NMC Set to Launch Accreditation, Ranking for Medical Colleges
This latest draft comes over a year after the commission, in collaboration with the Quality Council of India (QCI), initially prepared a framework for medical college accreditation and ranking.
In a move set to shake up the landscape of medical education in India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has announced its plan to roll out accreditation and rankings for all medical colleges under its ambit. For the first time, institutions will be formally rated based on a structured set of parameters, with the goal of promoting transparency, accountability, and high standards in medical training.
The commission, through its Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB), has released a draft framework detailing the metrics that will guide the evaluation. The document, now open for public comments, outlines 11 broad criteria and 78 specific parameters.
This development comes more than a year after the NMC, in partnership with the Quality Council of India (QCI), began shaping a national accreditation system. A formal Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between the two bodies was signed in 2023 to pave the way for a third-party-led assessment process.
Compared to its earlier iteration, the new draft shows a refined focus. The number of evaluation parameters has been trimmed down from 92 to 78. Notably, certain controversial metrics—such as intern and resident stipends and the ratio of full-time professors—have been dropped.
Research output remains a central pillar of the evaluation, though some changes have been made there too. While the framework continues to value metrics like published papers, citation counts, and patents, it has dropped specific references to high-quartile journals, opting instead for a broader take on scholarly impact.
Dr. BN Gangadhar, Chairperson of the NMC, emphasized that this is a first-of-its-kind initiative. “Medical colleges in India have never been evaluated in this manner before. This ranking and accreditation effort is aimed at ensuring institutions adhere to well-defined quality benchmarks,” he said.
He added that the document released is only a draft, and the commission is keen to hear from stakeholders. “We’re open to suggestions. If there are critical gaps or missed opportunities in our current framework, we want to know.”
The MARB, which handles inspections for new medical colleges and approves seat increases for MBBS, PG, and super-specialty programs, will spearhead the implementation of the accreditation model.
Once finalized, the rankings are expected to influence how medical colleges are perceived—by students, faculty, and regulators alike. And while the draft is still under review, the message is clear: the NMC is serious about raising the bar.
Got feedback? The commission encourages stakeholders—students, educators, and institutions—to review the draft and share their insights. Change, after all, works best when it’s collaborative.
