The National Medical Commission (NMC) is the statutory regulatory body for medical education and medical professionals in India. It was constituted under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and replaced the erstwhile Medical Council of India (MCI). The Commission regulates medical education, the practice of modern medicine, and the maintenance of the National Medical Register in India.
| Name | National Medical Commission |
|---|---|
| Abbreviation | NMC |
| Type | Statutory regulatory body |
| Established under | National Medical Commission Act, 2019 |
| Year of constitution | 2020 |
| Predecessor | Medical Council of India (MCI) |
| Parent ministry | Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India |
| Headquarters | New Delhi |
| Jurisdiction | India |
The NMC was set up to overhaul the regulatory framework governing medical education and the medical profession in India. The Commission is tasked with prescribing standards of medical education, granting recognition to medical qualifications, regulating medical institutions and professionals, and ensuring the availability of adequate and high-quality medical professionals in the country.
The Medical Council of India, constituted under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, was the principal body regulating medical education and practice in India for several decades. Following concerns regarding governance and the need for structural reform, the Government of India enacted the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The Act received the assent of the President on 8 August 2019. The MCI was dissolved and replaced first by a Board of Governors and subsequently by the National Medical Commission, which was formally constituted in 2020.
The NMC is headed by a Chairperson and includes ex-officio and part-time members drawn from medical professionals, academia, and public service. The Act provides for four autonomous boards working under the Commission, each handling a specific functional area:
The Act also provides for a Medical Advisory Council, which serves as the primary platform through which states and union territories can put forth their views and concerns before the Commission.
Under the NMC framework, the following common examinations are envisaged:
The creation of the NMC marked one of the most significant reforms in the regulation of medical education in India since 1956. The new framework introduced a board-based structure for specialised oversight, a common exit examination concept, and provisions intended to bring greater transparency to the recognition of medical colleges and the regulation of fees in private institutions. The Commission's regulations also affect the recognition of foreign medical qualifications and the registration of doctors trained abroad.