Eight among top 100 NIRF institutes face retraction of research work authored by VCs, directors

Eight among top 100 NIRF institutes face retraction of research work authored by VCs, directors 

Divyansh.Kumar@timesofindia.com 27.07.2026

EDUCATION TIMES BHOPAL

An analysis of research output at India’s top 100 NIRF-ranked universities has found a string of paper retractions linked directly to sitting vice chancellors and directors at eight institutions, including six government-run, two private, with reasons ranging from image manipulation and AI-generated content to plagiarism and compromised peer review. 

The findings compiled using the Author Trends database and manually verified against Research Watch Database, to isolate retractions attribut able to alleged misconduct rather than honest error, cover only universities placed in the top 100 of the NIRF overall rankings. A prominent state university in Tamil Nadu has recorded nine retractions, almost all flagged for image manipulation. Most of these retractions occurred after thei ndividual took charge as vice chancellor, and the institution recorded a sharp rise in its NIRF standing over the past year. 

In at least one of these cases, the retraction notice records that the authors, including the vice chancellor, did not agree with the decision to retract. At a private university in Maharashtra, two retractions were traced to AI-generated content and what reviewers termed ‘tortured phrases’, a hallmark of paper-mill writing. 

Sources familiar with the university’s internal practices said its vice chancellor has directed researchers to publish atleast four papers annually. Other six institutions, including two IITs and an AIIMS, each retraction attributed to the institute’s director or executive director, for reasons spanning possible plagiarism, compromised peer review, tortured phrases and duplication. India ranks 8th globally for retractions due to misconduct, with 22.5 retractions per 10,000 citable documents.

It trails nations like Pakistan (64.1), Saudi Arabia(42.8),andNigeria(35.7). ArecentLinkedInpollbyIndianResearch Watch (IRW), drawing near 200 responses, found 83% of respondents believe individuals with misconductlinked retractions should not remain in or be appointed to VC and director posts; only 11% said it did not matter given the administrative nature of the role. 

Education Times reached out to most universities listed in the data base for their comments; but none had responded. “When institutions begin to chase publication counts, citations and patent numbers a starget sin

themselves,there is a risk that the metric becomes more important than the purpose behind it. However, every retraction should not automatically be treated as evidence of fraud and responsibility must be established through a fair and credible investigation,” says V Ramgopal Rao, group vice chancellor, BITS Pilani, and former director,IITDelhi. 

Institutional credibility hinges less on whether misconduct occurs than on the response to it. “Attempts to suppress a problem,delay an investigation or protect an individual because of position cause far greater reputational damage than the original allegation,” he says, calling for cases involving top leadership to be referred to an external research integrity panel with no prior ties to thei ndividual concerned. Prof S C Lakhotia, distinguished professor, Banaras Hindu University and former SERB Distinguished Fellow, calls the ranking system itself “the real root-cause for the expanding research misconduct in India.” 

He adds, “The pressure to publish had fed a self-sustaining vicious circle involving predatory and paper-mill journals. Ranking bodies must severely penalise retractions and unethical collaborations, which are often purchased or sold. Where allegations against leaders are established, the involved person should be immediately removed from the position being held by them and also debarred from holding any academic positions in future.” 

Achal Agrawal, founder, IRW, says, “People at the highest levels need to have a clean record to have the moral authority to ensure integrity in their institutes. More often than not, it is the students researchers who are thrown under the bus and those in power face no consequences. In the USA, even Stanford and Harvard presidents had to resign last year after accusations of misconduct. Ensuring accountability from the top will enhance the academic reputation of India as a country that takes research integrity seriously.”

NDC scraps provisional registration rule to save dental students from suffering internship delays

NDC scraps provisional registration rule to save dental students from suffering internship delays 

Divyansh.Kumar@timesofindia.com 27.07.2026

Around 25,000 Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) graduates will not have to wait for the administrative approvals as the National Dental Commission (NDC) aims to smoothen their transition from college to dental hospitals. The NDC abolished the mandatory requirement of acquiring provisional registration from State Dental Councils (SDCs) before commencing their mandatory internship. 

This will reduce paperwork, lower financial burden, and accelerate the entry of young dentists into the healthcare workforce. In the earlier process, introduced by the erstwhile Dental Council of India (DCI) in November 2021, the students had to submit multiple documents, frequent council offices, and wait for approval before starting their clinical training. 

The SDCs will now immediately issue permanent registration directly after successful completion of the internship, removing an entire layer of regulatory compliance. Dr Sarjeev Singh Yadav, principal, Government Dental College and Hospital, Hyderabad, says, “The reform removes an unnecessary administrative bottleneck, ensuring timely commencement of compulsory internship. It reduces administrative workload for both institutions and regulatory authorities. This is a landmark student-centric reform embodying the vision of Ease of Doing Business and Minimum Government, Maximum Governance by simplifying regulatory processes without compromising quality.” 

Timely internship completion will now enable smoother eligibility for postgraduate admissions, employment and career progression, he says.

