continuity, clinical training, safety, and discipline. Parents were surprised by this decision when they came to pay the fees,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. 

The National Medical Commission said colleges cannot make hostel accommodation mandatory. Senior officials confirmed that while colleges must provide accommodation, students are not obliged to live on campus or pay hostel fees if they live elsewhere. 

“Complaints are filed every year. The selection committee forwards them to the fee committee, but no action is taken. Colleges then target students who complain. The selection committee must amend its rules to gain powers to act on complaints,” Arumugam said. 

Times News Network 

https://epaper.indiatimes.com/timesepaper/publication-the-times-of-india,city-chennai.cms 1/2 complaints received 29/09/2026, 06:03 

Soft by name, steely by nature: IAF doc posted in Knp secures NEET PG AIR 2

Soft by name, steely by nature: IAF doc posted in Knp secures NEET PG AIR 2

Arvind.Chauhan@timesofindia.com 28.09.2026

Lucknow: When the NEET PG 2026 results were declared on Sept 24, Sqn Ldr Pallakshi Prasad (28), a medical officer posted at Air Force Station Kanpur, drew widespread praise after securing All India Rank 2. 

Director General Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS) Air Marshal Sandeep Thareja congratulated the Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC) alumna from the C3 batch, calling the result a proud moment for the Armed Forces Medical Services. 

For Pallakshi, whose name means “soft,” the achievement follows years of regimented preparation alongside demanding military postings. “I always knew I wanted to become a doctor,” she said, crediting her parents’support despite both being engineers. Born in Ranchi and raised in Hyderabad, she studied at Delhi Public School before clearing NEET UG 2016 with an All India Rank of 1,312 without taking a drop year. With limited options due to home-state admission rules, she applied to AFMC at her mother’s urging. Her mother, Shyamlee Prasad, is a practice head at Infosys. 

Pallakshi entered AFMC after securing girls’ merit rank 3 and later graduated sixth in overall merit in her batch. “I fell in love with the AFMC campus and everything it stood for. By the time I graduated, I didn’t feel like an outsider to the uniform anymore. Taking permanent commission was a natural decision,” she said. Commissioned into the Indian Navy on May 15, 2021, she served for nearly two and a half years as a medical officer on a warship before moving to the Indian Air Force in 2025.

NEET-PG: Only 114 cross 600 mark

NEET-PG: Only 114 cross 600 mark 

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 26.09.2026

New Delhi: Only 114 candidates scored 600 or more out of 720 in NEET-PG 2026, with the highest score at 641. A score of 601 was enough to secure a place in the top 100, according to the detailed result data released by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences. 

The top three ranks went to candidates scoring 641, 633 and 626, while four candidates at ranks 4 to 7 scored 625 each. The number of candidates rose sharply as the score cut-off fell. 

As many as 2,614 candidates scored 550 or more, while 12,111 scored 500 or above. The number rose to 29,130 for 450 or more and 51,729 for scores of 400 or above. The score-to-rank gap widened sharply at lower scores. 

A score of 570 corresponded to rank 1,000, 532 to rank 5,000, 508 to rank 10,000 and 403 to rank 50,000. The scores are not directly comparable with last year’s results, as NEET-PG 2025 was scored out of 800, compared with 720 this year. The detailed result also showed 194 candidates with scores below zero. The median score was 262, while the mean was 274.4 among records carrying numerical scores. The detailed result contain 2,73,096 records, including 7,136 candidates marked absent and one result withheld.

2 yrs on, colleges await new NAAC rules rollout

2 yrs on, colleges await new NAAC rules rollout 

SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 26.09.2026

Bengaluru: Higher educational institutions are awaiting implementation of National Assessment and Accreditation Council’s (NAAC) new accreditation framework almost two years after it was announced, with applications suspended since 2024. NAAC had proposed replacing its CGPA-based grading system, ranging from A++ to D, with a two-tier model comprising binary accreditation and maturity-based graded levels. 

