Editorial: Is the NMC's withdrawal of college standards rules a 'dubious retreat'?
In one line: The NMC has scrapped its 2023 standards-and-penalties rulebook for medical colleges, saying it duplicated other rules, and The Hindu argues this weakens oversight.
Published 27 October 2026. Written by Pratidin from the reports linked at the end; every fact checked by a separate review before publishing. How we work
The National Medical Commission (NMC), India's regulator of medical education and practice, has de-notified the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER-2023). The notification is dated 14 October 2026 and was published in the Gazette on 16 October. MSMER-2023, notified in September 2023, set out penalties for medical colleges that failed to meet standards or gave false information: fines of up to ₹1 crore per violation for institutions, fines on faculty, deans and doctors for false declarations or records, cuts in student intake, stopping admissions, and withholding or withdrawing accreditation for up to five academic years. It also asked colleges to file an Annual Disclosure Report (ADR) on faculty, infrastructure and clinical material.
The NMC says the 2023 regulations created a parallel system of institutional evaluation, annual renewal and enforcement by its Undergraduate and Postgraduate Medical Education Boards that overlapped with the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB). It says it acted after "judicial observations" and a review of the NMC Act, 2019, and that the only procedural change is the end of the extra annual renewal. The ADR stays mandatory under Sections 24(i) and 25(h) of the NMC Act, MARB keeps its power to inspect colleges, including without notice, and actions already taken under MSMER-2023 are preserved. "Regulatory simplification must not be mistaken for regulatory relaxation," the NMC said.
The Hindu's editorial of 27 October calls the move a "dubious retreat". It notes that MSMER was praised for targeting "ghost faculty" (teachers shown on paper who do not teach) and "ghost patients" (patients faked to inflate clinical material during inspections). It accepts that MARB can still fine institutions up to ₹1 crore under its own 2023 regulations, but asks why the whole regulation was scrapped rather than only the overlapping part, and argues that penalising only institutions, not individuals, invites leniency. It points to a transparency gap: in an RTI matter before the Central Information Commission, the NMC said in 2024 that MARB had neither assessed nor rated colleges, although MARB's rules require it to publish annual assessment results. Unless these gaps are closed, the editorial argues, the change will look like relaxation rather than simplification.
Prelims facts
- The NMC de-notified MSMER-2023 by a notification dated 14 October 2026, published in the Gazette on 16 October 2026.
- MSMER-2023 allowed fines of up to ₹1 crore per violation on medical colleges, cuts in intake and withdrawal of accreditation for up to five academic years.
- The Annual Disclosure Report remains mandatory under Sections 24(i) and 25(h) of the NMC Act, 2019, and MARB keeps its inspection powers.
- The NMC Act, 2019 replaced the Medical Council of India; the NMC was constituted on 25 September 2020 with four autonomous boards.
- The Hindu's editorial argues the withdrawal weakens action against 'ghost faculty' and individual wrongdoers, and flags MARB's poor record on publishing assessments.
Quick recall
- What is MSMER-2023?
- The NMC's Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023, notified in September 2023.
- When was MSMER-2023 de-notified?
- By a notification dated 14 October 2026, published in the Gazette on 16 October 2026.
- Maximum fine on a college per violation under MSMER-2023?
- Up to ₹1 crore.
- Under which sections of the NMC Act does the Annual Disclosure Report continue?
- Sections 24(i) and 25(h).
- Which body assesses, inspects and rates medical colleges?
- The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
- When was the NMC constituted, and what did it replace?
- 25 September 2020; it replaced the Medical Council of India.
- What is 'ghost faculty'?
- Teachers shown on a college's records who do not actually work or teach there.
- For how long could accreditation be withheld or withdrawn under MSMER-2023?
- Up to five academic years.
Prelims practice question
Which of the following are autonomous boards under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019?
1. Under-Graduate Medical Education Board
2. Medical Assessment and Rating Board
3. Ethics and Medical Registration Board
4. National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences
Select the correct answer using the code given below.
- 1 and 2 only
- 1, 2 and 3 only
- 2, 3 and 4 only
- 1, 2, 3 and 4
Show answer
Answer: (b) 1, 2 and 3 only. The NMC Act sets up four autonomous boards: the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and the Ethics and Medical Registration Board. The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences is a separate body and not one of the four.
