NMC Directs Medical Colleges to Display Course-wise Fees and Stipend Online

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a directive asking all medical colleges in India to publicly display detailed course-wise fees and stipend structures on their official websites. This move is aimed at ensuring transparency and helping students make informed choices while seeking medical education in the country. The NMC’s letter, sent to all state

I chose to write about this topic because the lack of clarity on medical education expenses has always created confusion and stress for students and parents. Many colleges do not clearly disclose tuition fees or the stipends paid during internships and postgraduate training. As someone who has seen medical aspirants struggle with financial planning due to hidden costs, I believe this step by the NMC is a much-needed reform. It has the potential to bring fairness and accountability in a field where information asymmetry has long been a challenge. Students now have a better chance to compare colleges not just based on academics but also on affordability and financial support.

What has the NMC directed?

The NMC, in its latest communication, has asked medical colleges to do the following:

Upload course-wise fee structure for MBBS and all postgraduate courses
Clearly mention annual tuition fees, hostel charges, and any miscellaneous fees
Publish stipend details offered to interns and postgraduate residents
Update this data every academic year
Ensure easy public access to this information on the college’s official website

This order applies to both government and private medical colleges and is expected to bring uniformity in the availability of information.

Why this move is significant

This initiative holds major importance for multiple reasons:

Greater transparency: It will stop institutions from charging hidden fees or giving misleading information during counselling rounds
Fair comparison: Students can now compare institutions not only by rank but also by financial suitability
Empowers candidates from rural or low-income backgrounds to plan better for education loans or scholarships
Boosts accountability: Colleges will now be under public scrutiny for what they charge and how much they support students through stipends

According to a recent NEET counselling round, many students backed out of private colleges after realising late about additional charges that were not declared earlier. This move directly addresses such issues.

How this helps future aspirants

From 2025 onwards, this mandate will be helpful during every stage — from filling out application forms to choosing a seat during counselling. Here are some examples of how this change can benefit you:

You can avoid last-minute surprises about hostel deposits or administrative fees
You’ll know exactly how much stipend you’ll get during internship or residency, which is vital for managing expenses
Students applying for education loans will be able to provide accurate data to banks

It also allows NGOs, scholarship bodies, and even parents to make informed decisions before supporting a student’s education.

What students should do next

Before selecting colleges, visit their official websites and look for the fee and stipend section
Save a copy of the page or take screenshots for reference during the admission process
In case a college doesn’t comply with this rule, you can report the matter to NMC or the respective state medical council

Education and Employment Can Transform Society: Dinesh Gundu Rao Highlights the Way Forward

During a recent public address in Mangaluru, Karnataka’s Health and Family Welfare Minister Dinesh Gundu Rao stressed that education and employment are two powerful tools that can shape the future of any society. He pointed out that when people are educated and have meaningful jobs, they can rise above social divisions, poverty, and other long-standing issues. His statement came while addressing students and faculty at a function organised at Srinivas University, where he also touched on the importance of knowledge-driven growth.

I felt the need to write about this because it’s rare to hear such a strong political focus on the link between education, employment and overall societal transformation. We often hear about schemes, budgets and infrastructure, but rarely is the bigger picture discussed—how these two sectors can change the life of a common person. This topic matters to all of us, especially the youth, who are navigating a fast-changing job market while also dealing with rising academic pressure. By writing about this, I hope more people start thinking seriously about how education is not just about degrees, and employment is not just about money—it’s about dignity, stability and progress.

Why Education and Employment Matter Together

Education and employment are often treated as separate issues, but in reality, they go hand-in-hand. Education gives people the ability to think, create and contribute. Employment gives them the opportunity to apply what they know, support their families, and be part of the economy. According to Dinesh Gundu Rao, these two pillars must be developed together if we want a fairer and more productive society.

He stressed that:

Lack of access to education pushes people into poverty.
Unemployment leads to frustration, crime, and brain drain.
A society that fails to create job-ready youth will always remain unequal.

This is why investing in schools, colleges, and job-oriented courses is not just a policy decision—it’s a moral responsibility.

Government’s Role in Creating Equal Opportunities

During the event, Rao mentioned that governments should focus not only on building schools and colleges but also on ensuring the quality of education. He said students from rural areas often struggle because they don’t have the same access to English-medium teaching or computer labs as those in urban areas. This kind of inequality reflects in the job market too, where rural youth get fewer chances.

He also pointed out that:

Many graduates remain unemployed or underemployed because they are not industry-ready.
There is a big gap between what is taught in classrooms and what the job market demands.
Career counselling and vocational training should start at the school level.

According to him, if we want to see real change, we need long-term thinking and serious government commitment—not just one-time policies or election promises.

Importance of Social Harmony for Progress

One of the key messages Rao delivered was about unity. He said education should be a tool to unite people and not divide them. The minister raised concern about how communalism and polarisation are slowly taking attention away from important issues like job creation and educational reform.

He added that:

When youth are unemployed, they are more vulnerable to divisive ideologies.
Education can help people develop critical thinking and tolerance.
A strong education and employment ecosystem reduces dependence on populist politics.

He urged young people to stay informed, ask questions, and focus on real-life issues rather than distractions.