 Seamless Transition

For students, however, the biggest gain is time. Dr MD Manzur Ahmed, national president, All India Dental Students & Dental Surgeons Association (AIDSA), says the reform eliminates one  of the biggest administrative hurdles that delayed graduates despite having completed all academic requirements. “Before November 2021, students began their compulsory rotatory internship immediately after passing their final BDS exam. However, once provisional registration became mandatory, many were forced to wait for administrative approvals before starting clinical training,” he says. “Depending on the SDC, this reform could save several weeks to a few months. More importantly, it eliminates uncertainty. 

Students can now move seamlessly from graduation to internship, obtain permanent registration on time, become eligible for postgraduate admissions sooner, and enter the dental workforce without unnecessary administrative delays,” Dr Ahmed adds. Delays in internship commencement automatically postpone internship completion, which in turn affects eligibility for permanent registration, postgraduate admissions, government recruitment and private employment. “Their career progression gets delayed not because they lack competence, but because of avoidable administrative procedures,” he says. 

Financial Stress

Provisional registration contributed little to patient safety or academic supervision and had largely become a bureaucratic exercise. Dr Divakar Moodautiya, assistant lecturer, Maharana Pratap College of Dentistry, Gwalior, says, “Provisional registration was purely paper pushing that burdened students. It made no tangible contribution to responsible clinical care or patient safety on the ground.” The process also imposed an unnecessary financial burden on graduates. “Beyond the procedural chaos, graduates faced a compounding financial strain, paying twice for both temporary and permanent registration fees, alongside out-of-pocket expenses for legal documentation, affidavits, and mandatory travel to state council headquarters for physical verification,” says Dr Moodautiya.

PCI announces special provisions for B.Pharm students admitted up to AY 2025-26

PCI announces special provisions for B.Pharm students admitted up to AY 2025-26

Gireesh Babu, New Delhi

Saturday, July 25, 2026, 08:00 Hrs [IST]

The Pharmacy Council of India (PCI) has announced special provisions for the students who have been admitted to the B.Pharm programme up to the academic year 2025-26, in order to tide over any difficulties in completing the course following implementation of the revised B.Pharm syllabus.

The provision is intended to solely help students meet the minimum attendance requirements and complete the programme under the regulations applicable to their admission, said the Council.

The Council, in the backdrop of implementation of the revised B. Pharm syllabus (2026) as per NEP 2020 prescribed by the PCI for students admitted from the academic year 2026 2027 onwards, "all students admitted to the B. Pharm programme up to the academic year 2025-2026 shall continue to be governed by the syllabus and regulations under which they were originally admitted".

To enable these students to complete the programme under B. Pharm syllabus (2016-2017), they shall be permitted to progress to the next higher semester and attend classes, irrespective of any backlog courses.

"Students may continue their studies from the semester immediately following the last semester attended by them, while carrying forward their backlog courses and may continue in this manner up to the eighth semester," it added.

As no new admissions will be made from 2026-2027 onwards under the B. Pharm syllabus (2016-2017), students with a shortage of attendance in any semester shall be given an opportunity to make up the required attendance through special classes, additional instructional hours conducted beyond regular class hours, during study leave periods or through other arrangements approved by the institution.

"This provision is intended solely to help students meet the minimum attendance requirements and complete the programme under the regulations applicable to their admission," said the Council.

"It is the responsibility of the university/institution to ensure that, students admitted as per B. Pharm syllabus (2016-2017) complete the programme as required,' it added.

As reported earlier, the Council has recently notified the B.Pharm 2026, syllabus in the Gazette of India and directed the Universities and colleges approved by the Council under the Pharmacy Act, 1948, to strictly implement the syllabus from the academic session 2026-27.

The PCI launched the B.Pharm syllabus with a Choice Based Credit System (CBCS), emphasising on practical learning, research orientation, digital and artificial intelligence (AI) integration, proposed for implementation from the academic year 2026–27, on April 17, 2026.

The curriculum has been developed in alignment with the vision of the National Education Policy (NEP) 2020, to strengthen pharmacy education and with a vision to prepare graduates to meet the evolving needs of healthcare and the pharmaceutical sector.

The new syllabus aims at graduate attributes, the key competencies and professional qualities expected from every pharmacy graduate, as the pharmaceutical knowledge proficiency, scientific and analytical thinking, ethical and professional integrity, patient centred orientation, industry and practice readiness, digital and technological awareness, effective communication skills, among others.

The key highlights of the syllabus apart from the digital and AI technologies include research projects in the seventh and eighth semesters, internships in the fourth and sixth semesters, interdisciplinary learning, elective courses to ensure flexibility for the students, strong industry and clinical exposure, outcome-based education, focus on innovation, entrepreneurship and start-ups, among others.

The syllabus introduces emerging areas, including artificial intelligence (AI) and latest digital technologies, enabling students to understand their applications in fields such as drug discovery, pharmaceutical manufacturing, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacy practice, while remaining firmly grounded in the core pharmaceutical sciences, says the Council.

The course of study for B. Pharm shall extend over a period of eight semesters (four academic years) and six semesters (three academic years) for lateral entry students, it added.

MBBS/BDS application portal to reopen

MBBS/BDS application portal to reopen 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 26.07.2026

Chennai : The Tamil Nadu Selection Committee will reopen the online application window for MBBS and BDS admissions for candidates who have not yet submitted their applications for the 2026-27 academic session. The portal — tnmedicalselection.org — would remain open from 10 am on July 26 to 3 pm on July 27, a notification said. 