The proposal followed recommendations of Radhakrishnan Committee on transformative accreditation reforms, approved by the ministry of education in July 2024. NAAC has not specified when the framework will be introduced. 

For institutions whose tenure has expired, NAAC has posted a circular on its website extending the validity of expired accreditations until the maturity-based graded system is launched. The delay has affected colleges seeking improved ratings to apply for autonomous status or transition to universities from autonomous colleges. “Institutions could also lose recruitment opportunities because employers consider rankings and ratings,” a faculty member overseeing accreditation at a private higher educational institution said. 

NAAC director Ganesan Kannabiran said the council is working to introduce a basic framework suitable for a sector with a large number of unaccredited colleges. “The framework must accurately measure quality without setting unrealistic standards that discourage institutions from applying,” he said. “I cannot give an exact timeframe, but it will happen soon.” Explaining the delay, Kannabiran said NAAC had received nearly 2,350 applications by the time they stopped accepting new ones in 2024. 

“We had a commitment to complete those existing applications, which continued until last Sept, as running parallel processes could have caused confusion,” he said. “A committee is reviewing modifications intended to bring more institutions within the accreditation system while maintaining a threshold level of quality. NAAC will launch the framework after its approval, while other preparations are proceeding simultaneously,” he said.

NEET-PG 2026 result out: 2.6L candidates get ranks

 NEET-PG 2026 result out: 2.6L candidates get ranks

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 25.09.2026

New Delhi: National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) on Thursday declared NEET-PG 2026 result, with 2,65,960 candidates having appeared in the exam held in two phases this year.

The result includes candidates’ raw scores and overall NEET-PG ranks. The qualifying percentile criteria remain unchanged from last year.

For General and EWS categories, qualifying level was 50th percentile, with cut-off score at 262 marks out of 720 this year. 

It was 45th percentile and 244 marks for General Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD), and 40th percentile and 226 marks for SC, ST and OBC candidates, including PwBD candidates from these categories.

Scorecards can be downloaded from NBEMS website on or after Oct 1 and will be available for six months. The answer key will also be published on or after Oct 1.

Court: Medical boards can’t reassess certified disability

Court: Medical boards can’t reassess certified disability 

Ritika Singh Sisodiyatnn 24.09.2026

Lucknow: The Allahabad High Court’s Lucknow bench has held that the percentage of disability recorded in a valid disability certificate issued by a competent authority cannot be reassessed or altered by a medical assessment board constituted by National Medical Commission (NMC). 

The court clarified that the role of medical assessment board is limited to determining whether a candidate is capable of completing the MBBS course with reasonable accommodation and assistive devices and does not extend to re-determining the percentage of disability certified by the competent authority. 

A bench of Justice Shekhar B Saraf and Justice Abdhesh Kumar Chaudhary, while deciding three petitions filed by Shubham Mishra, Saurabh Rana and Gulfam Ahmed together, quashed the findings of the Medical Assessment Board and the Appellate Medical PwBD Assessment Board, which had declared the candidates ineligible for reservation under the Persons with Benchmark Disabilities (PwBD) category. 

The court directed authorities to include the three candidates as eligible PwBD candidates in the remaining NEET-UG 2026 counselling and consider them for seat allocation in accordance with their PwBD All India Rank and the applicable counselling rules. 

Mishra was issued a certificate showing 45% permanent disability by the CMO, Sultanpur. He was issued the disability certificate and UDID card on account of a chronic neurological condition (Bell’s palsy). He secured PwBD All India Rank 948 in NEET-UG 2026. However, the board, in its certificate dated Aug 11, reduced his disability from 45% to 20% and declared him ineligible for PwBD reservation. 

The Appellate Medical Board also found him ineligible under the PwBD category on Aug 21. The HC held that both boards had exceeded their jurisdiction by reassessing the percentage of disability.

3 fake freedom-fighter certificates put 300+ MBBS admissions under lens

3 fake freedom-fighter certificates put 300+ MBBS admissions under lens

Shivani.Azad@timesofindia.com  20.09.2026

Dehradun: Detection of three aspirants who allegedly submitted identical freedom-fighter credentials of their ancestors for MBBS admissions in govt colleges has prompted Uttarakhand to put its third round of NEET-UG counselling on hold. 

