NMC Announcement: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has declared that medical diploma courses in the nation's medical colleges will be discontinued. These diploma programs will be replaced by postgraduate broad-specialty degrees, specifically MD and MS.

According to a recent notification, the last academic year for admitting students into PG diploma courses will be 2026-27. Starting from the 2027-28 academic year, no new admissions will be permitted for these diploma programs, effectively ending their existence.

**Rationale for Discontinuation**

The primary aim of phasing out PG diploma courses is to standardize postgraduate medical education, improve the quality and recognition of specialist training, and ensure that medical qualifications meet contemporary educational standards. The NMC emphasized that this move would allow institutions to optimize their existing infrastructure and faculty resources.

The Commission noted that numerous medical colleges currently offer both diploma and degree programs within the same specialty, while some institutions provide only diploma courses. Many of these colleges already have the necessary infrastructure, clinical materials, faculty, and resources to upgrade diploma seats to MD/MS seats.

**Transition Timeline Announcement**

To assist in this transition, medical colleges that currently provide PG diploma courses can apply to convert these into corresponding MD or MS degree programs. Applications should be submitted to the Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) through an online portal. The NMC has indicated that a specific application module and a comprehensive timeline will be released separately. This decision is in line with the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023, which allows medical colleges to convert diploma seats into degree seats. Furthermore, no new applications for introducing or increasing diploma seats will be accepted. Once this change is implemented, admissions to postgraduate diploma courses in medical colleges will cease, and specialist medical training will fully transition to degree-based MD and MS programs.