VK News Today https://validator.w3.org/feed/docs/rss2.html 7 home interior design styles influencing modern residential spaces Jaspal Rana, renowned Indian shooting coach and Asian Games gold medallist, dies at 49 Vijay’s ‘Jana Nayagan’ Footage Leak: Cyber Crime Arrests Key Suspect in Film Piracy Case | Buying a new wrist watch? Here’s how astrology can help you choose the right one for career, wealth, love and health Scientists found an unusual weakness in rice and used it to create a smart material that changes on its own | Cancer drug shortages prompt NPPA to raise prices of key medicines, vaccines Priyanka Chopra hails her ‘Queen’ Madhuri Dixit for ‘Maa Behen’; calls her ‘always the scene stealer’ Greek proverb of the day: “When you hear of many cherries, hold a small basket.” | Jeff Bezos recalls the ‘very bad day for Blue Origin’ with a ‘promise’: By the end of the year, we will be … “Free him”: Twitch streamer BruceDropEmOff backs Karmelo Anthony and sparks fierce debate over Austin Metcalf murder conviction (File photo) NEW DELHI: Barely two months after the National Medical Commission (NMC) prohibited medical colleges from charging MBBS fees beyond the prescribed 54 months of academic study, a complaint from Kerala has alleged that colleges continued to collect fees for five years, setting up the first major test of the regulator’s willingness to enforce its own order.Acting on a complaint filed by the Combined Association of Medicos & Parents (CAMP), Kerala, the NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) has directed the state’s Directorate of Medical Education (DME) to ensure refund of excess fees allegedly collected from MBBS students and submit a compliance report.The complaint alleges that colleges continued to collect fees for 60 months despite the NMC’s April directive limiting fee collection to 54 months of academic study, making Kerala the first major test of the regulator’s enforcement resolve.On April 7, the NMC clarified that MBBS fees can be charged only for the prescribed 4.5 years, or 54 months, of academic study and not for the internship period. The Commission said charging fees beyond the academic duration was inconsistent with statutory provisions and Supreme Court rulings governing educational fees.If the Kerala allegations are substantiated, colleges could face action under the Maintenance of Standards of Medical Education Regulations (MSMER), 2023, including penalties of up to Rs 1 crore per violation, withholding of accreditation, reduction of seats, admission curbs and, in serious cases, withdrawal of permission or recognition.The regulations empower the NMC to act against institutions that violate statutory provisions or regulatory standards. While colleges may be given an opportunity to rectify deficiencies, repeated or serious violations can attract stronger action. The Kerala complaint is significant as the first publicly known case to surface after the NMC’s fee clarification and could indicate whether the regulator intends to use its enforcement powers or limit its intervention to directing refunds. However, it remains unclear whether penal provisions will be invoked if the allegations are proven.An RTI reply has raised fresh questions, with the NMC stating that it does not maintain records of MBBS fee-related complaints and merely forwards them to state authorities. The Kerala case could now become a test of whether violations of the 54-month fee cap attract penalties under NMC regulations or end with refunds alone.The NMC said its immediate priority is to ensure that students are not charged fees beyond the prescribed framework and that any excess amount collected is refunded. It added that the matter is being examined through due process and that any regulatory action will depend on the findings, nature of the violation and the institution’s response.Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorAnuja JaiswalAnuja Jaiswal is a Senior Assistant Editor at The Times of India, with an impressive 18-year career in narrative journalism. She specializes in health and heritage reporting, expertly simplifying complex health information to make it engaging and understandable for readers. Her deep dives into heritage topics are well-researched, resulting in captivating narratives that resonate with her audience. Over the years, she has worked in Chandigarh, Chhattisgarh and West UP, gaining diverse on-ground experience that shapes her storytelling.Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThree Killed As Massive Fire Breaks Out In Multi-Storey Residential Building In Delhi’s TughlakabadJaishankar Calls Out Europe’s ‘Double Standards’, Says European Weapons Have Been Used Against IndiaFalta Strongman Paraded In Shorts By Cops After Arrest In Falta | WatchAll 28 Chief Ministers Attend NITI Aayog Meeting, Marking End of Recent Boycott TrendKirti Azad Dismisses Exit Talks, Says Didi Will Fix Kalyan Banerjee Dispute | WatchCongress Sweeps Three Of Four Karnataka Rs Seats As Poll Ends Without ContestBJP Wins All Three MP Rajya Sabha Seats Unopposed After Congress Nominee RejectedRam Mandir Funds Issue Takes New Turn With Call For Investigation; Calls For Accountability Emerge’Abhishek Banerjee Destroyed TMC’: Suspended Leader Riju Dutta Launches Fresh AttackIndia-Bangladesh Border Standoff Leaves 55-year-old Stranded In No-Man’s Land123Photostories6 Fascinating plants that do not produce flowers but still thrive in natureInland Taipan changes colour with the seasons: Inside the strange and dramatic seasonal color change explainedIs your child carrying emotional baggage? 