The committee decided to reopen the portal as a one-time measure after representations from students. It said no editing would be allowed for applications submitted earlier. The scrutiny of applications received before the extension was in process, and modifications or edits to these applications would delay the ongoing scrutiny phase, it said. “Candidates who have submitted their applications with minor errors need not panic. Minor clerical or typographical errors will be taken into consideration and verified appropriately during the document verification and scrutiny stages,” it said.

NEP degree students who exited after 3 years asked to do 4th

NEP degree students who exited after 3 years asked to do 4th 

DEGREE UNCERTAIN 

Sruthysusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 24.07.2026

Bengaluru : Confusion over the multiple entry-exit provision under National Education Policy (NEP) has left a batch of hotel management students in limbo, with a city college asking them to return and complete the fourth year after they exited the programme at the end of the third. 

The affected students — of Army Institute of Hotel Management and Catering Technology, affiliated to Bangalore North University (BNU) — joined the course in July 2022 under NEP framework. They were informed that they could either complete four years to earn a Bachelor of Hotel Management (BHM) degree or exit after three years with a BBA in Hotel Management. 

Of the 54 students in the batch, 15 exited after three years in Aug 2025, with several securing campus placements. Ten months later, in June 2026, the college contacted them, saying they would not receive a degree after three years because of a confusion in the implementation of the programme. The students were asked to rejoin the course, pay around Rs 2 lakh in fees, and complete the final year. 

Many students said that  they had  already moved on. “Some of us got good placements through campus recruitment, while others pursued higher studies. I’ve joined an MBA programme. I cannot give that up, pay another Rs 2 lakh, and lose a year,” a student said. Another student, who has secured a job paying Rs 70,000 a month, said he could not afford to resign and risk losing a well-paying position. 

According to students, the issue also affects those who exited in 2024. “At least nine students from that batch have also been asked to return. How is it possible to restart the course after such a long gap?” one asked. NEP 2020 was adopted by Karnataka back in 2021, making it the first state to implement the policy. 

Implementation issues 

Institute director Brig VV Subramaniam attributed the issue to implementation of the first NEP batch. “The college management is aware of the issues being faced by students. The institute is engaging with BNU and also the students. The matter will be resolved in their interest. Their careers and interests are what is important. BNU is supportive and the management is positive an acceptable solution will be found,” he said. 

In an email to students, the college said the former principal and chairman of the board of studies had failed to submit proposals for approval of the certificate, diploma, BBA, and BHM programmes. As a result, the institute received approval only for admissions to the BHM programme. BNU vice-chancellor BK Ravi said the issue has been discussed by the academic council and referred to Karnataka State Higher Education Council for a decision.

Meanwhile, an educationist said NEP was implemented in haste, leading to confusion over exit options in professional courses. “Some programmes are designed to be completed in full, and mid-course exit degrees may not be universally recognised. There are ramifications with the state withdrawing from NEP as well. Will our courses be accepted everywhere, say by UPSC? Where is the clarity on all these issues as govts and policies change?” he added.

With 15k MBBS seats, K’taka now leads medical edu race

With 15k MBBS seats, K’taka now leads medical edu race 

6 Govt Colleges File Appeals Seeking More

 Sruthy Susan Ullas & Srinivasa M | TNN 

Bengaluru :  19.07.2026

Karnataka has become the state with the highest number of MBBS seats in the country this year, with the total rising to 15,395. The tally could increase further, as six govt medical colleges have filed appeals seeking additional seats 

The latest increase comes from three govt colleges — HK Patil Institute of Medical Sciences, Karnataka Medical College and Research Institute, and Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences — each of which has been allotted 50 additional MBBS seats. 

Across the state’s 24 govt medical colleges, the existing intake stood at 4,250 seats. With the addition of 150 seats, the total govt MBBS intake has now risen to 4,400. 

Two new private medical colleges — Alva’s Institute of Medical Sciences and Chettinad Institute of Medical Education — have been granted 150 and 100 seats, respectively. In addition, 15 other private colleges have received approval for increased intake. 

PES University Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, Sri Siddhartha Institute of Medical Sciences and Research, and BGS Global Institute of Medical Sciences have each been allotted 100 additional seats, while the remaining colleges have received 50 seats each. Altogether, private medical colleges have added 1,150 seats, taking their total MBBS intake to 10,995.

 “Compared to private medical colleges, only a handful of govt medical colleges have 250 seats despite handling a much larger patient load and higher admissions in their teaching hospitals. Increasing intake in govt colleges will benefit both Karnataka students and candidates under the All-India quota. The National Medical Commission (NMC) should consider this factor while increasing seats,” a medical education department official said.

 “Six govt colleges — in Karwar, Yadgir, Koppal, Haveri, Kodagu, and Shivamogga — have 1 appealed. We’re hopeful as NMC continues granting approvals until the last minute if the govt gives an undertaking to address deficiencies,” said Sujatha Rathod, director of medical education. 