The issue has also prompted the authorities to verify documents afresh for nearly 350 past and existing MBBS students after mediaperson Pradeep Bahuguna furnished a list of students to health minister Subodh Uniyal, alleging that some may have used fake permanent residence and freedom-fighter dependent documents. 

While clarifying that he does not claim all certificates on the list are fake, Bahuguna alleged that available records raise strong suspicions. Meanwhile, officials of Hemwati Nandan Bahuguna Medical Education University announced on Saturday that the pause will allow for the verification of documents for all students admitted in the first and second rounds who availed benefits under any category or sub-category. 

The admissions of the three candidates were cancelled after Dehradun district magistrate rejected their freedom-fighter dependent certificates. A seven-member Special Investigation Team (SIT) is at present probing the fraudulent documents, and district magistrates across the state have been alerted regarding potential irregularities involving freedom-fighter, caste, domicile and EWS quota certificates.

Docs slam interview process for DME post

Docs slam interview process for DME post 

20.09.2026

Chennai: Admissions to UG medical and allied health studies are underway, and courses are now commencing at govt medical colleges across the state, but still the post of director of medical education, who holds administrative control of all medical colleges, has been lying vacant since July 31. 

While officials say selection is in progress, doctors ‘ bodies such as the Service Doctors and Postgraduate Doctors’Association, have objected to the health department’s interview-based process for selecting the next director. The association says the mandatory promotion panel was not published before the exercise. In a press release, the association general secretary Dr A Ramalingam said 10 medical college deans were interviewed for the post, which fell vacant after former DME Dr Suganthy Rajakumari retired in July. 

“Appointments in the department were usually made by preparing a promotion panel every year, based on the eligibility and seniority of doctors as on March 15. The panel would then be used to grant promotions and make appointments to senior administrative posts,” he said. The association urged the state govt to appoint an eligible senior doctor as DME on the basis of promotion panel. It also demanded that promotions to professor and associate professor posts be completed annually without delay. TNN

Tamil Nadu set to get back 40 vacant super speciality seats

Tamil Nadu set to get back 40 vacant super speciality seats

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 19.09.2026

After surrendering 151 unfilled super speciality seats for the second round of All India Quota counselling, Tamil Nadu is set to get 40 of them back. Nearly 100 in-service candidates are waiting for these seats and new applications are expected to be invited soon as the Centre has informed the Supreme Court that the qualifying score for NEET-Super Speciality is being lowered from the 50th percentile to the 30th percentile.

The State had to surrender the unfilled seats meant for Tamil Nadu’s in-service candidates in line with a Supreme Court direction. Now, 40 of these seats that remained vacant after round two of All India Quota counselling are being reverted to the State.

Fresh applications

Officials said there are around 100 eligible candidates, but they would have to call for applications again after receiving the court orders. The application window will depend on the duration stipulated by the court.

M. Akilan, State secretary, Tamil Nadu Medical Officers’ Association (TNMOA), said in a statement that after the Supreme Court ordered on May 29 that the vacant in-service super speciality seats be surrendered to the All India pool, it filed an independent fresh writ petition before the court, representing the rights and interests of in-service doctors in super speciality education.

The court later directed that the vacant seats be surrendered to the All India pool and if the qualifying cut-off was reduced in subsequent rounds of counselling, 50% of the remaining unfilled Tamil Nadu seats should be reverted to the State.

TNMOA said it continued its legal efforts and subsequently filed another Interlocutory Application seeking the full reversion of the remaining unfilled Tamil Nadu in-service seats to the State. At the hearing on Thursday, the Medical Counselling Committee informed the court that the NEET-SS qualifying percentile would be reduced to the 30th percentile. All remaining unfilled in-service seats would be reverted to the State.

Dr. Akilan said that 111 candidates were already waiting and that new applicants would come in. Last year, Tamil Nadu surrendered 145 seats to the All India Quota and 39 were reverted.

