New rules widen eligibility, allow teaching roles for govt doctors and diploma holders; senior residency age limit extended
New Delhi: In a landmark move aimed at transforming medical education and addressing faculty shortages, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced sweeping reforms under the newly notified Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025. The reforms are designed to help realize the Central Government’s vision of adding 75,000 new medical seats over the next five years.
Published in the official Gazette on June 30, 2025, the regulations focus on expanding faculty eligibility and utilizing untapped human resources from government healthcare systems. The reforms come as a response to the long-standing bottleneck in starting or expanding medical programs — a shortage of qualified teaching faculty.
According to a press release from NMC, the changes aim to expand the pool of eligible medical faculty and accelerate the launch of both undergraduate (MBBS) and postgraduate (MD/MS) courses in new and existing medical colleges.
Key Highlights of the New NMC Regulations:
✅ Faculty from Non-Teaching Government Hospitals Now Eligible
- Government hospitals with 220+ beds can now be designated as teaching hospitals.
- Specialists with 10 years’ experience can be directly appointed as Associate Professors;
- Those with 2 years’ experience can be appointed as Assistant Professors without mandatory senior residency, provided they complete Basic Course in Biomedical Research (BCBR) within two years.
✅ Expanded Recognition of Experience
- Senior consultants with 3 years’ teaching experience in NBEMS-recognized institutes are now eligible for Professor posts.
- Diploma holders with 6 years’ departmental experience in recognized institutes can become Assistant Professors.
- Up to 5 years’ service in NMC, universities, or govt research bodies will now count as teaching experience.
✅ Simultaneous UG and PG Program Launch Allowed
- New government medical colleges can now start UG and PG courses simultaneously to speed up faculty generation.
- PG courses can now begin with just 2 faculty members and 2 seats, easing previous restrictions.
✅ Greater Flexibility in Faculty Appointments
- More feeder broad specialties can now contribute to super specialty programs, optimizing faculty resources.
- Non-medical faculty (MSc or PhD holders) are now allowed in five departments: Anatomy, Biochemistry, Physiology, Pharmacology, and Microbiology.
✅ Age Limit for Senior Residency Raised to 50 Years
- Applies to pre-clinical and para-clinical departments like Forensic Medicine, Pathology, Community Medicine, etc.
✅ Other Key Reforms
- Tutor/Demonstrator experience by postgraduates is now valid toward Assistant Professor eligibility.
- Super-specialty qualified faculty working in broad specialties can be officially designated in their respective super-specialty departments.
A Paradigm Shift in Faculty Selection
The NMC emphasized that these changes shift focus from rigid service norms to merit, teaching experience, and practical competency. By integrating faculty from underutilized government hospitals and easing experience norms, the Commission aims to expand medical education access, especially in underserved and rural areas.
“These forward-looking reforms will unlock untapped human resource potential in the government sector and directly support India’s growing demand for competent healthcare professionals,” the NMC stated.
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