MBBS 2027-28: NMC Opens Window for New Medical Colleges – What Private Promoters Must Submit

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has invited applications for the establishment of new medical colleges offering MBBS courses and an increase in the annual intake capacity of existing medical colleges for the 2027-28 academic year.

The Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) has issued detailed instructions covering eligibility-related requirements, mandatory documents, application fees, submission procedures, institutional infrastructure, financial capacity, and the assessment process.

According to a public notice dated Oct 8, 2026, applications must be submitted through the designated NMC/MARB online portal in accordance with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, as amended from time to time, and other applicable notifications, standards, guidelines, advisories, directions, and instructions issued by the Commission and the Board.

The online application process has been divided into two parts. Part A covers the primary application, while Part B addresses compliance with the applicable Minimum Standard Requirements (MSR) and assessment requirements. Applicants must complete the prescribed formalities and upload the required documents within the notified period.

The notice states that "applications shall be submitted only through the designated NMC/MARB online portal, within the notified application period and in accordance with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the applicable regulations, including the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, as amended from time to time, and all applicable notifications, standards, guidelines, advisories, directions and instructions issued by the NMC/MARB."

The NMC has also released the prescribed formats for the consent of affiliation, bank account disclosure and authorization, verification and undertakings relating to bank accounts, bank attestation, solvency certificates, net worth certificates issued by chartered accountants, affidavits confirming that land is free from disputes and encumbrances, and other undertakings required during the application process.

Referring to the MARB notice, NMC Secretary Raghav Langer communicated the instructions to the directors, principals, and deans of medical colleges and institutions under the Commission, as well as applicants intending to establish new medical colleges offering MBBS courses.

"Kind reference is invited to Public Notice dated 08-10-2026 as issued by Medicall Assessment & Rating Board (MARB) of National Medical Commission (NMC) on the above subject matter being self-explanatory inter-alia requesting for invitations for online applications for (i) Establishment of New Medical Colleges for MBBS and (ii) Increase in Annual Intake Capacity of MBBS Seats in Existing Medical Colleges for the Academic Year 2027-28, through the designated online portal of NMC in accordance with the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, the applicable regulations, including the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, as amended from time to time, and all applicable notifications, standards, guidelines, advisories, directions and instructions issued by the NMC/MARB," the NMC stated in its communication dated October 8, 2026.

"Accordingly, all Medical Colleges/Institutions and concerned stakeholders are requested to take note of the instructions/directions for compliance and necessary action on their part," the communication further stated.

The notice identifies two categories of applications: the establishment of a new medical college for the MBBS course and an increase in the annual intake capacity of an existing medical college. Applicants must clearly specify the category, proposed annual intake, existing sanctioned intake, proposed increase in seats, wherever applicable, and other particulars required in the online application.

Applicants are required to furnish complete, accurate, current, authentic, and verifiable information in all applicable fields. Certified copies of the required documents must be uploaded in the prescribed PDF format.

The Commission has specified separate documentation requirements for new medical colleges and existing institutions seeking an increase in MBBS seats.

For a new medical college, applicants must provide the name, address, contact number, email ID, and other particulars of the applicant entity and proposed institution. They must also identify whether the proposed college is government or private and specify the relevant subcategory, such as a trust, society, company, or another eligible entity.

Certified copies of the applicable constitutional, registration, and incorporation documents must be submitted. These may include the entity's bylaws, Memorandum and Articles of Association, trust deed, or other relevant constitutional documents.

Applicants must disclose the composition and structure of the management of the proposed medical college and its attached hospital, including whether the sponsoring entity is a society, trust, company, university, or another eligible organization.

If the hospital is arranged through a lease or another contractual arrangement, the lease or memorandum of understanding (MoU) must cover a period of at least 30 years. The clinical services must be provided by the medical college's staff, and the hospital's clinical material must be used for teaching. The infrastructure of all clinical services must also be modified to comply with the NMC's Minimum Standard Requirements.

The Board has further specified that a hospital attached to a medical college cannot simultaneously serve as the teaching hospital of another medical college. Each hospital can be attached to only one medical college.

