NEW DELHI, OCTOBER 11: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has invited online applications from institutions seeking to establish new MBBS colleges or increase the intake capacity of existing medical colleges for the 2027-28 academic session. The last date for submitting applications is December 31, 2026.
The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) issued a public notice on October 8, specifying the application schedule, mandatory documents, fee structure, bank guarantee requirements and assessment procedures for institutions seeking regulatory approval.
Applications must be submitted through the designated NMC/MARB online portal in accordance with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and applicable regulations, including the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, as amended.
The application process consists of two parts. Part A, covering the primary application, opened on October 8 and will close at 11.59 pm on December 31. Part B, which deals with compliance with Minimum Standard Requirements (MSR) and assessment-related criteria, will open on November 1 and close at 11.59 pm on December 31.
Institutions must complete Part A before proceeding to Part B. Once Part A has been successfully submitted and an application identification number generated, the submission will be considered final. No changes, replacements or additions to the submitted information or documents will be permitted.
The commission has made it clear that applications submitted after the deadline will not be accepted. Applicants have been advised to complete the process well in advance to avoid last-minute technical difficulties, connectivity issues or payment gateway delays.
For applications submitted successfully by November 30, where the fee has been paid but not credited to the NMC account, the deadline for payment reconciliation is December 4 at 11.59 pm. For applications submitted by December 31, the corresponding deadline is January 5, 2027, at 11.59 pm, subject to the conditions laid down in the notice.
Detailed documentation and infrastructure norms
Institutions applying to establish new medical colleges must submit comprehensive information about the sponsoring organisation, management structure, land, buildings, teaching hospital, equipment and financial capacity.
The documentation includes registration certificates, trust deeds, memoranda and articles of association, or other applicable constitutional documents. Details of trustees, directors, promoters and other individuals associated with the sponsoring entity must also be provided.
Applicants are required to furnish a valid Consent of Affiliation from a recognised university in the prescribed format. The consent must comply with applicable regulations and remain valid on the date of application. Consent issued without the required local inspection by the affiliating university will not be accepted.
The notice specifies that a Consent of Affiliation will be valid for only one application, irrespective of whether the application is approved or rejected. Institutions whose applications are rejected will have to obtain fresh consent before applying again.
Applicants must also submit proof of ownership or lawful possession of the land proposed for the medical college and its teaching hospital. Details of the land area, buildings and compliance with applicable construction norms and Minimum Standard Requirements are mandatory.
Building Completion, Fire Safety and Occupancy Certificates must be furnished wherever applicable. An affidavit confirming that the land is free from disputes, litigation, encumbrances, claims, liens and charges is also required.
If an institution uses a hospital under a lease or another contractual arrangement, the lease or memorandum of understanding must remain valid for at least 30 years. The notice also prohibits the attachment of a single hospital to more than one medical college.
Institutions proposing to use an existing hospital must provide its registration documents and statutory clearances, along with details of bed strength, department-wise bed distribution, occupancy rates, clinical facilities, outpatient infrastructure and patient attendance.
Architectural plans, equipment inventories, engineering services, administrative facilities, ancillary services and staff details must also be submitted. Geo-tagged photographs of the proposed college and hospital are mandatory to demonstrate the actual status and readiness of the infrastructure.
The NMC has warned that fabricated or manipulated photographs, including images generated or altered using artificial intelligence or other technologies to misrepresent the institution’s actual condition, may lead to rejection of the application and further action under applicable provisions.
Faculty strength and financial disclosures
Applicants must provide department-wise details of professors, associate professors, assistant professors and residents available on the date of submission, including their names, designations and AEBAS IDs.
Government institutions must submit government orders sanctioning the required teaching and non-teaching positions, administrative personnel and supporting staff, including resident posts corresponding to the proposed annual intake.
The financial requirements include audited balance sheets for the preceding three financial years, an authorisation permitting the NMC to obtain relevant financial information, and a solvency certificate issued by a chartered accountant within 90 days before the application deadline.
Institutions must also submit an undertaking confirming that all information and documents provided are true, correct, complete and authentic. The undertaking must be furnished on Rs 500 non-judicial stamp paper.
The commission has cautioned that incomplete, inaccurate, false, misleading or fabricated information may result in rejection of the application and other action permissible under applicable provisions.
Application fees and bank guarantee requirements
The application fee for establishing a new medical college varies according to the proposed MBBS intake and whether the institution is government-run or privately managed.
For private institutions, the prescribed fee is Rs 7.5 lakh plus 18 per cent GST for 50 seats, Rs 15 lakh plus GST for 100 seats and Rs 22.5 lakh plus GST for 150 seats.
For government institutions, the fee is Rs 6.25 lakh plus 18 per cent GST for 50 seats, Rs 12.5 lakh plus GST for 100 seats and Rs 18.75 lakh plus GST for 150 seats.
A separate, non-refundable registration fee of Rs 2 lakh is also prescribed. Registration fees must be paid separately for undergraduate and postgraduate courses, wherever applicable.
Private medical colleges are required to furnish an electronic bank guarantee valid for six years. The prescribed amount for a new medical college is Rs 15 crore for 50 seats, Rs 20 crore for 100 seats and Rs 25 crore for 150 seats, subject to the additional-seat provisions specified in the notice.
For increasing the intake capacity of an existing MBBS college, the prescribed bank guarantee is Rs 5 crore for every additional 50 seats, as applicable.
Government medical colleges and institutions must submit an undertaking issued by the principal secretary of the concerned department, confirming compliance with the terms and conditions of the Letter of Permission, in lieu of a bank guarantee.
Assessment and inspection process
The MARB will evaluate applications against applicable regulatory standards, including requirements relating to infrastructure, faculty availability, hospital facilities, equipment and other prescribed criteria.
The assessment may involve physical, virtual or hybrid inspections. Institutions undergoing virtual inspections must arrange high-speed internet connectivity, suitable devices, high-resolution cameras and GPS facilities.
For hybrid inspections, institutions must provide each assessor physically present at the college with a suitable tablet or device, high-speed internet, a high-resolution camera and accurate GPS facilities.
The commission has clarified that only applications that are valid, complete and compliant with the prescribed requirements will be considered. Incomplete applications will be rejected, and further communication on such matters will not be entertained.
The NMC has advised applicants to ensure that their infrastructure, faculty strength, hospital facilities, financial disclosures and supporting documents meet all applicable requirements before submitting their applications.
The public notice has been circulated to medical colleges and institutions, state and Union Territory departments of medical education, and other concerned authorities for information and necessary action.