The new seat matrix released by Medical Assessment and Rating Board of NMC shows that the intake at govt run Mandya Institute of Medical Sciences (MIMS) has increased from 150 to 200 seats. Farookh Academy of Medical Education Hospital and Research Institute, Mysuru, has also been permitted to raise its intake from 100 to 150 seats. 

MIMS director Dr Narashimhaswamy P said: “We will meet all the requirements stipulated by NMC for increasing the intake.” Last year, the annual MBBS intake at the century-old Mysore Medical College and Research Institute was increased from 200 to 250 seats. Another premier institution in the city, JSS Medical College, also has an annual intake of 250 seats. There is, however, no change in the annual intake of four other govt medical colleges in the region — Chikkamagaluru Institute of Medical Sciences, Chamarajanagar Institute of Medical Sciences, Hassan Institute of Medical Sciences and Kodagu Institute of Medical Sciences. The Hassan institute continues to have an annual intake of 200 seats, while the other three colleges have 150 seats each.

NMC moves to allow for-profit med colleges Non Profit Tag May No Longer Be Mandatory

NMC moves to allow for-profit med colleges Non Profit Tag May No Longer Be Mandatory

Rema.Nagarajan@timesofindia.com 18.07.2026

For-profit medical colleges may become a reality if the draft amendments to National Medical Commission’s (NMC) regulations for establishing a new medical college go through.

The proposed amendments to Establishment of New Medical Institutions, Assessment & Rating Regulations, 2023, which were placed in the public domain on July 13, include one that will allow companies with the primary objective of profit generation to become eligible to establish medical colleges or medical institutions. Objections and suggestions to the draft are to be submitted within 30 days.

The 2023 regulation allowed only “Section 8 companies” to establish medical colleges. Under Section 8 of Companies Act, such a company is a non-profit organisation in which surpluses can only be reinvested in charitable objectives. The amendment will allow all companies incorporated under Companies Act, 2013, to start medical colleges.

In Jan 2017, the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI) amended Establishment of Medical College Regulations, 1999, to allow all companies registered under Companies Act, 1956, to be listed among organisations permitted to set up a medical college.

The same amendment notification also allowed any autonomous body/society/trust to be converted into a company. However, MCI was disbanded and replaced by NMC, constituted in Sept 2019. The fresh regulations for establishment of medical colleges drafted by NMC allowed only Section 8 companies to set up colleges.

In May 2017, Vedanta, the mining conglomerate, established the first private limited medical college, Vedantaa Institute of Medical Sciences, in Palghar through the entity Vedantaa Institutes of Academic Excellence Private Limited. The institute wrote to Maharashtra govt that since it was registered as a private company, it was allowed to make profits and that its fees did not require approval of the state fee regulatory authority. Though the institute was later forced to submit to fee regulation, its fees remain among the highest among private medical colleges in the state ( ₹15.7 lakh for management seats in 2025), barring deemed university colleges.

Ironically, fees charged by deemed university medical colleges, which are established by trusts and societies and are supposed to be non-profit, are among the highest, and states do not have any quota of seats with lower fees in these institutions. Fees charged by these colleges are not controlled by any regulatory body.

GOING EXTRA MILE: The 2023 regulation allowed only ‘Section 8 companies’ to establish medical colleges

RGUHS turns down proposal on fee diversion, cites paucity of funds

RGUHS turns down proposal on fee diversion, cites paucity of funds

 SruthySusan.Ullas@timesofindia.com 15.07.2026

Bengaluru : Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences (RGUHS) has opposed the state govt’s proposal to utilise university admission fees paid by govt medical colleges for maintenance of those institutions, citing financial constraints. 

The govt, on April 24, 2026, proposed that undergraduate and postgraduate admission fees paid to the university can be used by the same institutions for their maintenance. However, the university rejected the proposal. At a recent syndicate meeting, the university resolved to inform the govt it is facing shortage of funds as substantial resources are being spent on the development of RGUHS campus at Ramanagara, establishment of medical colleges at Ramanagara, Kanakapura and Bagalkot, and setting up six skill labs across the state. 

The academic council earlier noted that the fees collected from govt medical colleges are essential for meeting the university’s operational expenditure. It recommended that the university fees paid by govt medical colleges should not be transferred for the maintenance of those colleges. 

There are around 25 govt medical colleges in the state. “We are giving the govt money for construction of medical colleges in Bagalkot and Kanakapura, apart from our own projects. We’ve requested the govt that it cannot be considered because we need money for completion of these projects. It may not be a big amount, but every penny is important for us,” RGUHS vice-chancellor Dr Bhagavan BC pointed out. 

No keywords for descriptive questions Rajiv Gandhi University of Health Sciences

 (RGUHS) has decided against providing answer keys or keywords for descriptive questions in its examinations. Pointing to hundreds of petitions, Karnataka high court had in 2024 asked the university to reconsider its practice of not providing answer keys for evaluation. RGUHS sought National Medical Commission’s opinion in Nov 2024.

