New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) will end admissions to PG diploma courses after 2026-27 academic year and convert existing seats into MD/MS programmes, aiming to bring all specialist medical training under a single degree framework, reports Anuja Jaiswal.NMC on Monday directed all medical colleges and institutions offering PG diploma courses to apply for conversion of these seats into corresponding MD/MS seats through the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).The move is expected to affect diploma seats across specialties such as child health, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, ophthalmology, psychiatry and public health currently offered by medical colleges. According to NMC, several institutions currently run both diploma and degree programmes in the same specialty, while others offer only diploma courses despite having the infrastructure, faculty and clinical material required for degree programmes.The regulator said converting diploma seats into MD/MS seats would help standardise postgraduate training, improve the quality and recognition of specialist qualifications and make better use of existing institutional capacity.MARB president Prof M K Ramesh said diploma courses have increasingly become redundant, often putting diploma holders at disadvantage. Originally meant to train specialists for district and subdistrict facilities, diploma courses have lost relevance as degree-qualified specialists are available at those levels.He said diploma holders face limited career growth, are generally ineligible for teaching positions and promotions, often leaving them at a disadvantage compared to MD/MS graduates. With no new diploma seats sanctioned for years and only about 400 seats remaining in a few specialties, maintaining a parallel diploma stream serves little purpose, he added.The decision follows provisions incorporated in Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, which state that no new applications for starting or increasing diploma seats would be allowed and that institutions may instead seek conversion of diploma seats into degree seats.Medical education experts said the move was to increase the pool of doctors holding recognised specialist degrees, though states and colleges will need to ensure a smooth transition so that training capacity is not disrupted during conversion process.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.End of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosIndians Among 13 Killed In Explosion At Ras Laffan LNG Complex In QatarStudents Jump, Rescuers Breach Walls: Inside The Lucknow Fire Tragedy That Claimed 15 LivesTMC Civil War Escalates As Rebels Claim Control Of Party, Removes ‘Supremo’ Mamata BanerjeeNEET Re-Test Heartbreak: Students Cry Outside Centres After Missing Entry DeadlineWest Bengal’s First BJP Budget: 1 Lakh Jobs, DA Hike, New Airport, Cut In Minority Affairs FundsUP CM Yogi Vows Action, Dy CM Breaks Down After 15 Students Killed In Lucknow Fire TragedySix Shiv Sena (UBT) MPs Join Shinde Camp, Uddhav Suffers Fresh Political BlowUAE In Talks To Buy BrahMos Missile, Akashteer Air Defence System From India: ReportMahua’s ‘Rs 4 Crore Upfront’ Claim Sparks Defamation Threat; 20 Rebel TMC MPs To Sue Moitra | Watch84% Of Indians May Now Live In Urban Areas; India May Create A Third Settlement Category123PhotostoriesHeart disease in women: Most know it’s the #1 killer, yet miss THIS early warning sign“It was pressure, not pain”: The heart attack sign cardiologists never ignoreMeet Taarak Mehta Ka Ooltah Chashmah actor Amit Bhatt aka Champak Chacha’s real-life family; Here are lesser known facts about his wife Kruti Bhatt, kids and moreThis 18th-century fort overlooking Jaipur has legends, palaces and unmatched sunset views; no it’s not AmerRashmika Mandanna to Ananya Panday: 5 major fashion moments of the week that had everyone talkingAlways tired, forgetful or feeling pins and needles? Doctor says these silent symptoms could point to vitamin B12 deficiencyMaharashtra’s reverse waterfall to Ladakh’s magnetic hill: 5 Indian places that defy scienceWhat would you do? My closest friend keeps joking about my weight in front of everyone; Here’s what these 4 women did about itJanhvi to Shanaya: How the Kapoor clan brought wedding fashion goals to Anshula Kapoor’s pre-wedding festivityCan a child’s favourite drink increase the risk of obesity and high blood pressure? doctor explains123Hot PicksCGBSE NMMSE result 2026Gold rate todayIndia-US trade dealGorakhpur rapeAfrican proverb of the dayBest proverbWeather forecast tomorrowPortuguese proverb of the daySpanish proverb of the dayTop TrendingDelhi MurderUS-Iran WarBadlapur AccidentFIFA World Cup 2026Shiv Sena UBTTamil Nadu Ammonia Gas LeakNEET UG ExamGold rate todayDelhi weatherMumbai rain
New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) will end admissions to PG diploma courses after 2026-27 academic year and convert existing seats into MD/MS programmes, aiming to bring all specialist medical training under a single degree framework, reports Anuja Jaiswal.NMC on Monday directed all medical colleges and institutions offering PG diploma courses to apply for conversion of these seats into corresponding MD/MS seats through the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).The move is expected to affect diploma seats across specialties such as child health, obstetrics and gynaecology, anaesthesia, ophthalmology, psychiatry and public health currently offered by medical colleges. According to NMC, several institutions currently run both diploma and degree programmes in the same specialty, while others offer only diploma courses despite having the infrastructure, faculty and clinical material required for degree programmes.
The regulator said converting diploma seats into MD/MS seats would help standardise postgraduate training, improve the quality and recognition of specialist qualifications and make better use of existing institutional capacity.MARB president Prof M K Ramesh said diploma courses have increasingly become redundant, often putting diploma holders at disadvantage. Originally meant to train specialists for district and subdistrict facilities, diploma courses have lost relevance as degree-qualified specialists are available at those levels.He said diploma holders face limited career growth, are generally ineligible for teaching positions and promotions, often leaving them at a disadvantage compared to MD/MS graduates. With no new diploma seats sanctioned for years and only about 400 seats remaining in a few specialties, maintaining a parallel diploma stream serves little purpose, he added.The decision follows provisions incorporated in Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, which state that no new applications for starting or increasing diploma seats would be allowed and that institutions may instead seek conversion of diploma seats into degree seats.Medical education experts said the move was to increase the pool of doctors holding recognised specialist degrees, though states and colleges will need to ensure a smooth transition so that training capacity is not disrupted during conversion process.