Members of the sponsoring trust, society, company, or other entity must disclose whether they are members, trustees, directors, promoters, or otherwise associated with any other entity operating a medical college in India. The disclosure must include the name and address of each such medical college.

Consent of affiliation mandatory for new and existing colleges

Applicants must submit a valid Consent of Affiliation (CoA) issued by a recognized university in the prescribed format. The consent must remain valid on the date the application is submitted and comply with Regulation 9 of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, as amended from time to time.

The CoA must follow the format specified in Annexure A of the public notice. A conditional CoA, or one issued without the affiliating university conducting the required local inspection to verify the availability of facilities under the applicable Minimum Standard Requirements, will not be accepted as valid.

The consent of affiliation will cease to be valid once it has been used for one application, regardless of whether that application is approved or rejected. If an applicant fails to submit a valid CoA, or if the document is found to be invalid on the date of submission, the application may be rejected without further correspondence. Applicants whose proposals are rejected by the NMC must obtain a fresh CoA before submitting another application.

The application must also include the name, email ID, and contact number of the institution's director, dean, or principal, along with the corresponding details of the hospital's medical superintendent.

Financial capacity and land ownership documents

The NMC has prescribed financial disclosure requirements to assess the sponsoring entity's capacity to establish and operate a medical college. Applicants must submit audited balance sheets for the preceding three financial years, prepared in accordance with the formats prescribed for financial statements of non-corporate entities by the Accounting Standards Board of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of India (ICAI). The corresponding audit reports and notes to accounts must also be provided.

The sponsoring authority must submit an authorization letter addressed to the NMC for all its bank accounts. The letter must authorize the Commission to make independent inquiries into the applicant's financial track record and obtain additional information where necessary. The prescribed format is provided in Annexure B.

A solvency certificate for the sponsoring trust, society, company, or other entity must also be submitted. It must be based on the last completed financial year and issued by a chartered accountant within 90 days before the last date for application submission. The prescribed format is provided in Annexure C.

Applicants must provide documentary evidence establishing ownership of the land on which the proposed medical college and hospital are located or will be established. They must also submit ownership documents for the college and hospital buildings, details of the total land area available, and evidence of compliance with the applicable land and building regulations and Minimum Standard Requirements.

Where land has been arranged through a lease or a similar agreement, the lease or MoU must remain valid for at least 30 years from the year in which the application is submitted.

Depending on the applicable requirements, applicants must upload a Building Completion Certificate, Fire Safety Certificate, and Occupancy Certificate issued by the competent authorities.

An affidavit must also confirm that the land proposed for the medical college and teaching hospital is free from disputes, litigation, encumbrances, claims, liens, charges, and other legal impediments.

The applicant must establish clear and undisputed title to, and lawful possession of, the land. The prescribed affidavit format is included in Annexure D.

The documents must demonstrate that the proposed medical college and hospital meet the applicable statutory requirements and that the necessary construction and infrastructure are complete and ready on the date of application.

Applicants must disclose the estimated project cost, including expenditure on land, buildings, plant and machinery, medical, scientific and allied equipment, furniture and fixtures, and preliminary and pre-operative expenses. Details of the proposed financing arrangements must also be provided, covering grants, donations, equity, term loans, other funding sources, and the contribution of the applicant or sponsoring entity.

Requirements for applicants using an existing hospital

Where an existing hospital is proposed for use by a new medical college, applicants must provide its name, address, date of establishment, and supporting documents demonstrating its registration, infrastructure, operational status, and legal ownership or authority to operate it.

The required documents include a valid Hospital Registration Certificate, Building Completion Certificate issued by the competent authority, Occupancy Certificate, valid Fire Safety Clearance Certificate, valid blood bank license, and an Atomic Energy Regulatory Board (AERB) certificate wherever applicable.

Applicants must also provide a valid Pollution Control Board certificate or Consent to Operate and documents relating to the hospital's biomedical waste management system. If the proposed medical college and hospital are located on separate campuses, the application must specify the distance between them and the expected travel time.

Documentary proof of ownership of the existing hospital, or lawful authority to operate it, must be included.