NEET-SS cut-off down; 40 seats returned to TN

NEET-SS cut-off down; 40 seats returned to TN 

19.09.2026

Chennai: A day after the Centre told the Supreme Court it had reduced the qualifying percentile for NEET-SS from 50 to 30, the TN Medical Officers’Association (TNMOA) said its sustained legal battle helped secure the return of 40 vacant super-speciality seats to the state for govt doctors. 

The Centre told the court that 1,857 super-speciality seats remained vacant across the country after the second round of counselling. This included 40 seats in TN. Candidates who become eligible after the percentile reduction will be allowed to participate in the special stray vacancy round. 

Earlier, TN had surrendered 152 vacant in-service super-speciality seats to the all-India pool following a Supreme Court order. “TNMOA filed a writ petition seeking protection of the interests of in-service doctors,” said general secretary Dr M Akilan. The association said the govt must create posts and offer incentives for super-speciality courses that do not attract enough candidates. TNN

Can MBBS student be given one grace mark? HC to medical univ chancellor

Can MBBS student be given one grace mark? HC to medical univ chancellor

14.09.2026

Bhopal/Jabalpur: MP high court has asked the chancellor of state-run MP Medical Science University based in Jabalpur to apprise the court whether he has an extraordinary power to grant one grace mark to a student according to the statute of the university. 

The student of the varsity-affiliated Gajra Raja Medical College in Gwalior had requested the court to intervene and help him get one grace mark in the MBBS first year exam so that he doesn’t have to lose a year. On Sept 8, the division bench of Justice Vivek Agarwal and Justice A K Singh asked additional advocate general Jahanvi Pandit to find out from the chancellor of the MP Medical Science University as to whether there is any provision for granting one grace mark to the petitioner “to save a year of an otherwise bright medical student“. 

The petitioner, Ramnaresh Kushwah, contended that he failed the first year MBBS exam by just one mark. He is regularly attending the second-year classes but may not be allowed to appear in the exam because of a deficiency of one mark in the first-year exam. He said the chancellor of the university has an extraordinary jurisdiction under clause 32 of the Madhya Pradesh Universities Common Ordinance No 6 to grant grace marks in cases of such extraordinary hardships. The court has placed the case among 10 top cases for hearing on Sept 15

NMC adds over 13K MBBS seats, total intake tops 1.4 lakh

NMC adds over 13K MBBS seats, total intake tops 1.4 lakh

 Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com 12.09.2026

New Delhi: National Medical Commission (NMC) has approved 13,186 additional MBBS seats for the 2026-27 academic year, taking the total approved undergraduate medical intake to 1,40,214 seats across 836 medical colleges, excluding seats in Institutes of National Importance (INIs). 

The updated seat matrix, as on Sept 1, incorporates permissions for new medical colleges and increases in the annual intake of existing colleges. The expansion comes as NEET-UG counselling for the 2026-27 MBBS batch is underway, with the counselling schedule pushing back the start of the academic session and subsequent rounds, including the stray vacancy round, expected to continue into Oct. 

The increase is heavily driven by the private sector, which accounts for 10,400 of the 13,186 additional seats, or nearly 79%, while govt medical colleges have added 2,786 seats. The total intake has risen from 1,27,028 renewed seats to 1,40,214, an increase of about 10.4%. 

Karnataka has recorded the highest increase with 1,650 additional seats; followed by Tamil Nadu with 1,250; Bihar with 1,240; UP with 1,200 and Rajasthan with 1,100. Telangana has added 1,010 seats and West Bengal 975. 

Karnataka’s total MBBS intake now stands at 15,745 seats, including 4,600 in govt colleges and 11,145 in private colleges. Tamil Nadu has 14,299 seats, Uttar Pradesh 14,400 and Maharashtra 13,249. The addition of 13,186 seats will widen the pool of MBBS seats available during the 2026-27 admission cycle, although the actual allocation of these seats will depend on the ongoing counselling process. Among other major increases, Andhra Pradesh has added 525 seats, MP and Jharkhand 520 each, Maharashtra 550, Haryana 350, Kerala 300, Gujarat 250, Puducherry and Uttarakhand 200 each, and Jammu & Kashmir 175. 