 The apex medical regulator supported the university’s position, stating model answers for descriptive questions should not be published. Further, at an academic council meeting, it opined that providing keywords will limit the scope of critical thinking and will not encourage logical responses. In July 2025, the university formed an expert committee comprising faculty from Karnataka as well as health sciences universities in Maharashtra and Kerala. It concluded that keywords and predetermined answers fail to adequately assess the integrated analytical abilities expected of medical graduates. The committee observed that medical education requires evaluation of critical thinking, clinical decisionmaking and communication skills. It pointed out that Kerala University of Health Sciences issues only valuation guidelines for examiners, while the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences does not provide keywords. However, the university decided to conduct a limited pilot by preparing model answer keys for firstyear Bachelor of Physiotherapy students admitted in 2026-27. A committee of physiotherapy experts will prepare question papers with keywords, gather feedback from stakeholders after the results are announced, and submit a report to the university. The academic council reiterated that the current valuation system produces satisfactory results, while recommending periodic training and orientation for evaluators and workshops for question paper setters to improve assessment standards. The syndicate accepted the council’s recommendation and decided not to share answer keys, but to roll out the pilot

NMC plans ban on medical seat hike if buildings not yet complete

NMC plans ban on medical seat hike if buildings not yet complete

Anuja.Jaiswal@timesofindia.com   14.07.2026

REGULATORY TIGHTENING

New Delhi : Medical colleges will no longer be allowed to seek regulatory approval — for increasing MBBS seats — while their hospitals or academic buildings are still under construction, under amendments proposed by National Medical Commission (NMC). 

The draft regulations — to tighten norms for new medical colleges and MBBS seats —require institutions to have all prescribed infrastructure and statutory approvals in place before applying. Temporary arrangements for hospital and college buildings will no longer be permitted, and institutions with projects still under construction (“work-inprogress”) will not be considered for further processing. 

NMC has also proposed rejecting incomplete applications without giving institutions an opportunity to rectify deficiencies. Those applications lacking mandatory documents or other records specified by Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) will not be treated as valid proposals and may be rejected at the initial stage. 

Under the proposed amendments, applicants must submit a valid ‘consent of affiliation’ from a recognised university at the time of application. Solvency certificate based on the previous financial year, issued by a chartered accountant within 90 days before the application deadline, will also be mandatory.

In another significant change, new medical colleges, as well as those already functioning, will have to maintain a dedicated corpus fund for the operation of the institution. The amount will be decided by MARB and may be revised periodically, with colleges required to furnish documentary proof whenever asked. 

REGULATORY TIGHTENING

Law colleges in city face delays over Bar Council recognition; fines mount

Law colleges in city face delays over Bar Council recognition; fines mount

 Yogita.Rao@timesofindia.com 12.07.2026

Mumbai : A majority of law colleges across Mumbai are in a bind over a new state govt requirement that makes the Bar Council of India’s (BCI) recognition letter mandatory for participation in the CET cell’s admission process. 

Due to a procedural mismatch between the two statutory authorities, Mumbai University (MU) and the BCI, private colleges are forced to pay a fine of up to Rs 8 lakh to obtain BCI approval. Colleges now plan to meet the higher education minister, Chandrakant Patil, to seek a relaxation of the requirement. Meanwhile, 30 colleges, which were denied affiliation certificates, are yet to get relief from the MU. 

Together, the two issues have raised concerns over delays in this year’s admission process. A principal said ‘the university’s affiliation certificate for the academic session was issued to several colleges only recently, when the BCI process required them to upload the certificate by Dec 31’. 

“Although the delay is entirely beyond the control of the colleges, the BCI is levying a late fee fine for delayed compliance, which is Rs 4 lakh per programme. Colleges offering both the 3-year and the 5-year LLB are burdened with an unfair financial liability of Rs 8 lakh,” they mentioned in a letter to Patil. 

The MU, in a letter written to the BCI, mentioned that the affiliation certificates are granted in June every year, as per the provisions of the Maharashtra Public Universities Act, 2016. MU, therefore, appealed to the council to exempt colleges from the imposition of a late fee. No relaxation has been granted by the BCI yet. The problem is faced only by private and unaided colleges that have to seek extension of affiliation from the university every year. 

Most aided colleges, which enjoy permanent affiliation, have already obtained the BCI recognition letter. Earlier the BCI followed a manual process. Though similar clashes between the timelines of the two statutory authorities have occurred in the past, the shift to an online approval process two years ago has made it even more difficult for colleges, said a principal. “It will be a recurring  problem in Maharashtra universities. Either the universities will have to issue the affiliation certificates before Dec 31, or the BCI will have to extend their deadline,” he added.

Med colleges repackage fees as NMC bars internship charges

Med colleges repackage fees as NMC bars internship charges 

Five-Year Fee Payable In 4.5 Years; Cost Unchanged 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK   11.07.2026

Chennai : Medical colleges are complying with the National Medical Commission’s April 2026 order barring tuition charges for the mandatory one-year MBBS internship. But instead of reducing costs, institutions have spread the same five-year fee total, or a higher amount, over 4.5 years, raising annual instalments while the overall payout stays the same — or higher. 

A revised fee chart published on the website of a deemed university for its 250 seat MBBS programme illustrates the pattern. Annual tuition fee now stands at ₹25 lakh, billed every year for 4.5 years — a total of ₹1.12 crore — up from ₹21.97 lakh paid across five instalments ( ₹1.09 crore) under the earlier structure. 

Under the NRI quota, students now pay US$52,000 per year, again compressed into 4.5 annual cycles, against US$46,800 per year paid over five instalments earlier. 

