NMC Reopens Application Window for Setting Up New Colleges, Expansion of MBBS Seats – News18

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has reopened applications for the establishment of new medical colleges and the expansion of MBBS seats in existing institutions across various states and union territories in India. People interested in this initiative can submit their applications on the official website, nmc.org.in. This announcement provides an opportunity for colleges and institutions that were previously ineligible to apply for establishing new medical schools or increasing MBBS seats. The earlier condition stipulating a ratio of 100 MBBS seats for every 10 lakh aspirants no longer applies. The deadline for application submissions is November 26.

Colleges and institutions can visit the NMC’s official website for further information about the application process. The required application fee plus 18 per cent GST can be paid online. The application fee must be sent to the secretary of the National Medical Commission, Pocket 14, Sector 8, Dwarka, New Delhi, 110077.

Reportedly, a 100 MBBS seat limit for every 10 lakh students was implemented to prevent overcrowding in state medical colleges. The initiative aimed to reduce regional differences in the availability of healthcare professionals and to ensure effective educational quality. The strategy would have added about 40,000 MBBS seats, but only in places like Bihar and Jharkhand, where there is a severe shortage of new seats per population.

The move, however, was met with opposition from some states that had already reached this ratio, as they would have been deemed ineligible to add further MBBS seats in the state’s medical colleges. The latest announcement stated that the National Medical Commission and Undergraduate Medical Education Board have re-examined the provisions of the ratio of 100 MBBS seats per 10 lakh population in the states.

Meanwhile, the National Medical Commission has changed the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET-UG) 2024 syllabus recently. The commission deleted nine chemistry chapters and six biology chapters. However, certain sub-topics have been added. Once issued, the new NEET UG 2024 syllabus can be obtained by visiting the commission’s official website at nmc.org.in. Further, the official date of the NEET UG 2024 exam has been announced by the National Testing Agency. It will take place on May 5, and the dates for online registration have yet to be published.

Candidates who pass NEET UG are eligible for admission to undergraduate medical studies at all of the country’s medical schools. NEET UG 2024 will be a pen-and-paper exam offered in 13 languages that covers Physics, Chemistry, and Biology curricula from Class 11 and 12 textbooks.