6 subtle signs and what parents can do to help10 beautiful baby girl names starting with the letter T“This will help prevent…and improve..” Why did Amit Shah praise this rice varietyShoaib Malik to Glenn Maxwell: 7 international cricketers who married Indian women27-year-old woman shares 5 reasons she doesn’t want to get married earlyNo crowds, no chaos: This remote Himalayan valley in Uttarkhand feels frozen in time5 venomous snakes you’ll only find in Africa and where to spot them5 things fathers should never do and how these mistakes affect a child’s personality123Hot Picks147000 Medical BillGulf of Oman attackFifa World Cup Opening CeremonyShakiraIndia Vs Afghanistan HighlightsVaibhav SooryavanshiLewis HamiltonCJP ProtestHow to Watch FIFA world cup highlightsTop TrendingHaryana Gym Owner MurderGuru Randhawa Gym FiringGold Rate TodayFIFA World Cup 2026Delhi Hotel FireSingappen Special ForceCJP ProtestCBSE Class 10 Second Board ResultBengaluru Child DeathKarnataka Murder REET Mains Result 2026 declared for Level 1 teachers: Here’s how to check Kimi Antonelli teases Lewis Hamilton’s girlfriend Kim Kardashian for stealing his towel at Monaco Grand Prix – WATCH Love Horoscope Today, June 12, 2026: What the stars say about your love life South Korea court sentences ex-President Yoon to 30 years in jail over 2024 drone case Who is Bricks & Minifigs CEO? Ammon McNeff faces tough Coffeezilla questions over missing LEGO Star Wars collection NEW DELHI: External affairs minister S Jaishankar on Thursday pushed back against European criticism of India’s Russia policy, saying weapons sold by European countries had been used against India for years even as they questioned New Delhi’s purchase of Russian oil. Defending India’s energy choices, he also revealed that the United States had encouraged India to buy Russian crude in 2022 to help stabilise global oil markets after sanctions were imposed on Moscow.Speaking at the Kultaranta Talks in Finland during a discussion on “Emerging Powers and the New Geopolitical Competition”, Jaishankar responded to a question suggesting India had been “too sympathetic to Russia” and overly dependent on Russian oil since the outbreak of the Ukraine conflict.”No European country has been attacked with Indian weapons. I wish I could say that for Europe weapons vis-a-vis India,” Jaishankar said.When asked to elaborate, the minister pointed to India’s longstanding security concerns over European arms exports.”Europe sells weapons, which are used to attack India. Not just now but for many years. We Indians have never done anything to endanger Europe. I think that’s a reasonable point,” Jaishankar emphasised.Defending India’s energy choices, Jaishankar said New Delhi’s purchases were driven by economic considerations rather than geopolitics and noted that changing market dynamics after the Ukraine war left Russian crude among the most accessible options.The minister also disclosed that Washington had itself asked India to continue buying Russian oil to prevent disruptions in global energy markets.”At that time, the US directly asked India to buy Russian oil to stabilise the oil market. We buy oil based on cost and availability,” Jaishankar said.Explaining India’s position further, he added: “I’ll make two observations. I buy oil based on cost and availability. So at that point of time, much of the oil available in the market was Russian because Europeans were essentially buying oil from the Middle East, which was our traditional supplier. So circumstances pushed us in a certain direction.”Jaishankar also questioned what he described as inconsistencies in Western approaches towards sanctions, trade and energy security, arguing against applying selective standards to complex geopolitical issues.His remarks come amid continuing scrutiny from some Western nations over India’s relationship with Russia. New Delhi has consistently maintained that its foreign policy and energy decisions are guided by national interest, energy security and economic considerations.(With inputs from ANI)Get the latest India news and live updates. Download the TOI App.About the AuthorTOI News DeskThe TOI News Desk comprises a dedicated and tireless team of journalists who operate around the clock to deliver the most current and comprehensive news and updates to the readers of The Times of India worldwide. With an unwavering commitment to excellence in journalism, our team is at the forefront of gathering, verifying, and presenting breaking news, in-depth analysis, and insightful reports on a wide range of topics. The TOI News Desk is your trusted source for staying informed and connected to the ever-evolving global landscape, ensuring that our readers are equipped with the latest developments that matter most.”Read MoreEnd of ArticleFollow Us On Social MediaVideosThree Killed As Massive Fire Breaks Out In Multi-Storey Residential Building In Delhi’s TughlakabadJaishankar Calls Out Europe’s ‘Double Standards’, Says European Weapons Have Been Used Against IndiaFalta Strongman Paraded In Shorts By Cops After Arrest In Falta | WatchAll 28 Chief Ministers Attend NITI Aayog Meeting, Marking End of Recent Boycott TrendKirti Azad Dismisses Exit Talks, Says Didi Will Fix Kalyan Banerjee Dispute | WatchCongress Sweeps Three Of Four Karnataka Rs Seats As Poll Ends Without ContestBJP Wins All Three MP Rajya Sabha Seats Unopposed After Congress Nominee RejectedRam Mandir Funds Issue Takes New Turn With Call For Investigation; Calls For Accountability Emerge’Abhishek Banerjee Destroyed TMC’: Suspended Leader Riju Dutta Launches Fresh AttackIndia-Bangladesh Border Standoff Leaves 55-year-old Stranded In No-Man’s Land123Photostories6 Fascinating plants that do not produce flowers but still thrive in natureInland Taipan changes colour with the seasons: Inside the strange and dramatic seasonal color change explainedIs your child carrying emotional baggage? 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