NMC Says Medical Education Standards Will Remain Unchanged Despite Denotification of Regulations
Commission says removal of the 2023 regulations eliminates overlapping procedures, while mandatory disclosures, inspections and action against non-compliant colleges will continue.
NEW DELHI, Oct 23: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that the withdrawal of the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, will not weaken quality requirements for medical colleges, asserting that the decision is aimed at eliminating duplication in regulatory procedures.
The statutory body, responsible for overseeing medical education in India, de-notified the regulations on October 14. It said the move would streamline administrative processes without affecting the prescribed academic requirements or its authority to monitor medical institutions.
In a statement, the Commission emphasised that the decision would not dilute existing standards or reduce the regulatory supervision exercised under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019.
Under the Act, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) and the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) are responsible for establishing academic benchmarks, minimum requirements and educational norms for medical programmes.
The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), meanwhile, is empowered under Section 26 of the legislation to inspect and assess medical institutions, verify their compliance with prescribed requirements and initiate appropriate action against colleges found deficient.
According to the NMC, the 2023 regulations had introduced an additional mechanism for institutional evaluation, annual renewal and enforcement through UGMEB and PGMEB. This created an overlap with the responsibilities already assigned to MARB under the statutory framework.
Following judicial observations and a review of the relevant legal provisions, the Commission decided to remove the additional process and align regulatory functions more closely with the powers defined under the Act.
The NMC stressed that the change concerns the procedure for regulatory oversight rather than the standards medical colleges must maintain.
Annual Disclosure Reports (ADRs) will continue to be compulsory for medical institutions. Colleges must provide information about faculty strength, infrastructure, clinical facilities, patient load and other prescribed requirements.
These disclosures will remain subject to scrutiny and verification through MARB’s statutory assessment and inspection mechanisms. The Commission said concerns that annual reports would become unverified declarations were therefore misplaced.
Minimum requirements concerning teaching staff, infrastructure, clinical material, educational facilities, attendance and academic performance will also remain in force.
MARB retains the authority to assess and inspect institutions, including conducting inspections without prior notice where necessary. It can also initiate appropriate regulatory action against colleges that fail to comply with the NMC Act or the Regulation of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023.
The Commission further clarified that the de-notification does not invalidate action already taken under the withdrawn regulations. Existing liabilities and proceedings initiated under MSMER-2023 will remain protected, and institutions will not receive immunity from past violations or future enforcement measures.
The principal procedural change is the removal of the additional annual renewal requirement introduced under the 2023 framework. Medical colleges will nevertheless remain accountable through compulsory annual disclosures, minimum academic and infrastructure requirements, institutional assessments and statutory enforcement.
The NMC said its objective was to maintain high standards of medical education while making regulation more transparent and efficient. It cautioned that reducing unnecessary administrative duplication should not be interpreted as a relaxation of quality controls.
The Commission reiterated that the safeguards governing medical education remain in place, with MARB continuing to exercise its inspection and enforcement powers to ensure institutions meet the prescribed requirements.
