NMC MBBS fee directive: Colleges must charge fees only for 4.5 years
NMC MBBS fee directive: The National Medical Commission in a public notice dated April 7, 2026 has directed all medical colleges to charge MBBS fees only for the prescribed academic duration of 4½ years (54 months) . The Commission warned that charging fees for five years or five and a half years is inconsistent with the course structure and may attract statutory action.
NMC MBBS fee directive: what the notice says
The notice cites Sections 10 and 24 of the NMC Act, 2019 and the Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Guidelines, 2024 to clarify the MBBS structure. The course comprises 4½ years (54 months) of academic study plus a 1-year Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) .
The NMC also referenced the Supreme Court's interim directions in Abhishek Yadav v. Union of India , which scrutinised stipend non-payment and internship-related charges. The Commission said levying fees beyond periods of academic instruction is inconsistent with legal principles and past Supreme Court rulings.
NMC MBBS fee directive — legal basis and warnings
The notice refers to landmark Supreme Court rulings including T.M.A. Pai Foundation and P.A. Inamdar , stressing that fees must be reasonable, transparent and non-exploitative. It states that charging for periods where no academic teaching is imparted violates these principles.
The NMC made clear that any instance of non-compliance will be taken seriously and appropriate action will follow under existing statutory and regulatory provisions. The notice did not list specific colleges or outline a timeline for audits or penalties.
Key dates and course facts
| Event | Date / Detail |
|---|---|
| NMC public notice issuing directive | April 7, 2026 |
| MBBS academic duration | 4½ years (54 months) |
| Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) | 1 year |
| CBME Guidelines referenced | 2024 |
| NMC Act enactment referenced | 2019 |
What this means for you
If your college is charging MBBS fees beyond 4½ years , you can point to the NMC public notice dated April 7, 2026 when raising concerns. The Commission has asked institutions to limit fee levy to the academic study period only.
The notice did not provide a list of offending colleges, specific penalties, or a complaint process. Students seeking redress should keep fee receipts and official communications ready if they choose to report non-compliance to the NMC.