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25 June 2026

NMC phasing out PG diploma medical courses

The phasing out of PG diploma courses by the National Medical Commission is a significant policy intervention in the health sector that directly impacts medical education standards and human resource development in healthcare.

1 min read 1 questions 2 prelims

Notes

  • The National Medical Commission (NMC) has mandated the phasing out of all postgraduate diploma medical courses by the 2027-28 academic year.
  • The 2026-27 academic year will be the final year for admissions into these diploma programmes.
  • Medical colleges are directed to convert existing diploma seats into MD or MS degree seats.
  • Applications for seat conversion must be submitted to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
  • The policy aims to standardise postgraduate medical education, improve training quality, and align qualifications with current educational standards.
  • Traditional diploma courses were typically two years in duration, whereas MD/MS degree programmes are three years long.
  • Diploma courses historically served as a source of specialists for district hospitals and smaller towns.

Questions

  1. Discuss the rationale behind the National Medical Commission's decision to phase out postgraduate diploma medical courses in favour of MD/MS degrees. How might this transition impact the availability of specialists in rural and district-level healthcare settings? 150 words
    Attempt this โ€” 150 words in 8 min
    0 / 150 words 8:00

Prelims

  1. Which body is responsible for overseeing the conversion of postgraduate diploma seats into degree seats in medical colleges?

  2. What is the final academic year for admission into postgraduate diploma medical courses as per the recent NMC directive?