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May 16, 2025 – The National Medical Commission (NMC) has released a revised framework for accrediting and ranking medical colleges across India, drawing attention for omitting a crucial parameter: accountability for stipend payments to medical interns and resident doctors.
Stipend Parameter Dropped from Assessment
In the previous draft of the framework, released in 2023 and co-developed with the Quality Council of India (QCI), colleges were explicitly required to provide financial entitlements-stipends-to interns and residents. Institutions had to report the amounts disbursed over the past six months, ensuring transparency and accountability in stipend payments.
However, the latest version, published by the NMC’s Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), has removed this requirement. The omission has raised concerns among medical professionals and student bodies, as stipends are considered vital for the welfare and motivation of young doctors during their training.
New Assessment Criteria and Key Changes
The revamped framework now lists 11 assessment categories with 78 parameters, down from 92 in the 2023 draft. The categories include:
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Curriculum implementation and capacity building
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Clinical exposure and training
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Teaching-learning environment
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Student admission, competence, and progression
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Human resources and teaching-learning processes
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Assessment policy
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Research output and impact
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Financial resources
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Community outreach
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Quality assessment systems
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Feedback and stakeholder perception
While the “Students’ Admission & Attainment of Competence” criterion remains, its focus has shifted to indicators such as NEET scores, student progression, and exit exam performance, with no mention of stipend disbursement.
Other notable changes in the framework include:
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Reduced Parameters: The number of evaluation parameters has been cut from 92 to 78, with a greater emphasis on qualitative metrics (now 26, up from 20) over quantitative ones (down to 52 from 72).
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Faculty Strength Criteria Removed: The earlier metric on the proportion of full-time faculty to staff has been excluded.
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Research Metrics Adjusted: While “Research Output and Impact” remains, the emphasis on publications in high-quartile journals has been diluted.
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Revised Weightage: The allocation of marks across criteria has been adjusted, affecting how colleges are scored out of a total of 1,000 points.
Accreditation Process
The NMC has announced that accreditation will continue to be conducted by an independent third-party agency, in collaboration with the QCI, to ensure objective assessment of institutional quality.
Reactions and Implications
The removal of stipend accountability has sparked debate among stakeholders, with many expressing concern that the welfare of interns and resident doctors may be overlooked. The NMC has not yet issued a statement addressing these concerns.
Disclaimer:
This article is based on publicly available information from EdexLive and Medical Dialogues as of May 16, 2025. The details are subject to change as the NMC may release further clarifications or updates. Readers are advised to consult official NMC communications for the most current information.
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