New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) is collaborating with state counseling authorities to introduce a centralized software system for MBBS admissions in the upcoming academic session, as reported by Education Times.

This initiative aims to enhance transparency and accountability in medical admissions by streamlining the process across institutions. "We anticipate this will take effect in the next academic cycle. Until then, the NMC will continue utilizing its current online monitoring system, which has effectively identified and blocked unauthorized admissions," a representative informed Education Times.

Under existing NMC regulations, medical colleges must submit detailed information about students enrolled in their MBBS programs. Recently, the Apex Medical Education Regulatory Body instructed NMC to collect these details for the 2024-2025 academic year by November 8, 2024. This deadline was later extended to November 23, 2024.

The online monitoring system introduced by the NMC ensures all MBBS admissions comply with regulatory requirements. Earlier this year, the Commission mandated that medical colleges provide necessary details via an online platform accessible through its website. It emphasized that institutes failing to upload student data within the given timeframe would lose access to the "UG Admission Monitoring Module" for the 2024-2025 academic year.

The NMC notice further instructed colleges to adhere to the provisions of the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, and the NEET-based selection process outlined in the Graduate Medical Education Regulation 2024. The Commission stressed that admissions must conform to parameters such as sanctioned intake capacity.

Highlighting the purpose of this directive, NMC Secretary Dr. B. Srinivas told Education Times, "This directive is a routine measure to ensure timely admissions and the selection of eligible candidates. The system, initiated last year, enhances transparency and ensures only qualified candidates secure seats in medical colleges. It aims to eliminate backdoor admissions, which allow ineligible students, sometimes those who haven’t passed Class XII or NEET, to enroll."

He added, "In its first year, the system exposed around 30-35 cases where colleges tried admitting ineligible students. Some had not passed requisite exams, and some colleges failed to verify details thoroughly. Consequently, the NMC imposed penalties, including monetary fines and seat reductions, on several defaulting institutions."

The system safeguards against improper admissions and warns that institutions admitting ineligible candidates or providing inaccurate details risk strict sanctions from the NMC. Dr. Srinivas stated, "The NMC has clarified that admissions not processed through authorized channels will not result in recognized degrees. Admissions must solely occur through counseling authorities, eliminating institutional-level processing."