New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is collaborating with state counselling authorities to launch a centralized software system aimed at streamlining MBBS admissions and curbing irregularities, Education Times reported.
The proposed software seeks to enhance transparency and accountability in medical admissions by providing a unified platform for verifying student intake across states.
Dr. B. Srinivas, Secretary of NMC, confirmed these plans, stating, “Currently, counselling occurs at the state level. A common software would help detect irregularities early. We are in discussions with various state counselling authorities to implement a centralized system.”
Dr. Srinivas noted that while this initiative may take time, it is expected to be operational by the next academic cycle. In the interim, NMC will continue enforcing its online monitoring system, which has already proven effective in identifying unauthorized admissions.
Current Admission Monitoring System
Under existing NMC rules, medical colleges must report details of students admitted to MBBS programs. Recently, the commission extended the deadline for submitting data for the 2024-2025 academic year to November 23, 2024.
The NMC’s online monitoring system ensures that all admissions comply with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and NEET-based selection criteria outlined in the Graduate Medical Education Regulation 2024. Key parameters include sanctioned intake capacity, eligibility, age limit, qualifying marks, and adherence to common counselling processes.
Dr. Srinivas emphasized the system’s role in preventing backdoor admissions, citing past cases where ineligible students were enrolled without meeting basic qualifications, such as clearing Class XII or NEET. “Last year, the system flagged approximately 30-35 instances of colleges attempting to admit ineligible students. Penalties, including monetary fines and seat reductions, were imposed on defaulting colleges,” he said.
Safeguards and Sanctions
The NMC has clarified that any admissions outside authorized channels will result in unrecognized degrees. Dr. Srinivas stressed, “Admissions must occur through counselling authorities only. Unauthorized admissions are not valid.”
This new centralized system aims to strengthen these safeguards, ensuring that only eligible candidates gain entry into medical colleges, thereby upholding the integrity of the admissions process.
