The National Medical Commission (NMC) has once again issued a public notice warning medical colleges of action if they fail to pay stipends to interns and resident doctors. Despite similar warnings issued in 2023 and 2024, no concrete action appears to have followed, raising questions about whether the recent change in NMC leadership will result in actual enforcement this time.
Three months ago, the NMC warned it could impose a penalty of ₹50,000 on colleges that withhold stipends—effectively saving crores annually by not compensating medical trainees. According to NMC regulations, all medical colleges are required to pay stipends equivalent to those paid in government medical colleges in the same state.
Just days before its latest notice dated July 11, the NMC shifted the responsibility for handling medical student grievances to colleges, universities, and state directorates of medical education. Yet, it has now returned with threats of penalties, withdrawal of course recognition, and even suspension of programs.
The July 11 notice also reminded institutions of a Supreme Court order dated April 29 mandating that all private and deemed universities must disclose details about tuition fees, hostel charges, caution deposits, and other fees at the pre-counselling stage. Citing both this order and a previous 2022 SC ruling, the NMC reiterated that stipend payments are mandatory under its regulations.
Non-compliance, the notice warned, could invite action under the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, and the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023. The NMC stated that these steps reflect its commitment to promoting fair, ethical, and transparent practices in medical education nationwide.
In April 2023, an NMC survey revealed that over 60 medical colleges were not paying any stipend, while nearly 50 others were paying less than ₹5,000 per month. In response, the NMC issued an advisory in August 2023 and, under pressure from the Supreme Court, sent show-cause notices in November 2024 to 198 colleges that failed to submit stipend data.
Despite repeated warnings in August 2023, November 2024, and now July 2025, there is still no public record of any punitive action taken against any college for non-payment of stipends.