Hostel fees ( ₹1.9 lakh for non-AC, ₹2.6 lakh for AC accommodation), transport ( ₹1 lakh for air-conditioned buses) and refundable caution deposits of ₹25,000 each for college and hostel remain unchanged from prior years. 

Another university, which had allowed students to pay ₹28 lakh per year for five years — a total of ₹1.40 crore — has now told parents that if the same amount is paid over 4.5 years, the annual instalment will exceed ₹31 lakh. A third college has told parents it will allow the 4.5 year fee to be paid in five instalments instead of four. 

“It is framed as flexibility, though it changes nothing for families financially,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. Fees for self-financing colleges and private universities are fixed by the state fee fixation committee, but there is no cap on fees charged by deemed universities. 

NMC said colleges cannot ask students to pay fees during their internship year. Last week, state health minister K G 1 Arunraj said the govt will ensure all medical colleges fell in line. “Complaints against management charging additional fees, or those not paying a stipend, can be made anonymously on the state helpline 104,” he said.

State government to take legal action over deemed university status for three private medical colleges

State government to take legal action over deemed university status for three private medical colleges

Health Minister K.G. Arunraj

at the inauguration of the NalamAI WhatsApp chatbot service.B. JOTHI RAMALINGAM

The Hindu Bureau

CHENNAI. 09.07.2026

With three private medical colleges obtaining ‘deemed to be university’ status, Tamil Nadu will lose 461 medical seats from the State quota, Health Minister K.G. Arunraj said on Wednesday. He added that the State government was exploring legal action, and would file a writ petition soon.

Two days ago, the State government came to know from the website of the National Medical Commission that Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Institute of Medical Sciences and Hospital, Srinivasan Medical College and Hospital, and St. Peter’s Medical College had been granted deemed university status, he said.

As a result, the State will lose 461 seats from its pool, Dr. Arunraj said, adding: “These institutions will no longer be required to follow the reservation policy, 7.5% horizontal reservation for government school students, or adhere to the fee structure prescribed by the State government. Instead, they could fill MBBS and BDS seats independently.” Additionally, 35 seats under the 7.5% quota would be lost, he said.

The State government will also take up the issue with the Centre to make a no-objection certificate (NOC) from the State government mandatory for private medical colleges to obtain deemed university status, he said.

“Dhanalakshmi Srinivasan Medical College and Srinivasan Medical College are owned by DMK MLA Kathiravan. As they fall under the Tamil Nadu Private University category, they did not apply for NOC with the Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University, and applied directly to the University Grants Commission,” he told reporters after inaugurating facilities at Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital.

The deemed university status had been granted to St. Peter’s Medical College, Hosur, subject to an appeal filed by the Government of Tamil Nadu, he said. Karpaga Vinayaga Medical College had also applied for the status, he added.

Explaining the process, the Minister said private institutions seeking deemed university status must first obtain an NOC from their affiliated university. The affiliated university is required to issue the NOC within 60 days, failing which it shall be deemed to have been granted as per UGC rules.

In June 2023, the Karpaga Vinayaga institution, which has an engineering college and a medical college, had applied to Anna University and Tamil Nadu Dr. MGR Medical University for an NOC. 

However, no action was taken for 60 days. The NOC was issued in September 2023 during the previous regime, and the same was revoked two months later. The institution approached the High Court, and in April 2025, the court ruled that as the NOC was not issued within 60 days, it was deemed to have been issued as per UGC rules. No appeal was filed against the order by the previous government, he said.

The Minister also launched NalamAI, a WhatsApp chatbot service. The service, available on 96192 22999, has been introduced in 22 districts, where the public can generate the outpatient slips without having to wait in queues.

TN mulls legal action over deemed univ tag for med colleges

TN mulls legal action over deemed univ tag for med colleges 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK 08.07.2026

Chennai : Tamil Nadu is considering legal action, including moving the Supreme Court early next week, after some medical colleges in the state were granted ‘deemed university’ status — a change that could wipe out state quota seats and reshape access to medical education across the region.

Officials said that while 650 MBBS seats are likely to be removed from the state’s seat matrix since allotments to deemed universities are handled by the Centre, three more colleges have told the govt that they are expected to be added to the list soon. These institutions will no longer be obligated to reserve seats for students admitted through the state’s counselling process. “This will mean at least 700 govt quota seats, and more than 50 seats meant for govt school students, will be affected,” a senior health department official said. 

On Tuesday, after day-long discussions with legal experts, a senior legal officer questioned how these institutions were granted the permission, since UGC norms for this status require a high NAAC grade across three cycles, or NBA accreditation for two thirds of programmes, or a top  100 overall or top-50 discipline-specific NIRF ranking for three consecutive years. 

While a legal challenge may take months to resolve, student counsellors and academicians have urged the govt to rein in fees at deemed institutions, as directed by the HC. The state has no control over fees charged by deemed universities, since they fall outside state fee committee’s purview. Under the existing structure, the committee fixed annual MBBS tuition for govt quota seats in self-financing colleges and private universities at ₹4.35 lakh to ₹5.40 lakh, and for management-quota seats at ₹15 lakh to ₹16.2 lakh. 

