New Delhi, 28 November 2025 — The Supreme Court just called out the Gujarat government and the National Medical Commission (NMC) after hearing that foreign medical graduates (FMGs) in the state aren’t getting the stipends they’re supposed to receive during their mandatory internships.
What’s the story?
The All-India Parents Association (Belarus Medical Students) says Gujarat’s FMGs have to sign papers promising not to ask for stipends. Some even allegedly had to pay fees or give up any stipend just to get an internship spot. According to the petition, this isn’t just unfair — it clearly breaks NMC’s own rules.
The rules here are actually pretty straightforward. The NMC’s 2021 internship regulations say FMGs must get the same stipend as Indian MBBS grads. The NMC repeated this in several circulars between 2022 and 2024: states and colleges can’t deny FMGs their money. Even courts in other states have pushed back against attempts to make FMGs pay to intern.
Now, the Supreme Court bench (Justices Aravind Kumar and P.B. Varale) has combined this entreaty with other cases regarding to unpaid stipends (payments). The Court had already warned colleges and institutes to be transparent about stipends and has threatened strict action if they keep ignoring the rules.
Why does this matter?
For FMGs, missing out on stipends just adds to their financial stress and goes against the promise of equal treatment. For states and colleges, ignoring these rules could bring legal trouble, especially since the NMC is watching more closely now.
So, what happens next?
Gujarat and the NMC have to reply to the Court. Depending on what comes out, the judges might set some interim rules or ask the NMC for a detailed compliance report.