UP doubles MBBS, BDS internship stipend to ₹25,000 per month

The Uttar Pradesh government has approved a significant increase in the monthly internship allowance for MBBS and BDS graduates at state-run medical colleges and universities, taking it from ₹12,000 to ₹25,000.

The Cabinet cleared the proposal during a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Aug 25.

The revised stipend will be available to students who have passed their MBBS or BDS examinations and are completing their compulsory rotatory internship at government medical institutions.

This is the second time the state has raised the internship stipend under the Yogi Adityanath-led government. The previous revision came in 2021, when the monthly payment was increased from ₹7,500 to ₹12,000.

As part of their internship, medical graduates receive hands-on training in government hospitals and work under the supervision of doctors and other healthcare professionals.

They are involved in patient care across wards, outpatient departments (OPDs) and emergency units, besides taking scheduled night shifts.

The government said the revised stipend would offer interns greater financial assistance while they complete their mandatory clinical training. It is also expected to support their involvement in patient services at government-run hospitals.

The decision follows a recent protest by MBBS interns seeking a revision of their stipend. Interns from multiple government medical colleges gathered at King George's Medical University (KGMU) on Aug 22 to press for their demand.

The demonstration included students from KGMU, Ram Manohar Lohia Institute of Medical Sciences in Lucknow, BRD Medical College in Gorakhpur and Lala Lajpat Rai Medical College in Meerut, along with interns from other institutions.

The revised amount is also likely to narrow the gap between Uttar Pradesh and several other states and central institutions that provide higher stipends to medical interns.