The Centre has not fixed tuition fees for deemed universities, which charge between ₹20 lakh and ₹35 lakh a year. “Earlier, an association of private universities moved the court to prevent this from being implemented. For some reason, that case was withdrawn. So the state or the Centre must now implement the high court order,” said N Narendran, a NEET coach.  If the govt cannot immediately regulate fees, experts want it to adopt Karnataka’s approach.

 “In Karnataka, deemed universities continue sharing seats with the state govt despite their elevated status. At least six of the 12 deemed universities share around 188 seats with the state quota, at fees ranging from ₹1.5 lakh to ₹6 lakh,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “That’s one way to ensure meritorious and govt school students passing out this year are not punished,” he said. 

“For many meritorious students from modest backgrounds, this is a critical pathway into medicine, as they can only afford subsidised, govt-regulated seats,” he added. The state medical university, meanwhile, is appealing to UGC and NMC, stating that it never issued a no-objection certificate for the change in affiliation to these institutions.

State can’t undo 33-year-old appointment: Gujarat High Court

State can’t undo 33-year-old appointment: Gujarat High Court

July 5, 2026, 01.02 AM IST

Ahmedabad: 05.07.2026

The Gujarat HighCourt has quashed a state govt order cancelling an appointment of a teacher 33 years after he was given the job and some 17 years after his death, and stopping the pension being given to his widow.

In this case, Harshad Bhavsar, along with five others, was appointed as a teacher in its school by Sugyan Education Trust in 1988. After ascertaining he got requisite qualification for the post, his appointment was regularised by the district education officer in 1989. After serving for 16 years, Bhavsar died in 2004. The education department began paying family pension to Bhavsar’s widow, Manorama.

In 2021, the director of schools cancelled the appointment of six teachers and a librarian of the school, including that of Bhavsar, withdrew grant benefits, cancelled employee numbers and stopped salary payments under the Direct Salary Scheme.

The govt action was initiated following a complaint made in 2015 by the husband of then school principal, alleging that the appointments had been made in violation of recruitment rules. The govt cancelled the appointments on the grounds that they were based on forged documents, made without obtaining a no-objection certificate, without publishing advertisements and without seeking names from the employment exchange, causing a financial loss of over Rs 6 crore to the exchequer.

The school trust and the affected employees, including Bhavsar’s widow, challenged the order before HC in 2021. A single-judge bench quashed the govt’s s decision, ruling that appointments could not be cancelled after more than three decades.

However, the state govt appealed appealed against the order regarding the revocation of Bhavsar’s appointment.

Dismissing the appeal, a division bench of N S Sanjay Gowda and Justice J L Odedra said, “If an appointment was made in the year 1988, was regularised in 1989, the same cannot be subjected to a challenge or could be doubted by the state nearly 33 years after the appointment was made.”

The bench further said, “The state, after granting a family pension to the widow of the employee, is now doubting the very appointment itself, which its own officials had regularised. The learned single judge, in our view, has rightly quashed the order of cancellation and held that the state could not exercise its powers to cancel the appointment at such a belated stage.”

Ahead of admissions, 30 MU law colleges lose affiliation

Ahead of admissions, 30 MU law colleges lose affiliation

 Yogita.Rao@timesofindia.com  05.07.2026

Mumbai : Days before the commencement of the centralised admission process (CAP) for law courses, Mumbai University has denied affiliation to 30 law colleges. It has around 110 affiliated law colleges. The decision to withhold affiliation certificates, which could keep the colleges out of the stateconducted CAP rounds, was taken following recommendations by local inspection committees. The committees found that the colleges failed to appoint regular principals and adequate teaching staff, and other essential infrastructure required under university and Bar Council of India norms. Even last year, the colleges were granted conditional affiliation and were expected to fix the deficiencies. Since the colleges failed to fulfil the norms, the university declined to renew their affiliation for the current academic year. The move is expected to reduce the total intake for three-year and five-year law programmes by around 2,000 seats, said a students’ organisation. The last day to apply for three-year LLB is July 8. Over 50,000 students have already registered for the process. 

A university official said that they constituted inspection committees to visit law colleges early this year. Based on the reports submitted by these committees, affiliation certificates were not granted to colleges that did not have a regular principal, adequate teaching faculty, and other essential infrastructure in place, added the official. The university classified the colleges in three categories based on the faculty strength and administrative compliance. Newly established institutions were placed in Category A, while Category B comprised established colleges with university-approved principals and faculty, or those that initiated recruitment by issuing advertisements. Category C included older colleges operating without approved principals or the prescribed faculty strength and that had not begun the recruitment process. While colleges in Categories A and B were granted affiliation, those in Category C were denied affiliation certificates, said sources. Manoj Tekade. president, Prahar Vidyarthi Sanghatana, a students’ organisation, alleged that the university seemed to have adopted a selective approach. “No law college in Mumbai has a fully approved faculty strength, but the action seems to be targeting select institutions,” Tekade said. He said the university should have instead provided a transition period or granted temporary affiliation instead

We need doctors in this country’: SC dismisses plea seeking cap on private medical college fees

We need doctors in this country’: SC dismisses plea seeking cap on private medical college fees

Court upholds Rajasthan HC order, refuses directions on fee regulation despite concerns over affordability for EWS candidates.

