The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced that the 2026-27 academic year will be the last year for admissions to postgraduate diploma medical courses, setting the stage for a transition to degree-based specialist training across the country.In a notice issued on June 22, the commission directed medical colleges running postgraduate diploma programmes to begin the process of converting those seats into corresponding Doctor of Medicine (MD) and Master of Surgery (MS) seats.
Diploma admissions to stop after 2026-27
The move follows a public notice issued by the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB), which said no admissions will be permitted to postgraduate diploma courses from the 2027-28 academic year onwards. Existing diploma courses will cease to function thereafter.The commission said several institutions currently run both diploma and degree courses in the same specialty, while others continue to offer only diploma programmes. According to the regulator, many of these colleges already have the infrastructure, faculty and clinical resources required for degree courses.“All Post Graduate Diploma courses shall be phased out, and converted to Post Graduate Broad Specialty Degree courses (MD/MS),” the public notice said.
Colleges asked to apply for conversion
Medical colleges intending to convert diploma seats into degree seats will have to apply to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) through a dedicated online portal that will be launched by the board. Detailed timelines and application procedures will be issued separately.The NMC said approval for conversion will depend on whether institutions meet the standards and requirements prescribed by the commission from time to time.
Why the change?
The regulator said the decision is aimed at standardising postgraduate medical education, improving recognition of specialist training and aligning qualifications with current educational standards. It also expects the move to make better use of existing institutional capacity.The notification has been sent to all medical colleges under the NMC, state medical education departments and universities for compliance.
