New Delhi: The long-standing issue of unequal stipends between MBBS interns in government and private medical colleges may soon be resolved. The Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MoHFW) has directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to examine the feasibility of implementing equal stipends for all MBBS interns within each State and Union Territory.
The Ministry’s direction came after a representation from health activist Dr. K. V. Babu, who sought parity in stipend payment. In a letter to the NMC Secretary, the Ministry referenced similar provisions already present under the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, which mandate equal stipends for all postgraduate medical students within a State or UT.
Under Section 5.4 of the PGMER 2023, postgraduates pursuing degrees or diplomas must receive stipends on par with those paid in state or central government medical institutions. However, the CRMI Regulations, 2021, governing MBBS internships, allow each institute, university, or state to fix its own stipend — leading to significant disparities, particularly between government and private medical colleges.
Highlighting this gap, Dr. Babu urged the Ministry to revise and re-gazette the CRMI Regulations, 2021, incorporating public feedback submitted in 2021. He cited a 2019 public notice by the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI), which had proposed equal stipends for interns across institutions but was never implemented after the MCI’s dissolution.
Dr. Babu also referred to a Kerala High Court order dated October 29, 2025, supporting the principle of parity. Following his appeal, the Health Ministry has now instructed the NMC to re-examine the stipend provisions under the CRMI Regulations, 2021, in light of the PGMER’s equal-pay clause.
The issue of non-payment and delayed stipends for MBBS interns and resident doctors has also reached the Supreme Court of India, which recently expressed concern over the NMC’s inaction despite its July 2025 directive to collect stipend data from colleges. The Court warned that non-compliance could invite regulatory action under multiple provisions of the Establishment of Medical Institutions and Maintenance of Standards Regulations, 2023.
The Health Ministry, following the Supreme Court’s observations, has reiterated that the NMC must take “appropriate steps” and ensure uniform implementation of stipend norms across all medical institutions.
If approved, the new policy will mark a significant reform for thousands of MBBS interns working in private colleges, ensuring that stipend payments are fair, uniform, and aligned with national standards.
