The National Medical Commission (NMC) has decided to discontinue post-graduate diploma medical courses starting from the 2026-27 academic session. This move will mark the end of admissions to PG diploma courses, with the current batch being the last to undergo this program. Instead, the NMC plans to replace these diploma courses with post-graduate broad-speciality degree programs like MD and MS.
The decision to eliminate diploma medical courses nationwide and introduce MD and MS programs was communicated through an official notification. According to the notification, the 2026-27 academic year will be the final period for enrolling students in post-graduate diploma courses. Subsequently, from the 2027-28 academic year onwards, no new admissions will be accepted for PG diploma programs, leading to their discontinuation.
This strategic move by the NMC is aimed at streamlining post-graduate medical education and enhancing the career prospects of medical professionals by offering broader qualifications. As part of this transition, medical colleges have been instructed to convert existing diploma seats into MD/MS courses. The Commission believes that this decision will enable institutions to optimize their infrastructure and faculty resources effectively.
The NMC emphasized that many medical colleges currently offer both diploma and degree programs in the same specialty, while some solely provide diploma courses. Recognizing that several colleges possess the necessary resources to upgrade diploma seats to MD/MS seats, the NMC has directed these institutions to initiate the conversion process. The circular issued by the NMC on June 22 clearly states the phasing out of all Post-Graduate Diploma courses in favor of Post-Graduate Broad Speciality Degree courses (MD/MS).
