The National Medical Commission (NMC) has taken steps to prevent college managements from blocking PG seats. They have instructed medical counselling committees to conduct online counselling for stray vacancy rounds. The NMC Post Graduate Medical Education Board has issued a circular to the health secretaries of all states, citing Supreme Court orders for online counselling in deemed universities for UG and PG courses.
State counselling agencies have been asked to make arrangements for online counselling, including stray vacancies rounds in private medical colleges, starting from the academic year 2023-24. The NMC has emphasized that no college or institute should conduct physical mode counselling. This decision aims to address the issue of seat blocking and complaints/court cases related to counselling.
Last year, the Medical Counselling Committee sought clarification from the Supreme Court regarding common counselling for all India quota seats. Some colleges were taking advantage of students who secured seats in other states during the second phase of counselling. These colleges would sell the leftover seats at higher prices, depriving deserving students of opportunities. The NMC’s directive for online counselling aims to eliminate such malpractices, including in private colleges.
