NMC withdraws 2023 rules on medical education standards, raising liability concerns

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has withdrawn the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER-2023), with effect from 17 October. The move has raised questions about how violations by medical schools will be penalized and how compliance with prescribed standards will be verified under the remaining regulatory framework.

MSMER-2023 was withdrawn with immediate effect through a notice dated October 14, published in the Gazette on October 17. There is no new regulation to replace the MSMER 2023. Instead, the requirement for medical schools to submit Annual Disclosure Reports (ADRs) will continue under the National Medical Commission Act 2019 and other applicable regulations, the NMC said.

Rules on sanctions, enforcement removed

The recall comes just after a nationwide campaign for more accountability in the entrance medical examination.

Health activists and medical education experts have raised concerns about three key areas that may fall into the gaps when these regulations are repealed: the purported removal of specific penalties under MSMER-2023, including fines of up to ₹ 1 million for specified violations and personal fines of up to ₹ 5 lakh for teachers and administrators who submit false records; verifying the universities’ annual information on faculty, infrastructure, clinical facilities and patient load; and the elimination of specific enforcement and appeal procedures and deadlines set forth in MSMER-2023.

“Patients at Risk”

Bejon Kumar Misra, a consumer rights activist and founder and director of the Patient Safety and Access Initiative of India Foundation (PSAIIF), said the recall raised concerns about transparency, accountability and the quality of medical education.

While the NMC Act 2019 provides statutory powers for inspection and enforcement, Prof. Misra said withdrawing a detailed regulatory framework without clarifying equivalent safeguards creates uncertainty about how institutional deficiencies and misinformation will be addressed.

“Medical schools cannot be judged solely by their buildings, equipment or number of approved places. The true measure of medical education is the competence of the graduating doctors, the availability of qualified faculty, adequate clinical exposure under supervision and their ability to provide safe and ethical care to patients,” he said.

Prof. Misra also wrote to the Union government, warning that misleading faculty statements, inflated patient records or undetected inadequate clinical training could ultimately put patients at risk. He called on the Union Health Ministry and the NMC to clarify the enforcement mechanisms that will remain in place and ensure that standards of medical education are independently verifiable.

“Dilution of Regulatory Oversight”

Babu KV, an ophthalmologist and medical activist, said the withdrawal could weaken the punishment framework. He explained that by labeling the stronger September regulation MSMER 2023 and keeping the June regulation, some clauses were deleted.

“Similar to Clause 8(2)c which states that a fine not exceeding ₹5 lakh (shall be imposed) for a Faculty/Head of Department (HoD)/Dean/Principal/Physician to submit false statements/documents/records (including patient records). Further, they may also be charged or penalized for medical malpractice (Professional Vogue Registered) he said.

“This is a key regulation where individual doctors are held accountable, so its deletion is a dilution of regulatory oversight,” explained Dr. Babu, refuting the NMC’s argument that there is no dilution of regulatory oversight.

“Eliminates duplication”

However, a senior NMC official told The Hindu that the decision had been “misinterpreted”. The withdrawal followed a review by the Commission’s legal team, which recommended streamlining regulatory powers and removing overlapping responsibilities, the official said.

The commission operates through four autonomous boards, two of which set standards for undergraduate and graduate medical education. Another evaluates and evaluates medical schools and conducts institutional reviews and regulatory actions, while a fourth oversees medical registration, professional conduct and ethics.

The NMC insists the move eliminates duplication without diluting standards and that its inspection and verification powers remain intact.

Not retrospective

The Gazette Notice provides that the withdrawal will not affect any measures already taken, approvals granted or rights, obligations and liabilities arising under MSMER-2023. Applications, proceedings, appeals and inquiries pending before an appeal will continue to be dealt with in accordance with the Regulations, where appropriate. Matters arising after withdrawal will be governed by the NMC Act and the statutory and regulatory provisions in force at the time.

India had 846 medical schools, 1,39,864 MBBS seats and 86,360 post-graduate medical seats, according to government data cited in August 2026. “With the expansion of medical education, the key question is whether the regulatory framework that remains can ensure that colleges meet the prescribed standards and face effective action if they fail to do so,” said Dr. Grandma.

Published – 24 Oct 2026 19:53 IST