The NMC matrix shows zero increase in Delhi, while Meghalaya, Mizoram, Nagaland, Arunachal Pradesh, Andaman & Nicobar Islands and Dadra and Nagar Haveli have also recorded no additional seats. The NMC has made it clear that admissions must be restricted to the number of seats approved in the matrix

Madras High Court Rules Environmental Clearance Not Required for Essentiality Certificate of Medical Institutions

 Madras High Court Rules Environmental Clearance Not Required for Essentiality Certificate of Medical Institutions

The Madras High Court has held that an Environmental Clearance Certificate and approval from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board are not mandatory prerequisites for obtaining an Essentiality Certificate for establishing a medical institution, clarifying that such environmental compliances, while required under separate statutes for construction and commissioning, do not form part of the qualifying criteria under Form 2 of the Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999.

Courts & Judiciary

Hydar Choudhury

Sep 9, 2026·

The Madras High Court recently held that an Environmental Clearance Certificate and approval from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board are not necessary documents for obtaining an Essentiality Certificate for establishing a medical institution. The bench comprising Chief Justice SA Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan passed this order while hearing a writ petition filed by Chettinad Academy of Research and Education against a communication from the Principal Secretary, Health and Family Welfare Department, Government of Tamil Nadu, which had insisted on the production of these two certificates before processing the Essentiality Certificate application.

Background of the Case

Chettinad Academy had acquired the property previously owned by Ponnaiyah Ramajayam Institute of Science and Technology (PRIST Trust) through an e-auction conducted under the SARFAESI Act. PRIST Trust had been granted an Essentiality Certificate in August 2014 for setting up a medical college with an annual intake of 150 students. Although the college operated for a few years, it was denied recognition by the Medical Council of India for the academic years 2017-18 and 2018-19 due to non-compliance with prescribed norms, following which it ceased operations.

Courts & Judiciary

After acquiring the property, Chettinad Academy approached the National Medical Commission seeking permission to admit 150 students for the academic year 2025-26. In response, the State Health Department required the institution to obtain an Environmental Clearance Certificate and a certificate from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board as preconditions for granting the Essentiality Certificate. This requirement was challenged before the Single Judge, who dismissed the plea and directed the institute to secure the said certificates. Aggrieved by this order, Chettinad Academy filed an appeal before the Division Bench of the Madras High Court.

Arguments Advanced by the Parties

The petitioner contended that the Essentiality Certificate originally issued to PRIST Trust had neither been withdrawn nor cancelled, and that under the provisions of the SARFAESI Act, all statutory approvals attached to an asset are transferred to the auction purchaser. Accordingly, the Essentiality Certificate continued to remain valid and enforceable. Furthermore, it was argued that neither environmental clearance nor Pollution Control Board approval finds mention in Form 2 of the Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999, which outlines the criteria for evaluating an application for an Essentiality Certificate. Therefore, these documents could not be made a prerequisite for its grant.

The State, in its counter, maintained that the Essentiality Certificate is not a mere formality and that the State’s satisfaction in granting it cannot be divorced from broader statutory compliances, including environmental norms. It argued that ensuring environmental safeguards is integral to the establishment of any institution, particularly one involving public health and safety.

Court’s Observations and Reasoning

The Division Bench noted that while the Single Judge had acknowledged the arguments raised by both the petitioner and the State, it had not weighed them against each other or arrived at a conclusive finding on the core issue. The High Court observed that this failure to address the substantive grounds raised by the parties rendered the Single Judge’s order unsustainable.

On the merits, the Court clarified that although Environmental Clearance Certificates and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board approvals are mandatory under distinct environmental statutes before constructing or commissioning a medical institution, they are not prescribed as qualifying criteria in Form 2 for the evaluation of an Essentiality Certificate. The Bench emphasized that the absence of such environmental clearances at the threshold stage cannot be used by the State as a ground to withhold or delay the processing of an Essentiality Certificate application.

