We have some fantastic news for all MBBS students across India: NMC has provided clarity and guidance about MBBS fees through a Public Notice on April 7, 2026, that was expressly beneficial for ALL MBBS students throughout India. Specifically, the NMC has confirmed to all colleges that they can no longer charge fees for the 5 full years (or 5.5 total years) of the MBBS course as was previously permitted by law.
If your college is charging you for 5 years (or 5.5 total years) of study while you have completed only 4.5 years of academic study and are working on completing the 1 year of internship, that practice violates NMC guidelines/regulations.
The Problem: What Were Some Colleges Doing Wrong?
Many private and deemed medical colleges throughout India were charging MBBS students for the entire 5 years (or 5.5 total years) of MBBS education. As a result, many students and their families ended up paying millions of rupees in three additional years of fees while they were not receiving any educational instruction or training. By not providing educational instruction during this period, colleges have acted in an unjust, exploitative manner. This has now been confirmed by the NMC.
What Is the NMC’s Position? (Simplified)
The NMC has issued an official memorandum (Registered Number CDN-13011/1/2026-COORDINATION-NMC, dated April 7, 2026) that clearly outlines the following:
- You only pay MBBS Fees for the 4.5 years (or 54 months) of time spent completing your MBBS degree.
- No college may charge fees to you for the time that you work on your 1-year internship after completing the MBBS degree.
Also Read : NMC Extends NEET-PG 2025 Admission Data Submission Deadline (2025–26)
How Is the MBBS Course Actually Structured? (Must Know)
The length of an MBBS course can be confusing for students. The following is the most current structure according to the NMC Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) Guidelines for India 2024:
| Phase | Length (Months) | Description |
| Course Work (MBBS) | 54 Months | Classroom Based Teaching, Clinical Posting, Theory and Clinical Exams |
| CRMI (Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship) | 12 Months | Rotating Through the Various Clinical Departments Within the Hospital |
| Total MBBS Programme | 66 Months | Classroom Based Teaching Plus Rotating Medical Internship |
This means you will take a total of 5.5 Years of being in the MBBS Program to receive your degree. However, only 4.5 of those years are officially classified as Course Work.
Note: The key thing to know is that fees can only be charged for 4.5 years of coursework. The 1-year Rotating Medical Internship is in a separate phase of the program; therefore, universities cannot charge fees for it.
Which Colleges Does This Apply To?
This NMC [National Medical Commission] regulation is applicable to all medical colleges, institutions, and universities that fall under NMC’s jurisdiction. The organizations are:
- All government medical colleges (most now already comply with this regulation)
- Private medical colleges managed by either a trust or society
- Deemed universities with a medical college
- Medical colleges at Central Institutions regulated by NMC
What Action Will NMC Take Against Violating Colleges?
“NMC will take a very serious view of non-compliance and will initiate appropriate action against the concerned college, as per extant statutes and regulations.”
In terms of colleges that do not comply and continue charging students fees for five and a half and five years after the introduction of the above regulation, they will face:
- Show-cause notices from NMC
- Reduced or cancelled MBBS seats
- Penalties in accordance with the NMC Act of 2019
- Potentially, de-recognition proceedings
This means that NMC will be monitoring this at multiple levels.
Also Read: NMC PG Medical Course Application 2026 Deadline
Quick Summary (For Those in a Hurry)
| Category | Details |
| Issuer | National Medical Commission (NMC), New Delhi |
| Date Issued | April 7, 2026 |
| Description | The NMC has stated that an MBBS program will be charged for 4.5 years maximum |
| Problem | Colleges are trying to charge for either 5 or 5.5 years of an MBBS program |
| Duration of Study | 4.5 years (54 months) – Teaching period |
| Internship | One-year internship, separate from the above period, no fee payment |
| Authority | NMC Act 2019, Competency-Based Medical Education 2024, Supreme Court Orders |
| College Sanctions | Severe penalties under NMC Act for violating colleges |
| Student Actions | Verify invoiced fees, report overbilling to NMC |
| Additional Information | NMC Website: www.nmc.org |
Also Read: NMC Issues Advisory on Stem Cell Therapy India
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