On 22 June 2026 the National Medical Commission (NMC) announced phase‑out of postgraduate diploma medical courses; 2026‑27 will be the last session for admissions and from 2027‑28 no fresh admissions will be permitted and diplomas will cease to function.
Key decisions
- Effective timeline: 2026‑27 — final admissions; 2027‑28 onwards — no new admissions and courses discontinued.
- Replacement: PG diploma programmes to be replaced by broad‑specialty degree programmes such as MD and MS.
- Upgrade provision: Colleges offering diplomas may apply to convert diploma seats into corresponding MD/MS seats.
Conversion process
- Application authority: Applications for conversion to be submitted online to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) of the NMC.
- Infrastructure criterion: NMC observed many colleges possess requisite infrastructure, clinical material and faculty for upgrade.
- Operational details: A dedicated application module and detailed timelines will be notified separately by the NMC.
Regulatory basis
- PGMER 2023: Post‑Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 permit conversion of diploma seats into degree seats.
- NMC mandate: NMC has statutory authority over recognition, assessment and regulation of medical education and institutions.
IASPOINT Booster Facts
- MD/MS: Broad‑specialty postgraduate medical degrees conferred after completion of residency and examination; recognised as specialist qualifications.
- MARB role: Constituted to assess and rate medical colleges for recognition, accreditation and seat sanctioning.
- Relevant law: National Medical Commission Act, 2019 governs NMC functions and regulation of medical education.