The Court further stated: “While environmental compliances (such as the Environmental Clearance Certificate and Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board approval) are mandatory before constructing or commissioning a medical institution under distinct environmental statutes, they are not qualifying criteria prescribed under Form 2 for evaluating the grant of an Essentiality Certificate. The lack of an environmental clearance at the threshold cannot serve as a ground for the State to withhold or defer the processing of an Essentiality Certificate.”

Operative Outcome

The Madras High Court allowed the appeal filed by Chettinad Academy of Research and Education, quashed the order of the Single Judge, and directed the State Health Department to process the Essentiality Certificate application without insisting on the prior production of an Environmental Clearance Certificate or a certificate from the Tamil Nadu Pollution Control Board. The Court made it clear that while such environmental clearances remain obligatory under environmental laws for actual construction and operation, they are not conditions precedent for the grant of an Essentiality Certificate.

Courts & Judiciary

National Dental Commission directs institutes to ensure 80 percent mandatory attendance for MDS students appearing for final exams

National Dental Commission directs institutes to ensure 80 percent mandatory attendance for MDS students appearing for final exams 

Medical dialogues

Written By : Divyani PaulPublished On 3 Sept 2026 4:30 PM | Updated On 3 Sept 2026 6:59 PM

New Delhi: The National Dental Commission (NDC) has directed all dental colleges and institutions conducting the Master of Dental Surgery (MDS) programmes to strictly enforce a minimum 80 percent attendance requirement for postgraduate dental students seeking to appear in the final examination.

In a circular, the Under-Graduate and Post-Graduate Dental Education Board said the prescribed attendance threshold is an essential eligibility condition for appearing in the final MDS examination.

"All Dental Colleges/Institutions conducting MDS programmes are hereby directed to strictly ensure compliance with the prescribed minimum attendance requirement of 80% for all MDS students as an essential eligibility condition for appearing in the final examination," the notice stated.

As per the ND, the Head of the Institution/Dean/Principal shall be responsible for ensuring the following-

1 No MDS student having less than the prescribed 80% attendance shall be permitted, recommended or certified as eligible to appear in the final examination.

2 Attendance records of all MDS students shall be properly maintained, verified and authenticated by the concerned Department and the Head of the Institution.

3 Accurate and duly verified attendance certificates/statements shall be issued by the Institution for the purpose of determining examination eligibility.

"Any Dental College/Institution found permitting or certifying an MDS student who does not fulfil the prescribed minimum 80% attendance requirement to appear in the final examination shall be liable for appropriate regulatory action under the provisions of the National Dental Commission Act, applicable regulations and rules," it said.

The Institutions are advised to exercise due diligence in verifying attendance and examination eligibility before forwarding the examination forms or issuing eligibility certification.

Further, the examination conducting authority of the affiliating University is cautioned not to accept examination forms of students with less than 80% attendance in the MDS Course.

All concerned institutions and universities have been directed to strictly comply with these instructions.

Four attempts for MBBS cover supplementary exams: court

Four attempts for MBBS cover supplementary exams: court

The Hindu Bureau

KOCHI. 31.08.2026

Both regular and supplementary examinations count towards the “four attempts within four years” rule for clearing the First Professional MBBS Degree examination, the Kerala High Court recently held.

Justice Bechu Kurian Thomas found that a candidate could avail of only four attempts, whether regular or supplementary exams, and no further opportunity could be granted once those attempts had been exhausted. This was evident from the Graduate Medical Education Regulation, 2023, and the guidelines prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), the court stated.

The court said regulations framed by academic bodies should not be subjected to casual judicial interference, especially when the issue concerned medical students, whose competence affects public health and safety.

The petitioner, a first-year medical student from Kollam, contended that the four attempts prescribed in the rules must be interpreted as regular exams and should not include supplementary exams. She had not cleared the course, having failed in three subjects and used up all four attempts.

She had sought directions to write the next First Professional MBBS Degree examination, either as a mercy chance or as a chance available to her within the four years.

