Kerala Government has ordered that MBBS fees be charged only for the 4.5-year academic duration, not the full course period including internship, following an NMC directive.
Thiruvananthapuram: The Kerala Health and Family Welfare Department has issued a revised order fixing the MBBS fee structure for students currently pursuing the course as well as those seeking fresh admission, in Government Medical Colleges and Self-Financing Medical Colleges across the state.
As per order dated July 17, 2026, all medical colleges in Kerala must now collect tuition fees strictly for the prescribed academic period of four and a half years (54 months), and not for the additional one-year Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI).
Why the Order Was Issued
The move comes after the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued a Public Notice on April 7, 2026, directing all medical colleges, institutions, and universities across India to charge MBBS fees only for the academic course duration.
The NMC’s directive was based on:
- Sections 10 and 24 of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019
- The Competency Based Medical Education (CBME) Guidelines, 2024, framed under the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER)
- Landmark Supreme Court rulings, including T.M.A. Pai Foundation v. State of Karnataka, Islamic Academy of Education v. State of Karnataka, and P.A. Inamdar v. State of Maharashtra, which held that college fees must be reasonable, transparent, and linked to actual academic services rendered
The NMC also warned that colleges failing to comply would face regulatory action.
Refund Order Stayed by Kerala High Court
On June 6, 2026, the Deputy Secretary of the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), NMC, wrote to Kerala’s Director of Medical Education (DME), asking that colleges be directed to urgently refund any excess fee already collected from students in line with the April notice.
This refund direction, however, was challenged in court.
The Secretary of M.O.S.C. Medical College, Kolencherry, filed a writ petition, and the Kerala High Court, in an interim order dated June 19, 2026 (WP(C) No. 16663 of 2026), stayed the NMC’s refund letter for three months. The court also permitted the college to continue collecting fees as fixed by the state’s Fee Regulatory Committee in the meantime.
What the Kerala Government Has Ordered
After examining the matter, the state government has directed the following:
- The fee structure for all MBBS students currently enrolled or newly admitted — will be based on a 4.5-year academic duration
- All Government and Self-Financing Medical Colleges must comply with this NMC-mandated fee period
- The Fee Regulatory Committee for Medical Education, Kerala will now finalise the exact fee structure for Self-Financing Medical Colleges
- Refund of any excess fee already collected will depend on the final judgment in the pending High Court case
Summary
| Key Point | Detail |
| Order Number | G.O.(Rt) No. 2326/2026/H&FWD |
| Date of Order | July 17, 2026 |
| Applicable Duration | 4.5 years (54 months) academic period |
| Applies To | Govt. & Self-Financing MBBS Colleges, Kerala |
| NMC Notice Date | April 7, 2026 |
| Refund Directive | Issued June 6, 2026; stayed by Kerala HC on June 19, 2026 |
| Refund Status | Subject to final High Court verdict in WP(C) No. 16663/2026 |
| Fee Fixation Authority | Fee Regulatory Committee for Medical Education, Kerala |
The government’s order brings Kerala’s MBBS fee practices in line with NMC’s national directive, though the exact revised fee amounts for self-financing colleges are yet to be notified. Students and parents are advised to watch for further updates.
