New Delhi: In a landmark move, the Union Health Ministry has directed the National Medical Commission (NMC) to re-examine a key provision of the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) Regulations, 2021, to ensure that all undergraduate medical interns—whether from government or private medical colleges—receive the same stipend.
This directive marks a significant moment in the long standing fight for stipend equality, an issue that has being raised across medical colleges nationwide and has been consistently highlighted by Med College Darshan, a prominent platform that has voiced the concerns of medical students from every corner of India.
The Ministry’s Intervention
The Health Ministry’s letter, dated November 6, to NMC Secretary Dr. Raghav Langer, calls for an amendment to the CRMI regulations in line with the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, which ensures equal stipends for all interns, regardless of institutional type.
The letter stated:
“Since NMC has been mandated to frame regulations under the NMC Act, 2019, you are requested to examine the issue raised by Dr. Babu KV regarding provision of stipend paid to undergraduate interns in CRMI Regulations, 2021, keeping in view similar provisions under PGMER, 2023.”
This move follows persistent advocacy by Kerala based RTI activist and doctor, Dr. KV Babu, who has been raising the issue of stipend parity since 2021. “After a gap of three years, the government has finally recommended that NMC amend the CRMI regulations to incorporate the same stipend for both government and private medical colleges,” Dr. Babu said, calling it “a victory for medicos who have been campaigning for years.”
The Stipend Gap
Under the existing system, interns in government medical colleges receive stipends ranging from ₹20,000 to ₹30,000 per month, while those in private colleges often get significantly less—or none at all—despite performing identical duties and working equivalent hours.
This disparity has fueled frustration among private college interns, who have repeatedly argued that the unequal treatment violates the spirit of the NMC’s “one nation, one standard” philosophy in medical education.
Med College Darshan’s Ongoing Advocacy
For years, Med College Darshan has played a vital role in amplifying this demand through social media featuring medical students from both government and private institutions. The platform has consistently raised the issue of internship exploitation and stipend inequality, urging policymakers to recognize that the contribution of every medical intern—irrespective of the institution’s ownership—is equally vital to India’s healthcare system.
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Through its coverage and outreach, Med College Darshan has made this conversation mainstream, ensuring that the voices of thousands of struggling interns are heard nationwide.
What Happens Next
With the Health Ministry’s intervention, the onus now lies on the NMC to amend the CRMI Regulations, 2021, to bring them in line with the PGMER, 2023. If implemented, the change would finally establish stipend parity across all medical colleges, setting a historic precedent in India’s medical education framework.
Medical students and interns across the country have welcomed this development, calling it a long-overdue recognition of their hard work and dedication.
As one Med College Darshan representative put it:
“Equal work deserves equal pay. This is not just about money—it’s about respect for every medical intern who stands at the frontlines of healthcare.”
In short:
The Health Ministry’s latest directive could finally end the long-standing stipend disparity among medical interns. For platforms like Med College Darshan, which have tirelessly championed this cause, it is a moment of vindication—and a reminder that persistent student voices can indeed drive national policy change.
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