The application must provide comprehensive details of the hospital's clinical infrastructure and utilization. These include the total number of beds, department-wise bed distribution, bed occupancy, built-up area of clinical and paraclinical departments, outpatient department (OPD) infrastructure, and department-wise OPD attendance data.

Applicants must also upload architectural and layout plans, department-wise lists of medical, scientific, and allied equipment, details of the capacity and configuration of engineering services, and information about hospital, administrative, ancillary, and support services. The submission must include category-wise staff strength.

Geo-tagged photographs of the medical college and hospital must be uploaded, clearly displaying the institution's name and demonstrating the internal and external infrastructure, completion status, and readiness of the facilities.

The NMC has warned that photographs found to be false, manipulated, fabricated, or generated or altered using artificial intelligence or other technological means to misrepresent the institution's actual status may lead to rejection of the application and further action under the applicable provisions.

Applicants must also submit documentary proof that the hospital meets the capacity requirements specified under the applicable Minimum Standard Requirements.

Faculty information and institutional undertakings

The application must include department-wise details of professors, associate professors, assistant professors, and residents employed by the institution on the date of submission. The information must include each person's name, designation, and Aadhaar-enabled Biometric Attendance System (AEBAS) ID.

Government institutions must provide the government order issued by the Finance Department of the relevant state or union territory sanctioning the required number of teaching, non-teaching, administrative, supporting, and resident posts for the proposed annual intake.

Applicants must submit an undertaking in the prescribed format under Annexure E, confirming that all information and documents provided are true, correct, complete, and authentic. The undertaking must be executed on ₹500 non-judicial stamp paper.

If any declaration, document, or information is subsequently found to be false, incorrect, misleading, or fabricated, the Board may initiate action under the applicable laws and regulations. This may include rejection of the application and other permissible punitive measures.

Private medical colleges and institutions must submit a bank guarantee of the applicable amount specified in the notice, corresponding to the number of seats granted for the issuance of a Letter of Permission (LoP).

The guarantee must be submitted within the prescribed period and in accordance with the Board's instructions. The notice states that bank guarantees must be furnished exclusively as Electronic Bank Guarantees (E-BGs).

After the LoP is issued, the medical college must submit an undertaking confirming compliance with its terms and conditions, along with the applicable bank guarantee, following the prescribed procedure.

Government medical colleges and institutions are exempted from providing a bank guarantee under this provision but must submit an undertaking confirming compliance with the LoP's terms and conditions. The undertaking must be issued by the principal secretary of the concerned department within seven working days of the LoP's issuance.

The notice also requires applicants to undertake that a corpus fund will be earmarked exclusively for the functioning of the proposed medical institution at the time of application. Existing medical colleges must also maintain a dedicated corpus fund.

The amount of the corpus fund will be determined by MARB through a separate notice and may be revised periodically. Medical colleges must provide documentary evidence of maintaining the prescribed fund whenever directed by the Board.

Additional requirements for existing colleges seeking more MBBS seats

Medical colleges seeking an increase in their annual MBBS intake must provide the applicant's and institution's name, address, contact number, and email ID. They must identify the institution as government or private and specify the applicable subcategory, such as a trust, society, or company.

Certified copies of constitutional, registration, and incorporation documents, including bylaws, Memorandum and Articles of Association, and trust deeds, must be submitted. Applicants must also disclose the composition of the management of the college and hospital and identify the sponsoring entity.

Where the hospital operates under a lease or similar arrangement, the lease or MoU must cover at least 30 years. In such cases, the teaching faculty of the medical college and hospital must be the same.

The restriction on attaching one hospital to multiple medical colleges also applies to applications for increased intake. Members of the sponsoring entity must disclose their associations with other entities operating medical colleges in India, along with the names and addresses of those institutions.

A valid CoA issued by a recognized university is mandatory for an intake increase. It must follow the format in Annexure A, comply with Regulation 9 of the applicable regulations, and be valid on the application date. Conditional consents and those issued without the required local inspection to verify facilities under the Minimum Standard Requirements will not be accepted.

As with applications for new colleges, the CoA will be considered used once submitted with an application, regardless of the outcome. A rejected application will require a fresh consent of affiliation for any subsequent application.

