NMC To End PG Diploma Courses, Shift Focus To MD And MS Degrees | Education and Career News
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NMC stated that institutions intending to convert diploma courses into corresponding MD/MS programmes would be required to submit applications to MARB through the online portal.
From the academic year 2027-28 onwards, no new admissions will be permitted, and these diploma programmes will cease to operate, NMC stated. (Representative image/File)
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that all postgraduate (PG) diploma medical courses in India will be discontinued in a phased manner and replaced with postgraduate broad-specialty degree programmes such as MD and MS, reported PTI.
In a communication issued on Monday to all medical colleges and institutions under its ambit, the NMC said, “The Academic Year 2026-27 shall be the last academic year for admission to postgraduate diploma courses.”
From the academic year 2027-28 onwards, no new admissions will be permitted, and these diploma programmes will cease to operate.
The NMC has instructed all concerned universities and medical institutions to follow the guidelines issued by its Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) in a public notice dated June 19.
In the public notice, the PGMEB had said the decision to phase out PG diploma courses was taken to “standardise postgraduate medical education, enhance the quality and recognition of specialist training, align postgraduate qualifications with contemporary educational standards, and optimise utilisation of existing institutional capacity”.
The board observed that several medical colleges currently offer both PG diploma and MD/MS programmes in the same specialty, while some institutions continue to run only diploma courses despite having the required infrastructure, faculty, and clinical facilities to offer degree-level programmes.
“All Postgraduate Diploma courses shall be phased out, and converted to Post Graduate Broad Specialty Degree courses (MD/MS),” the NMC said.
The move follows the implementation of the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023. As per the regulations, medical colleges can apply to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) for conversion of diploma seats into corresponding MD/MS seats.
Institutions seeking conversion will have to submit applications through a dedicated online portal. The MARB will issue separate instructions regarding the application procedure and timelines. “No more new applications will be entertained for permission to start or increase in number of diploma seats,” it said.
The NMC said approval for conversion will be granted only after institutions meet the standards and requirements prescribed by the commission.
The transition is expected to impact a large number of postgraduate diploma seats across multiple medical specialties and is intended to create greater uniformity, quality, and recognition in specialist medical training across the country.
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