The State government, Kerala University of Health Sciences, UGC, and NMC opposed granting any leniency based on the regulations.

Petitioner in Kerala had contended that the four attempts prescribed in rules must be interpreted as regular exams

Colleges pitch MBBS seats before counselling

Colleges pitch MBBS seats before counselling 

27.08.2026

Chennai: “Round 2 is your next chance. Pre-book your MBBS seat,” flashes a social media advertisement, replete with a phone number—a pitch that aims to circumvent the regulated medical-admissions process. Several private medical institutions hold discreet on-campus consultations, offering scholarships, fee discounts and other incentives, parents say. 

Candidates are asked to enter their names in a register and lock choices only for medical colleges affiliated with the university in the upcoming counselling round. “We were told we can try other colleges in the third or subsequent rounds if we don’t make it this time,” said R Elangovan, whose nephew is seeking admission this year. 

Now, institutions like Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Research and Technology have made the practice public through social media advertisements. When TOI called the number on their Instagram ad, someone from the “admissions department” of Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital said admission could be secured in one of two medical colleges under the university—at Perambalur or Samayapuram. “Bring your NEET admit card and scorecard to the college for further discussion,” he said. 

Medical college dean Dr V Visvanathan, however, said the advertisements had been issued by consultants hired by the management. “You can’t pre-book seats. Admissions to our colleges are done by the central counselling committee,” he said. National Medical Commission chairman Dr Abhijat Chandrakant Sheth earlier told TOI that it was illegal for any institution to solicit or admit students directly. 

Under NMC rules, UG admissions must be conducted through central or state counselling authorities in a singlewindow online process. Admissions done outside this process would be cancelled with action initiated against the institution, he said. Experts demanded action against misleading advertisements. “They could create the impression that seats can be secured outside the merit-based system,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “Desperate parents and first-time applicants may not know the rules.” Times News Network

NMC proposes single licence for doctors to practise across India

NMC proposes single licence for doctors to practise across India

Bindu Shajan Perappadan

NEW DELHI. 20.08.2026

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a registration system under which a medical practitioner, once registered with a State Medical Council and allotted a Unique Identification (UID) number in the National Medical Register, would be eligible to practise across India without obtaining fresh registration or a licence in another State.

The proposal is part of the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, notified by the NMC on August 11. The NMC has invited objections and suggestions for 30 days from the date of notification. Under the proposed system, the State Medical Council would continue to scrutinise applications and grant registration and the licence for doctors to practise, but the approval would be reflected in both the State Medical Register and the National Medical Register.

Self-financing medical, dental college fee details released

Self-financing medical, dental college fee details released

The Hindu Bureau

Chennai. 16.08.2026

Tamil Nadu’s Selection Committee has put up the fee details of self-financing medical and dental colleges as a part of the ongoing counselling for MBBS/BDS courses, in compliance with the Supreme Court’s directive for mandatory pre-counselling disclosure of fees. It had directed that all private/deemed universities should mandatorily disclose their fees, detailing tuition, hostel, caution deposit, and miscellaneous charges.

Manickavel Arumugam, education counsellor, said: “It is a welcome move that the State Selection Committee has finally released the fee details for private colleges. This transparency is highly commendable and will empower students to make informed choices. However, the disclosure still lacks clarity in a few areas. It is not clearly mentioned whether certain components are one-time charges or recurring annual fees. For example, the ‘other fees’ of ₹1,77,500 listed by one institution does not specify if it is a one-time payment or a yearly requirement.”

Among State private universities, the hostel fee ranged from ₹1,10,000 to ₹3,25,000 per year. The fee structure in one of the institutions varies according to room type. The mess fee ranged from ₹10,000 to ₹18,000 per month. Some of these institutions also charged other fees such as development fee of ₹60,000, university fee of ₹40,000, examination fee of ₹30,000, and books/basic materials at ₹1,40,000 per year.

