New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced updated norms for standalone postgraduate medical colleges under the amended Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMSR) 2023, making it mandatory for such institutions to have a minimum of 220 beds in their associated hospitals.
220 Beds Mandatory for Standalone PG Institutes
According to the revised guidelines, postgraduate medical colleges established under Section 3.1(iii) of PGMER-2023—referring to standalone PG institutions—must maintain at least 220 functional beds. This requirement aims to ensure adequate clinical exposure and patient load for postgraduate students.
Mandatory Functional Departments Defined
The new regulations specify that institutions must have fully functional departments including Biochemistry, Pathology, Microbiology, and Radio-Diagnosis. Additionally, Anaesthesiology is compulsory in institutes offering surgical specialities, ensuring proper infrastructure for advanced medical training.
Focus on Teaching Infrastructure
The NMC has also emphasized the availability of teaching facilities for basic science subjects, which are essential for maintaining academic standards in postgraduate medical education.
Immediate Implementation of Revised Rules
The updated norms have been issued by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), a board under the NMC. In a public notice dated March 11, 2026, the board stated that the amendments—effective from February 20, 2026—must be followed by all medical institutions across the country with immediate effect.
Detailed Criteria for PG Medical Courses
The revised PGMSR 2023 outlines comprehensive requirements for running postgraduate programmes, including:
- Minimum clinical material and investigation workload
- Faculty-to-student ratio
- Unit-wise bed requirements
- Faculty and senior resident norms for different specialities
- Mandatory departmental infrastructure
These measures aim to standardize postgraduate medical education and improve the quality of training nationwide.
Multiple Amendments Since 2024
The PGMSR 2023 was initially released on January 16, 2024, by the NMC. It has since undergone multiple revisions, including amendments issued on August 23, 2024, and January 14, 2025, to clarify and update requirements.
With the latest amendment, the Commission has reiterated that all concerned institutions must strictly comply with the updated standards to continue or initiate postgraduate medical courses in India.
