In a significant relief to medical institutions, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has extended the last date for submission of applications for postgraduate (PG) medical courses for the academic year 2026–27. The decision comes בעקבות recent amendments to the Post Graduate Medical Minimum Standard Requirements (PGMSR-2023), giving stakeholders additional time to comply with revised norms.
Deadline Extended Following Regulatory Changes
As per a public notice issued on March 26, 2026, by the Medical Assessment & Rating Board (MARB), the earlier deadline of March 31, 2026, has now been extended to April 20, 2026 (till 11:59 PM).
The extension applies to applications for:
- Starting new PG courses (Broad & Super Speciality)
- Establishing standalone PG medical institutes
- Increasing seats in existing PG courses
Revised PGMSR Norms Prompt Extension
The Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) had notified amendments to PGMSR-2023 on March 12, 2026, which came into immediate effect for the 2026–27 academic session.
Due to these regulatory updates, institutions required additional time to align their infrastructure, faculty, and documentation with the revised framework—leading to the deadline extension.
Application Process Remains Online Only
NMC has clarified that applications will be accepted only through the online portal, and no offline submissions will be entertained.
The process includes:
- Registration on the NMC portal
- Payment of ₹2 lakh + 18% GST as non-refundable registration fee
- Filling application forms and uploading required documents
- Payment of course-specific application fees
- Final submission for evaluation
Strict Compliance with Documentation Mandatory
Medical colleges must upload comprehensive documentation, including:
- Consent of Affiliation (CoA)
- Essentiality Certificate (for new standalone institutes)
- Faculty and infrastructure details
- Hospital clinical data (IPD/OPD, bed occupancy, etc.)
- Undertakings on ₹500 stamp paper
- Equipment and department-wise resources
Failure to submit valid or complete documents will result in automatic rejection, with no further communication entertained.
New Rules on Infrastructure and Readiness
The Commission emphasized that institutions must be fully compliant at the time of application, rejecting any “work-in-progress” claims.
Key requirements include:
- Functional infrastructure and faculty in place
- AEBAS attendance compliance (minimum 75%)
- Readiness for physical/virtual inspection
- Adherence to PGMSR 2024 standards
Warning Against ‘Fake Patient’ Practices
NMC has issued strict guidelines to detect and penalize institutions indulging in fake patient admissions to meet clinical requirements.
Indicators include:
- Sudden surge in admissions before inspection
- Patients without proper diagnosis or treatment
- Multiple admissions from the same family
- Lack of medical investigations or inpatient procedures
Such violations may lead to:
- Rejection of application
- Ban on new courses or seat increase
- Penalties under regulatory provisions
Fee Structure and Bank Guarantee Requirements
For AY 2026–27:
- ₹5 lakh + GST per course (up to 4 seats)
- ₹1 lakh + GST per additional seat
- ₹2 crore bank guarantee (for up to 4 seats)
- ₹25 lakh per additional seat
Government institutions may submit an undertaking instead of a bank guarantee.
MARB Urges Institutions to Meet Revised Timeline
The Medical Assessment & Rating Board has urged all Directors, Deans, and Heads of Institutions to strictly adhere to the updated deadline and guidelines.
“All stakeholders are advised to take note and submit applications as per the prescribed schedule,” the Commission stated.
