National Medical Commission relaxes MBBS norms to increase seats, ease rules for new medical colleges
National Medical Commission revises Undergraduate Medical Education Regulations 2023, removing the MBBS seat cap, easing norms for new medical colleges, and introducing updated hospital distance guidelines to boost medical education capacity in India
PTC Web Desk: In a major step aimed at expanding medical education in the country, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has revised its Undergraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023. The changes are expected to make it easier to open new medical colleges and increase the number of MBBS seats in existing institutions.
One of the most important decisions is the removal of the cap on MBBS seats per college. Earlier, institutions were not allowed to admit more than 150 students in a batch. With this restriction now lifted, colleges can increase their intake, provided they meet other required standards.
The NMC has also done away with the population-based rule that linked the number of MBBS seats to the size of a state or Union Territory. Earlier, states were required to maintain a ratio of 100 seats per 10 lakh people. Officials believe that removing this condition will help states expand medical education without facing rigid limits.
Another key change relates to the distance between a medical college and its teaching hospital. The earlier rule focused on travel time, limiting it to 30 minutes. This has now been replaced with a fixed distance rule. As per the new guidelines, the hospital should be within 10 km of the college. For institutions in hilly and North Eastern regions, the limit has been extended to 15 km to account for difficult terrain.
These amendments have been made under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Experts say the move will encourage more investment in the sector and help meet the growing demand for doctors across the country.