Among private medical colleges, the hostel fee ranged from ₹1,250 to ₹25,000 per month (depending on room type and monthly/yearly charges). The mess fee ranged from ₹9,000 to ₹22,500 per month, while it was lesser in one or two colleges.

NMC plans to tighten norms to make MBBS colleges fully ready before admissions

NMC plans to tighten norms to make MBBS colleges fully ready before admissions 

EDUCATION TIMES 06.08.2026

Regulations require complete academic and teaching hospital facilities before permissions are granted, abolishing the State-issued Essentiality Certificate

 Divyansh Kumar | Posted August 03, 2026 01:00 PM

First-year MBBS students may no longer have to study in colleges with half-built anatomy halls, under-equipped labs, or temporary teaching hospitals. To strengthen the quality of medical education, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed draft amendments that would require aspiring medical colleges to complete all academic and hospital infrastructure before applying for regulatory approval, effectively ending the practice of admitting students while facilities are still under construction.

Medical educators have welcomed the proposed ‘zero-tolerance’ approach to incomplete infrastructure, saying it could substantially improve the learning experience from the very first day of medical training. However, questions remain over whether the reforms could slow down the expansion of medical colleges and lead to a greater concentration of institutions in urban centres.

The proposed draft amendments to the Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Starting of New Medical Courses, Increase of Seats for Existing Courses & Assessment & Rating Regulations, 2023 represent one of the most significant overhauls of the approval framework since the NMC replaced the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI). Besides mandating 100% infrastructure readiness, the draft proposes abolishing the State-issued Essentiality Certificate, introducing a mandatory institutional corpus fund, requiring solvency certificates verified by CAs, expanding the list of eligible applicants, and prescribing stricter penalties for incomplete applications or attempts to influence the approval process.

Explaining the rationale behind the changes, an NMC official tells Education Times that the objective is to make the approval mechanism more objective, transparent and quality-oriented. “The amendments are intended to further strengthen the regulatory framework for establishment of new medical colleges by making the approval process more objective, transparent and quality-oriented. The emphasis is on ensuring that essential infrastructure and institutional readiness are in place before applications are considered, thereby reducing avoidable deficiencies and facilitating a more efficient assessment process,” the official says.

Infrastructure Gap

For faculty members, the proposal directly addresses a longstanding concern that students often bear the consequences of infrastructure deficiencies during the crucial first year of training. “The first year lays the foundation for the entire medical career as students require well-equipped anatomy dissection halls, physiology and biochemistry laboratories, libraries, skills laboratories and digital learning facilities from the very first day,” says Dr Roy R Chandran, professor, Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Government Medical College, Kozhikode. He adds that when infrastructure is incomplete, practical teaching suffers, faculty spend valuable time overcoming logistical challenges instead of focusing on academics, and students lose confidence in the quality of their training.

Welcoming the proposal to prohibit temporary hospital arrangements during inspections, stressing that medical education is fundamentally patient-centred, Dr Chandran says, “A teaching hospital develops its academic culture over time. It has established departments, multidisciplinary teams, standard treatment protocols, adequate patient load and regular academic activities. Temporary hospitals created merely to satisfy inspection requirements cannot replicate this environment. If we expect to produce competent doctors, the teaching hospital must be fully functional from the very beginning, not just on the day of inspection.”

State Stake

One of the most debated proposals remains the abolition of the State-issued Essentiality Certificate, a mandate that historically allowed state governments to assess the requirement of a new medical college in a particular region. While the NMC argues that removing the certificate will simplify approvals, experts caution that it could encourage private investment to concentrate in already developed urban markets. “Dispensing with the Essentiality Certificate is intended to simplify the regulatory process while retaining the Commission’s focus on academic, clinical and infrastructural standards,” says the NMC official.

Clinical learning depends on adequate patient exposure, and if more medical colleges are clustered in the same city, they compete for the same patient population. “This can reduce the diversity and volume of clinical cases available to each student. Expansion should be guided by regional healthcare needs rather than simply increasing the number of colleges, rather than adding that strengthening existing government hospitals may often deliver greater benefits than opening new institutions,” adds Dr Chandran.