Mandatory Hostel Stay for PG Students :
In a significant move to protect the rights of postgraduate medical students, the National Medical Commission (NMC), the apex body overseeing medical education in India, has warned medical colleges against forcing students for Mandatory Hostel Stay (to reside in college-owned hostels). The regulatory body has also threatened strict penalties for institutions charging exorbitant hostel fees or making hostel accommodation compulsory.
The directive comes in light of increasing complaints from postgraduate medical students who allege they are being forced for mandatory hostel stay and paying unreasonably high fees. The NMC clarified that according to Regulation 5.6 of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulation (PGMER), 2023, mandatory hostel stay for postgraduate students is purely discretionary.
“While medical institutions must provide suitable and safe accommodation options for postgraduate students, residing in college hostels cannot be made mandatory,” the NMC stated in its public notice. The NMC emphasized that such decisions should rest solely with the students and should not be imposed by the institutions.
The regulations further specify that institutions not complying with these directives will face stringent actions. According to Regulation 9.1 and 9.2 of the PGMER 2023, penalties for non-compliance could range from monetary fines to reductions in student admissions. In severe cases, the NMC may even suspend admissions to postgraduate programs.
The move has been widely welcomed by the medical student community. Many students argue that hostel fees are often unreasonably high, and being forced to stay in college-provided accommodation limits their ability to choose more affordable or convenient living options.
Medical colleges are now under scrutiny, and the NMC has made it clear that it will monitor compliance with these regulations closely. Institutions failing to abide by the rules could face immediate consequences, ensuring that students’ autonomy and financial welfare are protected.
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