NMC’s 2026 Education Reforms: PhD in Medical College, NEET UG-PG & NExT

NMC’s 2026 Education Reforms: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced a set of major policy moves aimed at strengthening medical education in India, including the introduction of PhD programmes in medical colleges, plans to expand MBBS and postgraduate seats, improvements in the NEET UG process, and further updates on the National Exit Test (NExT) framework.

Dr Abhijat Seth said that the authorities have approved starting PhD courses in clinical research across NMC-recognized medical institutions. Until now, such research programmes were largely provided by Institutes of National Importance like AIIMS, JIPMER, and PGIMER. A committee will soon be formed to detail the structure, guidelines, and framework for these doctoral programmes.

Bridging the Long-Standing Gap Between Teaching and Research

India produces one of the largest numbers of doctors in the world, yet its contribution to high-impact medical research remains disproportionately low. One key reason has been the separation between teaching institutions and research ecosystems.

Most medical colleges have traditionally focused on:

• Undergraduate and postgraduate clinical training
• Patient load management
• Service delivery

Research, when conducted, often remained limited to mandatory publications for promotions that too in limited institutions.

Introducing structured PhD programmes forces institutions to focus more on research as well. Faculty members will be encouraged to move beyond routine teaching and engage in hypothesis-driven research, while students will be exposed early to scientific thinking, data analysis, and ethical research practices. This move will also address the issue of faculty shortage.

Over time, this could significantly improve the quality of medical education itself.

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Improving Faculty Quality and Institutional Accountability

Once PhD programmes are introduced, medical colleges will be required to:

• Upgrade research infrastructure
• Ensure ethical oversight through institutional review boards
• Maintain publication standards
• Invest in trained mentors and supervisors

This naturally raises the overall academic standard of institutions. Faculty recruitment and promotions are likely to become more merit-driven, based on sustained research output rather than checkbox publications.

In the long term, this creates a healthier academic culture and greater institutional accountability.

Boosting India’s Global Standing in Medical Research

Countries that lead in healthcare innovation, such as the US, UK and Germany, have strong integration between medical education and doctoral research. India’s move aligns it more closely with global best practices.

As more Indian medical colleges produce PhD-level research:

• International collaborations will increase
• Indian journals and studies will gain visibility
• India’s voice in global health debates will strengthen

This is especially important as India positions itself as a leader in affordable healthcare, vaccines, and pharmaceutical innovation.

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Boosting Medical Education Capacity

Dr Seth highlighted that India has already seen a significant increase in medical seats in recent years. He reiterated that this expansion will continue annually, with a long-term target of adding around 75,000 new undergraduate and postgraduate seats over the next five years.

The expansion aims to reduce the existing gap between MBBS and PG seats, with a future goal of achieving a more balanced UG:PG seat ratio. Dr Seth also mentioned that strengthening clinical trials and research capacity will benefit both students and public health outcomes.

NExT: A Unified Medical Exit Exam

The Chairman also said that the National Exit Test (NExT), which is intended to serve as a licence-equivalent examination for MBBS graduates and a gateway to postgraduate admissions. While broad plans for NExT are under discussion, Dr Seth emphasized that a positive environment and preparation time are essential before full implementation.

By nurturing research, retaining talent, strengthening policy formulation and integrating science with clinical practice, this move could redefine Indian medical education for decades to come.

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