Applicants seeking additional seats must provide the director's, dean's, or principal's details and the medical superintendent's name, email ID, and contact number.

They must also submit the name and address of the existing hospital, its establishment date, and a valid Hospital Registration Certificate. A Building Completion Certificate and Occupancy Certificate must be provided if additional buildings have been constructed to accommodate the proposed increase in intake.

A valid Fire Safety Clearance Certificate, blood bank license, AERB certificate wherever applicable, Pollution Control Board Consent to Operate, and biomedical waste management documents are also required.

The application must contain complete information about the hospital's total bed strength, department-wise bed distribution, bed occupancy, built-up area of clinical and paraclinical departments, OPD infrastructure, and department-wise OPD attendance.

Architectural and layout plans, department-wise equipment lists, engineering service capacity and configuration, hospital and administrative service details, and information on ancillary and support services, including category-wise staff strength, must also be submitted.

Government institutions applying for additional seats must provide the relevant state or union territory Finance Department order sanctioning the teaching, non-teaching, administrative, supporting, and resident posts required for the proposed annual intake.

Applicants must submit the prescribed undertaking on ₹500 non-judicial stamp paper confirming the accuracy and authenticity of the information and documents.

Private colleges must provide the applicable bank guarantee in electronic form, along with the required undertaking after issuance of the LoP. Government colleges must submit the undertaking issued by the principal secretary of the concerned department within seven working days of the LoP's issuance.

Application fees, submission conditions, and scrutiny

The NMC has instructed applicants to submit their applications only after paying the prescribed application fee through the payment link generated during the online process. The fee details are provided in Annexure F.

Before final submission, applicants must ensure that all applicable fields are completed, all required documents are uploaded in the prescribed format, and all information and supporting documents are complete, accurate, authentic, and legible. The application must comply with the NMC Act, 2019, applicable regulations, Minimum Standard Requirements, notifications, guidelines, advisories, directions, and instructions issued by the Commission and MARB.

Submitting an application does not automatically entitle an applicant to establish a medical college, increase the number of MBBS seats, receive a Letter of Permission, or obtain any other regulatory approval.

Applications will undergo scrutiny, assessment, verification, and other regulatory procedures prescribed by the NMC and MARB. Applicants will be responsible for ensuring that the documents, infrastructure, and facilities cited in their applications remain valid, authentic, and available.

Applications containing incomplete, inaccurate, false, misleading, unverifiable, or unsupported information or documents, or those that fail to meet statutory and regulatory requirements, may be rejected or dealt with under the applicable provisions.

The public notice contains different dates in its application timeline and detailed submission provisions. The timeline table specifies Oct 8, 2026, as the opening date for Part A and Dec 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM as the deadline for submitting Part A with the application fee. It lists Nov 1, 2026, as the opening date for Part B and Dec 31, 2026, at 11:59 PM as its submission deadline. The table provides Jan 5, 2027, at 11:59 PM as the last date for payment reconciliation for eligible applications submitted by Dec 31, 2026.

However, the detailed application-window section of the same notice specifies Nov 30, 2026, at 11:59 PM as the last date for submitting Part A and its fee. It also gives Dec 4, 2026, at 11:59 PM as the payment reconciliation deadline for applications successfully submitted by Nov 30. Part B is listed as open from Nov 1 to Dec 31, 2026.

Under the detailed provisions, Part A becomes final once it has been successfully submitted and an Application ID or Application Number is generated. Applicants cannot subsequently modify, edit, replace, or add information, documents, or attachments to Part A.

Payment reconciliation applies only where the application was successfully submitted within the prescribed deadline and the fee was paid but has not been credited to the NMC account. Applicants should check the official NMC portal and the applicable instructions to confirm the operative deadlines before submitting their applications.

The Commission has cautioned applicants against waiting until the final day to complete the process. It will not be responsible for technical, internet connectivity, payment gateway, banking, or other related problems encountered during the final stage of submission. Applications received after the applicable closing date and time will not be entertained.

Two-part online application process

Applications must be submitted online in Part A and Part B.

