NMC Declares Teaching Experience from Unrecognized Departments Invalid

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a strict advisory stating that teaching experience and postgraduate training obtained in unrecognized or unapproved medical departments will not be considered valid for faculty appointments, promotions, or regulatory purposes in India. The commission emphasized that only experience gained in duly recognized departments with approved infrastructure and permitted postgraduate seats, as per NMC records, is acceptable. Consequently, certificates from unrecognized units cannot be used for eligibility or recognition as postgraduate teachers. Medical colleges and affiliating universities are mandated to verify department recognition status before issuing experience certificates. This directive aligns with the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, and the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025. The move comes amidst a significant increase in postgraduate medical seats, which have risen by over 140% in the last decade. To address the growing demand for qualified faculty, the government has allowed specialists from non-teaching government hospitals to teach. Additionally, updated standards now require stricter teacher-student ratios, mandatory biometric attendance for faculty, and prohibitions on private practice during college hours, supported by tighter monitoring mechanisms including CCTV surveillance.