IIT Kharagpur plans postgraduate medical course, awaits NMC and government approval

The Indian Institute of Technology Kharagpur has moved a step closer to entering medical education, submitting an application to the National Medical Council to launch a postgraduate doctor of medicine program, Director Suman Chakraborty said.

If approved by the Centre, the institute would become the first IIT in the country to offer an MD course. The proposed program is expected to begin with an intake of 20 seats.

“With the deadline for filing the application being March 31, we have initiated the formal process seeking NMC’s approval. Let’s wait for the response of the ministry concerned,” Chakraborty said.

He noted that while the Ministry of Education has supported the proposal, the final decision will be taken by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as “it is an inter-ministerial decision."

“We have already appointed 20 doctors for teaching students in the MD program," he said.

The institute has not specified a timeline for the launch of the course. Chakraborty said the schedule will depend on regulatory clearance, saying that “everything depends on the response of the NMC." The proposal had earlier received approval from the institute’s board of governors on Sept 23, 2025.

According to a senior official, students enrolled in the program will undergo training at the Dr B C Roy Multi-Specialty Medical Research Center and the Syama Prasad Mookerjee Super Specialty Hospital. Admissions will be conducted through the National Eligibility cum Entrance Test.

Chakraborty added that the Syama Prasad Hospital is being expanded into a 220-bed mission-mode IPD facility, aimed at strengthening healthcare services for students, faculty, staff, and the surrounding community.