Petitioner argued annual fees of up to ₹25 lakh undermine EWS reservation benefits; court says issue falls within regulators’ domain.(File Photo | ANI)

Suchitra Kalyan Mohanty

Updated on:

25 Jun 2026, 7:56 am

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to interfere with the fee structure of the private medical colleges in Rajasthan, observing that “we need doctors in this country” while dismissing a petition that called the charges exorbitant.

A bench of Justices B V Nagarathna and Joymalya Bagchi heard a Special Leave Petition (SLP) challenging a Rajasthan High Court order. The HC had earlier rejected a plea by a medical aspirant claiming annual tuition fees in private colleges range from `18.90 lakh to `25 lakh, which, he said, was inconsistent with the `8 lakh income cap for EWS reservation.

“We need doctors in this country,” said the top court while refusing to entertain a plea which alleged that the fee structure in private medical colleges in Rajasthan was exorbitant.

The counsel argued that high fees made MBBS unaffordable for EWS candidates despite quotas and urged the court to direct the state and Centre to cap fees at affordable levels.

The bench, however, declined to step in and refused to pass any order on the plea. “Medical education requires infrastructure, faculty, and equipment. Fee fixation is a policy decision for regulators,” it said while dismissing the plea.

Noting that fee regulation falls within the domain of the state authorities and bodies like the Medical Council, the SC clarified that judicial interference is warranted only if there is manifest illegality or arbitrariness, which was not shown here in this present case. “One person cannot say that it is exorbitant in private institutions and make it on par with government institutions,” the bench observed.

The bench observed that one has the option to avail a scholarship. “We need doctors in this country,” it said. “We don’t find any reason to interfere with the impugned order passed by the high court. The special leave petition is dismissed. Question of law, if any, is kept open,” the bench said.

With this, the SC upheld the High Court’s order. No directions were issued to the Centre, Rajasthan government, or MCI/NMC on fee caps.

The petitioner is a general category candidate, who possesses an EWS certificate. He felt aggrieved that the counseling board allocated him a seat in a private college despite he giving preference for 73 colleges.

He argued that EWS students were charged the same fee as other general category students, thus making medical education unaffordable to the EWS students. He also relied on a National Medical Commission notice, which stated that 50 per cent of seats in private colleges should be at par with government colleges.

Pvt colleges, deemed univs launch digi regn drives ahead of NEET counselling

Pvt colleges, deemed univs launch digi regn drives ahead of NEET counselling

Experts warn Of Backdoor Admissions, Fee Deals

Pushpa.Narayan@timesofindia.com 25.06.2026

Chennai : Weeks before NEET counselling for undergraduate medical admissions begins, private medical colleges and deemed universities have quietly launched digital registration portals for MBBS aspirants — a practice academicians and student counsellors say has no legal standing and could pave the way for backdoor admissions and under-the-table fee arrangements. 

The registrations, once conducted discreetly on campuses, have now moved online. Under the existing regulatory framework, admissions to MBBS seats are governed exclusively by state and central counselling committees. After NEET-UG results are declared, the Medical Counselling Committee under the Directorate General of Health Services, New Delhi, allots candidates to central institutions, deemed universities and 15% of state medical college seats, based on merit in NEET, reservation norms and student preference. 

State committees allot candidates to the remaining 85% of govt seats and all seats in self-financing and state private colleges. Colleges are barred from directly admitting students. Yet, the portals ask prospective candidates to submit personal details — name, address, mobile number, NEET admit card number and scores. “Some parents assume early registration will help their children secure seats,” said student counsellor Manickavel Arumugam. “Colleges then meet parents, offer financial incentives such as fee discount of up tos 5 lakh a year and ask them to pay a part of the fee in advance. 

They also help them fill admission forms in ways that could steer allotments toward the college," he said. These arrangements can affect merit, he said.  

A parent said a college official promised a discount of up to 5 lakh a year — on annual fees that already run as high as 30 lakh — in exchange for early registration. “I decided to pay and pick the seat in the first round of counselling. But my son's teacher warned me I could lose the money,” said Varadharajan S, who works for an IT firm.

Paramedical intake: 27k register for 56k seats

Paramedical intake: 27k register for 56k seats 

TIMES NEWS NETWORK  13.06.2026

Ahmedabad : Admissions for paramedical programmes in Gujarat, including BSc Nursing, have so far drawn a weaker-than-anticipated response, with registrations well below the total seats on offer. 

As per official information, about 26,900 candidates have registered for admission against over 56,000 seats available across govt and self-financed institutions in the state. So far, 24,442 applications have been verified. The admission procedure started on May 29 through the admission committee’s official portal, where students had to buy an online PIN and finish the registration process. 

The registration window closed on Friday, and a total of 27,347 PINs were issued during this period. Even so, the relatively small number of completed registrations suggests many seats could remain unoccupied. The deadline for document verification is June 13, and officials anticipate more candidates will complete verification by the last day. At the same time, the state board will conduct supplementary exams from June 11 to June 20. Once the supplementary results are announced, the authorities intend to restart PIN distribution and reopen registrations so additional students can apply