Use this in UPSC Mains: previous-year questions
Recurring theme: Regulation and quality of medical education in India
- How to use this
Use the NMC case to show that regulatory credibility depends on visible enforcement and transparency, not just autonomy on paper.
- In October 2026 the NMC de-notified MSMER-2023, which allowed fines of up to ₹1 crore per violation and withdrawal of accreditation for up to five years.
- In an RTI matter, the NMC told the Central Information Commission in 2024 that MARB had neither assessed nor rated colleges.
Quality control of private medical colleges is part of containing the effects of marketisation in health.
The supply of well-trained doctors from properly regulated colleges underpins any plan for universal health coverage.
Mains practice question
Regulatory simplification should not become regulatory relaxation. Examine this statement in the context of the National Medical Commission's withdrawal of the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023. (150 words)
Model answer
In October 2026 the National Medical Commission (NMC) de-notified the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (MSMER-2023), saying they duplicated the work of the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
The case for simplification
- MSMER created a parallel evaluation, annual renewal and enforcement track through the UG and PG Boards.
- The Annual Disclosure Report stays mandatory under Sections 24(i) and 25(h) of the NMC Act, 2019.
- MARB keeps powers to inspect, including without notice.
Why critics see relaxation
- MSMER targeted 'ghost faculty' and 'ghost patients' with fines of up to ₹1 crore per violation and loss of seats or accreditation.
- Fines on faculty and deans for false records go with it, and penalising only institutions may breed leniency, The Hindu argues.
- The NMC told the Central Information Commission in 2024 that MARB had neither assessed nor rated colleges, despite rules requiring published results.
Way forward
- Restore individual accountability and publish annual college ratings.
Simpler rules can work only if enforcement becomes more visible, not less.
The basics
Why this matters
India is adding medical seats fast. Whether a new college has real teachers, real patients and real labs decides the quality of the doctors it produces. The rules that check this, and the penalties for faking it, are a test of how well a regulator works.
Who regulates medical education
The National Medical Commission replaced the Medical Council of India under the NMC Act, 2019. The Act received assent on 8 August 2019 and the Commission was constituted on 25 September 2020. It works through four autonomous boards.
- 1Under-Graduate Medical Education BoardSets standards for MBBS-level education
- 2Post-Graduate Medical Education BoardSets standards for postgraduate education
- 3Medical Assessment and Rating BoardAssesses, inspects and rates colleges and permits new colleges and seats
- 4Ethics and Medical Registration BoardMaintains registers of doctors and regulates professional conduct
What MSMER-2023 did
The MSMER-2023, notified in September 2023, required colleges to disclose their faculty, infrastructure and clinical facilities every year, and listed penalties for violations and false records.
- 1WarningDirection to fix deficiencies within a set time
- 2FinesUp to ₹1 crore per violation on institutions; fines on individuals for false declarations
- 3Seat actionWithholding new courses or seat increases, or cutting intake in later years
- 4Admissions stoppedSuspension of admissions to one or more courses
- 5AccreditationWithheld or withdrawn for up to five academic years
What changed in October 2026
The NMC de-notified MSMER-2023 by a notification of 14 October 2026, published on 16 October. It says the rules duplicated the Medical Assessment and Rating Board. The disclosure duty survives in the Annual Disclosure Report.
- Removes overlapping evaluation and renewal
- ADR stays mandatory
- MARB can still inspect without notice
- Past actions preserved
- Weakens action against 'ghost faculty'
- Individuals escape fines
- Whole rulebook scrapped, not just the overlap
- MARB has not published assessments
The bigger question
A regulator earns trust by showing its work. Publishing inspection results and ratings would let students, parents and States judge colleges, whatever the rulebook says.
Go deeper
Why it matters for UPSC
The quality of medical education, the design of regulators and accountability are GS2 themes. This case lets you discuss the tension between simpler rules and strong enforcement.
The core idea
The National Medical Commission regulates medical colleges through four boards. The MSMER-2023 gave the education boards a parallel track for evaluation, annual renewal and penalties. The NMC says that overlapped with the Medical Assessment and Rating Board, so it withdrew MSMER but kept the Annual Disclosure Report. Critics say the fines on individuals and the clear penalty ladder have gone with it.
Numbers and dates to remember
- MSMER-2023 notified in September 2023.
- De-notification dated 14 October 2026; Gazette publication 16 October 2026.