Part A is the primary application and includes the initial information, documents, and requirements necessary for processing the proposal. These include particulars of the medical college and hospital infrastructure, statutory requirements, and other prescribed compliances.

Applicants must complete Part A, upload all required documents, and pay the applicable fee within the notified period. Detailed instructions and a user manual for Part A will be made available on the application portal.

Part B covers compliance with the applicable Minimum Standard Requirements, NMC regulations, and other statutory and regulatory provisions. It includes detailed information about clinical services and facilities, clinical material and workload, academic infrastructure, teaching and non-teaching staff, and other institutional facilities.

Part B can be completed only after Part A has been submitted. The information and documents provided in Part B will be made available to designated assessors for verification, assessment, and determination of compliance with the prescribed requirements. Detailed instructions and a user manual for Part B will also be available on the portal.

The online application link will be available through the NMC's official website at https://nmc.org.in.

For the establishment of a particular new undergraduate medical college, an applicant may submit only one application through its registered primary email ID. If multiple applications are submitted for the same proposed college, the applicant will not be entitled to have more than one considered.

Ordinarily, MARB may consider the latest application in preference to earlier submissions. However, the Board retains the discretion to determine which application, if any, is valid and admissible, and may reject any or all submissions or take another appropriate decision. Its decision will be final and binding on the applicant.

Institutions must ensure that all particulars, documents, and declarations in both parts of the application are true, complete, correct, and factually accurate. False or misleading information, suppression of facts, or forged or invalid documents detected at any stage may result in rejection or cancellation of the application, in addition to other action permitted under the applicable laws, regulations, rules, or guidelines.

Assessment of medical colleges and institutions

MARB will assess applications against the Minimum Standard Requirements applicable to the number of MBBS seats requested. Only applications accepted as valid schemes will proceed to assessment. Incomplete applications will be rejected, and no further communication will be entertained in such cases.

The assessment will cover faculty, infrastructure, and clinical workload and may be conducted through physical, virtual, or hybrid inspection.

The Board has clarified that assessment will be based strictly on the number of seats requested in the application. An applicant will not be permitted to receive consideration for a lower number of seats than the number originally requested.

For example, if an applicant seeks permission to establish a new medical college with an annual intake of 150 MBBS seats, the institution will be assessed against the requirements applicable to 150 seats. If it fails to meet those requirements, the application will be rejected rather than reconsidered for a reduced intake of 50 or 100 seats, even if the available facilities are sufficient for the smaller intake.

MARB will determine the appropriate method of assessment or inspection before granting permission to establish a medical institution or increase the annual intake.

The process may include scrutiny of digital or other documents, NMC AEBAS attendance records, verification of live video feeds and photographs, Hospital Management Information System (HMIS) data, and physical, virtual, or hybrid assessments. Inspections may be conducted on any day and at any time.

Accepted applications will be assessed by a team appointed by MARB, which reserves the right to conduct physical, virtual, or hybrid inspections. Assessment of undergraduate medical applications may extend over two days if it cannot be completed in one day. Inspections may also take place on Saturdays and subsequent holidays.

Assessors will examine the institution's infrastructure, quality of medical education, faculty, AEBAS data, clinical material, other clinical indicators, and financial status to determine compliance with the latest NMC guidelines. They may also interact with institutional staff and students during the assessment.

For applications to establish a new MBBS college, all faculty required under the Minimum Standard Requirements must be registered on NMC AEBAS and physically present at the institution within 15 days of the last date for application submission.

For colleges seeking an increase in MBBS seats, the institution must have maintained the faculty and staff required under the Minimum Standard Requirements for its existing sanctioned intake during the preceding academic years.

It must also appoint the additional faculty required for the proposed increase. The additional faculty must be registered on AEBAS and physically present at the institution within 15 days of the last date for application submission.

Applications for increased intake will not be considered if the institution has failed to maintain the prescribed faculty strength for its existing seats. MARB may also impose a penalty in such cases.

On the day of inspection, only faculty and staff who are registered on AEBAS and physically present at the institution before 10 AM will be considered for assessment.

Important instructions for applicants

The NMC has clarified that only online applications, along with the required enclosures and fees, will be accepted for the 2027-28 academic year. Hard copies of applications or supporting documents and offline fee payments will not be accepted.

