NMC Withholds SAF Reports: Lakhs of NEET‑UG 2025 students are facing uncertainty due to the National Medical Commission’s (NMC) decision to not publicly publish medical college assessment reports. This document tells a college’s faculty strength, infrastructure, patient load, and academic facilities. Despite repeated orders, including by India’s Chief Information Commissioner in 2024, the NMC continues to withhold these critical Self‑Assessment Forms (SAFs), citing pending legal issue.
NMC SAF Reports: Why They Matter
SAFs, Standard Assessment Forms, are annual self-disclosures submitted by medical colleges covering:
- Built-up infrastructure and laboratories
- Faculty count and qualifications
- Clinical patient numbers and teaching resources
- Academic activities, clinical exposure, and research facilities
Previously, the Medical Council of India (MCI) routinely published such data along with inspection reports. Under the MCI, aspiring students could make informed decisions by comparing colleges. However, the current NMC has stopped this practice.
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Repeated Orders, No Action
The Chief Information Commissioner (CIC) in 2024 issued multiple directives mandating public disclosure of SAFs. Yet, despite these orders, the NMC has failed to comply. According to minutes obtained via RTI, the commission discussed the matter in September 2024 and concluded SAFs need not be public, and assigned the issue to its Medical Assessment and Rating Board.
When RTI activist Dr K. V. Babu inquired about the delay, NMC responded that the file is “under legal consultation” and thus not available for release.
Join NEET News 2025 Impact on Aspirants
- Blind choice: NEET aspirants, often investing ₹10–20 lakh in tuition and living costs, cannot access reliable data to evaluate a college’s real quality.
- Risky admission: Without clarity, students may enroll in poorly equipped institutions with inadequate faculty and patient exposure.
- Equity concerns: Low-income students disproportionately affected, lacking resources to independently verify college standards.
Experts Weigh In
Education consultant Sanjay Tiwari observes:
“Publishing assessment reports builds transparency and trust. Withholding them, the NMC risks students enrolling blindly.”
Moving Forward
- NMC cites ongoing legal review.
- CIC and RTI authorities continue to ask for transparency.
- Safe to assume current NEET UG 2025 admissions are happening without public SAF disclosure, students must rely on well researched data on colleges.
In an era of informed choice, NEET candidates deserve full transparency. Withholding SAFs doesn’t just conceal details, it denies students the ability to evaluate value for money and academic rigor. The NMC must disclose assessment data immediately to ensure fairness in a high-stakes, high-cost medical education system.