- Fines of up to ₹1 crore per violation on institutions; accreditation withheld for up to five academic years.
- ADR continues under Sections 24(i) and 25(h) of the NMC Act, 2019.
- NMC constituted on 25 September 2020.
Where to go next
- National Medical Commission: the regulator and its boards.
- MSMER-2023: what the withdrawn rules did.
- Medical Assessment and Rating Board: the board that now carries enforcement.
- Annual Disclosure Report: the yearly self-report that survives.
Go deeper: simplification or relaxation?
The NMC's case:
- Two boards and MARB doing similar evaluation work created confusion and extra paperwork. Removing the separate annual renewal under MSMER-2023 cuts duplication.
- The Annual Disclosure Report continues, so colleges must still report faculty, infrastructure and patient load every year.
- The Medical Assessment and Rating Board keeps its power to inspect, including surprise visits, and to act against deficient colleges.
The editorial's case:
- MSMER was valued because it targeted 'ghost faculty' and 'ghost patients', frauds that inspections have long struggled to catch.
- Fines on individual faculty and administrators for false records lapse; penalising only institutions is harder and invites leniency.
- Only the overlapping part needed to go, not the whole rulebook.
- Transparency is weak: in an RTI matter before the Central Information Commission, the NMC said in 2024 that MARB had neither assessed nor rated colleges, though its rules require annual results to be published.
For answers: the issue is not the number of rules but whether the National Medical Commission enforces standards visibly. Publishing ratings, inspection outcomes and penalties would settle much of the debate.
National Medical Commission
The regulator and its boards.
In one line: The NMC is the statutory regulator of medical education and practice in India, set up under the NMC Act, 2019.
From MCI to NMC
The NMC replaced the Medical Council of India. The NMC Act received assent on 8 August 2019, and the Commission was constituted on 25 September 2020.
Structure
The Commission has 33 members, and at least 60% must be medical practitioners. It works through four autonomous boards: the Under-Graduate Medical Education Board, the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board, the Medical Assessment and Rating Board, and the Ethics and Medical Registration Board.
Why it is in the news
It has withdrawn MSMER-2023, a set of regulations on standards and penalties for medical colleges.
Where to go next
MSMER-2023
What the withdrawn rules did.
In one line: The Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations, 2023 set out how colleges must prove they meet standards and what happens if they do not.
What it required
Colleges had to file an Annual Disclosure Report with the education boards, which could verify infrastructure, qualified faculty, patient load and variety, procedures and teaching methods.
Penalties
Institutions faced fines of up to ₹1 crore per violation, cuts in intake, suspension of admissions and withholding or withdrawal of accreditation for up to five academic years. Faculty, heads of departments, deans and doctors could be fined for false declarations or records and face misconduct action. Pressuring the boards through intermediaries could halt all of a college's applications.
Why it is in the news
The NMC de-notified it in October 2026, citing overlap with MARB.
Where to go next
Medical Assessment and Rating Board
The board that now carries enforcement.
In one line: MARB is the NMC board that assesses, inspects and rates medical colleges and approves new colleges, courses and seats.
Powers
It can inspect colleges, including without prior notice, verify their compliance with minimum standards, and act against deficient institutions under the NMC Act and its own Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, which allow fines on institutions of up to ₹1 crore.
The transparency question
The Hindu's editorial notes that in an RTI matter before the Central Information Commission, the NMC said in 2024 that MARB had neither assessed nor rated colleges, although its regulations require annual assessment results to be published.
Why it is in the news
With MSMER gone, enforcement rests mainly with MARB.
Where to go next
Annual Disclosure Report
The yearly self-report that survives.
In one line: The Annual Disclosure Report (ADR) is a yearly statement in which each medical college declares its faculty, infrastructure and clinical resources.
What it covers
Faculty strength, infrastructure, clinical facilities, patient load and other prescribed parameters. These claims are subject to verification through MARB's assessments and inspections.
Legal basis
The NMC says the ADR continues under Sections 24(i) and 25(h) of the NMC Act, 2019, so its withdrawal of MSMER-2023 does not end the duty to disclose. It also said that any claim that annual disclosures would go unverified is incorrect.
Why it matters
False disclosures, such as listing teachers who do not teach, are exactly what MSMER's fines on individuals targeted.
Where to go next
Take the 27 October 2026 quiz: 30 Prelims-style questions with answers