The Commission has also emphasized the legal requirements governing the submission of a scheme under Section 28(2) of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019. The provision requires every applicant to submit a scheme to MARB in the prescribed form and with the particulars required under the applicable regulations.

The proviso to Regulation 9 of the Establishment of Medical Institutions, Assessment and Rating Regulations, 2023, states that an incomplete application or scheme, including one that lacks mandatory documents, will not qualify as a valid scheme and may be rejected.

Two documents specifically identified as mandatory are a valid Consent of Affiliation in the prescribed format and a solvency certificate issued for the sponsoring authority of the medical college within 90 days before the last date for application submission.

The notice further states that infrastructure, departmental facilities, and other statutory requirements prescribed for the proposed annual intake must be complete and operational on the date the application is submitted. Facilities that remain incomplete, under construction, or otherwise in progress will not be considered during processing, and the application will be rejected without further communication.

"The regulatory framework also does not contemplate a 'work-in-progress' status at the time of application; rather, obligates readiness and demonstrable compliance ab initio. Therefore, any plea of being in the process of completing infrastructure or requesting additional time defeats the very object of the scheme under the act and regulations, and is wholly impermissible shall be liable for rejection of the application."

The assessment will proceed only when an application or scheme is found to be valid, complete in all respects, and compliant with the applicable requirements. The number of seats requested will determine the assessment, and consideration of a lower intake will not be permitted.

For virtual inspections, the applicant institution must arrange an appropriate number of dedicated personnel equipped with good-quality tablets or other devices. These devices must have high-speed and stable internet connectivity, high-resolution cameras, and reliable GPS facilities to support the inspection throughout its duration.

For hybrid inspections, the institution must provide each assessor physically present on campus with a suitable tablet or device equipped with high-speed and stable internet connectivity, a high-resolution camera, and an accurate GPS facility. The devices provided by the institution must be returned after the assessment is completed.

All communications to the college will be issued through the online portal.

Before submitting a scheme or application to MARB, applicants must ensure that all mandatory information and documents have been furnished and are complete, accurate, authentic, current, and verifiable. They must also confirm that all infrastructure, resources, and faculty required under the Minimum Standard Requirements are in place and complete.

The applicant will remain solely responsible for the correctness, completeness, and authenticity of the information and documents submitted. Material discrepancies, suppression of facts, false or misleading information, fabricated or manipulated documents, misrepresentation of infrastructure or facilities, and unsupported clinical or financial information may lead to rejection and further action under the applicable provisions.

How to apply for MBBS college approval

Existing medical colleges can begin the application process by logging in to the NMC application portal using their existing credentials for submitting information to the Commission, including those used for the Additional Data Requirements (ADR) and other NMC modules.

The applicant must pay the prescribed registration fee, after which the application form will be enabled. The institution must then complete all required fields in Part A and upload the prescribed supporting documents and enclosures.

Before submitting the form, applicants should review the information, documents, declarations, and undertakings to ensure that everything is complete and accurate. They must then submit Part A and pay the prescribed application fee. An Application ID or Application Number will be generated following successful payment of the application fee.

After Part A has been submitted successfully, applicants can proceed to Part B and complete the required submission.

Applicants establishing a new medical college must first register online by providing the basic information requested in the registration form. A primary email ID and primary mobile number are mandatory. All future communication concerning the application will be sent through the registered primary email ID.

After registration, the applicant must log in using the credentials generated during the registration process and pay the prescribed registration fee to enable the application form. The applicant must then complete Part A, upload all supporting documents, review the application and declarations, submit the form, and pay the applicable application fee.

Once the application fee has been paid successfully and the Application ID or Application Number is generated, the applicant must proceed to Part B and submit the completed application.

Medical colleges must retain the Application ID or Application Number and quote it in all future correspondence with the NMC and MARB regarding the application.

Applicants can access the application portal through the official NMC website at https://nmc.org.in. The direct login page is available at https://application.nmc.org.in/login. Applicants who have forgotten their login details can use the facility provided at https://nmc.org.in/online-ug-application#ugSearchBarSection.