3-Year Service and Rs 50 Lakh Penalty for Clinical Courses: Tripura’s Bond Policy for PG Medical Admissions

Agartala: Doctors pursuing PG medical courses in Tripura are required to execute bonds at the time of admission, committing to serve the state for a specified period. The bond amounts are Rs 35 lakh for pre-clinical and para-clinical courses, Rs 50 lakh for clinical courses, and Rs 15 lakh for PG Diploma courses. Failure to fulfill the service obligation—three years for PG Degree courses and two years for PG Diploma courses—will result in the payment of the bond amount.

Additionally, PG Pre-Clinical & Para-Clinical, PG Degree, and PG Diploma students must pay a seat-leaving bond penalty of Rs 25 lakh, Rs 35 lakh, and Rs 10 lakh respectively if they discontinue their courses prematurely.

These provisions, effective from the 2020 academic session, were outlined in a government notification dated December 13, 2019. The conditions were reiterated in the Information Bulletin for Round 1 of Tripura State NEET PG 2024 Counselling, released by the State Directorate of Medical Education.

PG Service Bond

1. All non-sponsored and state domicile candidates admitted under the State Quota must execute a service bond agreeing to serve under the Tripura government for:
   • Three years after completing PG Degree courses.
   • Two years after completing PG Diploma courses.
2. If they fail to fulfill this obligation, they must pay:
   • Rs 35 lakh for Pre-Clinical & Para-Clinical subjects (Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, etc.).
   • Rs 50 lakh for Clinical subjects (General Medicine, Surgery, Pediatrics, etc.).
   • Rs 15 lakh for PG Diploma courses.

Service Bond for Domicile/Sponsored Candidates

As per the 2016 notification, all domicile and sponsored candidates for undergraduate and postgraduate courses must execute a bond to serve the government for at least five years after completing the course. Failure to comply requires payment of:

• Rs 20 lakh for UG courses (up from Rs 5 lakh earlier).
• Rs 35 lakh for PG Pre-Clinical & Para-Clinical courses.
• Rs 50 lakh for Clinical subjects (raised from Rs 35 lakh).

Exemption for AIQ Candidates

No service bond applies to All India Quota (AIQ) candidates occupying 50% AIQ seats for PG Degree/Diploma courses in Tripura institutions, provided they do not receive a stipend or salary from the Tripura government. However, those opting for a stipend/salary must execute a service bond.

PG/Diploma Discontinuation Bond

Candidates discontinuing their courses will need to pay:

• Rs 25 lakh for Pre-Clinical & Para-Clinical PG Degree courses.
• Rs 35 lakh for Clinical PG Degree courses.
• Rs 10 lakh for PG Diploma courses.

Earlier, the seat-leaving bond penalty was Rs 20 lakh, as specified in a 2016 notification by the State Health Department. The policy applies to domicile, sponsored, and Central Government nominee candidates who discontinue their courses before completion.