IIT Kharagpur becomes first IIT to launch NMC-accredited postgraduate medical programs

The Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur is set to expand its academic offerings into postgraduate medical education, becoming the first IIT in the country to introduce MD programs accredited by the National Medical Commission (NMC).

The institute will admit its first batch of postgraduate medical students in the 2026–27 academic year at the Dr B C Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre. The initiative marks the introduction of specialist medical training within the IIT ecosystem.

Six MD specializations will be available during the inaugural academic session: General Medicine, Radiology, Physiology, Pathology, Community Medicine, and Biochemistry. Each discipline will have two seats, taking the total initial intake to 12 students.

Admissions to the programs will take place through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test for Postgraduate (NEET-PG) online counseling process. The seats will be listed under Round 2, in accordance with the official counseling schedule, prescribed eligibility requirements, and seat matrix.

The first cohort will form the pioneering group of postgraduate medical students to receive specialist training within the IIT system. The programs are designed to bring clinical education together with engineering, artificial intelligence (AI), biomedical sciences, and translational research.

IIT Kharagpur aims to create opportunities for medical students to work alongside engineers, scientists, and researchers. The interdisciplinary approach is expected to encourage research in AI-assisted clinical decision-making, advanced medical imaging, computational pathology, and molecular diagnostics.

Other areas of potential research include precision medicine, biomedical devices, and the development of affordable healthcare technologies. The institute intends to use its existing technological and research capabilities to support the integration of engineering innovations with clinical practice.

Its expertise in artificial intelligence, computational sciences, microfluidics, bioengineering, and healthcare diagnostics is expected to contribute to this approach. By combining these areas with specialist medical education, the institute seeks to encourage innovation in diagnosis, treatment, and healthcare delivery.

IIT Kharagpur Director Prof Suman Chakraborty said the initiative aims to establish an academic environment that brings together clinical expertise, engineering capabilities, and translational research.

"We want our medical graduates to be not only outstanding clinicians, but also innovators capable of addressing some of humanity's most pressing healthcare challenges. We want to shape the future of medicine, not merely follow it," he said.

Established in 1951 as India's first IIT, the institute has traditionally been associated with engineering, technology, and scientific research.

The introduction of NMC-accredited MD programs represents an expansion of its academic and research activities into specialist medical education.

The initiative also aligns with the national vision of Viksit Bharat 2047, which emphasizes the role of technology and innovation in strengthening healthcare infrastructure and improving access to quality medical services.

With 12 seats across six specializations in the first academic session, IIT Kharagpur is opening a new pathway for aspiring doctors to pursue postgraduate medical education in an interdisciplinary research environment.

The initiative is expected to provide opportunities for future medical professionals to combine clinical expertise with technological innovation.