Big changes are coming to medical education in India. The National Medical Commission (NMC) just scrapped the old rule that capped medical colleges at adding only 100 MBBS seats at a time. Now, colleges that have the resources and meet the requirements can apply to add as many seats as they’re equipped for, all in one go. Along with this, the NMC rolled out a new rule: any college looking to boost its MBBS intake or set up a new medical college must pay a one-time registration fee of ₹2 lakh (plus GST).
The new policies, announced through updated regulations, promise to simplify the approval process. The goal? Make it easier for colleges to grow and, hopefully, help close the gap between the number of doctors India needs and the number it’s producing.
What’s changed with the 100-seat cap?
Until now, even big institutions with plenty of faculty, infrastructure, and hospital experience could only ask for 100 more seats per application. This slowed things down, especially for colleges ready to take on more students. With the cap gone, colleges can now apply for bigger increases—if they can prove they’re up to it. This should ramp up the number of MBBS seats across the country and ease the doctor shortage.
About that new fee: the NMC now requires a non-refundable, one-time registration payment of ₹2 lakh plus 18% GST. This covers colleges looking to increase student intake or launch a new medical college. It’s a separate charge—not replacing any existing application or processing fees. Once paid, the registration stays valid for future seat increase applications.
There’s some good news for colleges about paperwork, too. The NMC confirmed that Essentiality Certificates issued in the older format will still valid for the 2026–27 academic year. So, colleges don’t need to hike to get new certificates for the next round, which will eventually save time and hassle.
The commission also updated its requirements for undertakings and affiliations. Once a college gets the Letter of Permission, it will need to promise (in writing) to set up a corpus fund for long-term stability. The arrangement for university affiliation agreement has also changed, and colleges must make sure their applications match the new NMC guidelines.
What does all this mean?
These moves should make it easier for qualified colleges to expand and for students to find MBBS seats without a mad scramble. More seats, less pointless red tape, and a clearer, more streamlined process. Colleges get the flexibility to grow if they meet the standards; students get a better shot at medical education.
By dropping the old cap and introducing a one-time fee, the NMC is trying to balance development with excellence. As these changes roll out over the next few years, they could reform medical education in India and help answer the increasing demand for doctors.