New Delhi, April, 2026 – In a major relief to MBBS students and their families, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed all medical colleges, institutions, and universities across India to charge fees strictly for the prescribed academic duration of 4.5 years only. The regulator has warned of strict action against institutions that continue to collect fees for the full five or 5.5-year course duration, including the compulsory internship period.
In an official public notice issued on April 7, 2026, the NMC clarified that the MBBS programme, as per the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) Guidelines 2024 under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER), consists of 4.5 years (54 months) of academic study followed by one year of Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI). The internship phase involves practical training and no formal academic instruction, and therefore cannot be charged as part of tuition fees.
The directive comes after the NMC received complaints that several medical colleges were demanding fees for the entire course length, a practice the Commission described as inconsistent with legal and regulatory provisions under Sections 10 and 24 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. Such overcharging places an undue financial burden on students, especially those from middle-class and economically weaker backgrounds pursuing the expensive medical programme.
Medical education experts and student organisations have welcomed the move, terming it a significant step towards transparency and affordability in medical education. “This clarification will save students lakhs of rupees that were previously being extracted for the non-academic internship year,” said Dr. Rajesh Gupta, a senior medical education analyst. Parents have also expressed relief, as MBBS fees in private colleges often run into several lakhs annually.
The NMC has instructed all institutions to immediately align their fee structures with the 4.5-year norm and refund any excess amounts already collected, if applicable. Non-compliance will invite serious regulatory action, including penalties or withdrawal of permissions.
This directive is expected to benefit thousands of students enrolling in MBBS programmes through NEET UG. The NMC has urged students and parents to report violations directly to the Commission for prompt redressal.
The move reinforces the regulator’s commitment to protecting student interests while ensuring ethical practices in medical institutions.