The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a formal notice directing all medical colleges and institutions to stop admissions to Post Graduate Diploma courses from Academic Year 2027–28 onwards. The Academic Year 2026–27 will be the last year of admissions to any PG Diploma course in India.
The notice — issued by the Post-Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) on 19 June 2026 and communicated by the NMC Secretary on 22 June 2026 — marks the end of a qualification format that has existed in Indian medical education for decades.
Official source: NMC Public Notice No. N-P016(20)/1/2026-PGMEB-NMC (PDF)
What the NMC Notice Says
The notice refers to the footnote to Regulation 2.1 of the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER-2023), which had already barred new Diploma seat applications:
"Medical colleges/institutions may apply to Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB) for converting diploma seats to degree seats. No more new applications will be entertained for permission to start or increase in number of diploma seats."
The new notice goes further — it mandates a full phase-out:
- AY 2026–27: Last year of admissions to all PG Diploma courses.
- AY 2027–28 onwards: No admissions permitted. All PG Diploma courses cease to be functional.
- Colleges wishing to continue training in these specialties must convert their Diploma seats to MD/MS (Broad Specialty Degree) by applying to MARB through the NMC online portal.
Which PG Diploma Courses Are Affected?
Every PG Diploma course conducted under NMC is covered by this notice. This includes:
| Abbreviation | Full Name | Specialty |
|---|---|---|
| DGO | Diploma in Gynaecology & Obstetrics | Obstetrics & Gynaecology |
| DCH | Diploma in Child Health | Paediatrics |
| DA | Diploma in Anaesthesiology | Anaesthesia |
| DLO | Diploma in Laryngology & Otology | ENT |
| DPM | Diploma in Psychological Medicine | Psychiatry |
| DMRD | Diploma in Medical Radio-Diagnosis | Radiology |
| DCP | Diploma in Clinical Pathology | Pathology |
| DTCD | Diploma in Tuberculosis & Chest Diseases | Pulmonology |
| DOphth | Diploma in Ophthalmology | Ophthalmology |
| DOrth | Diploma in Orthopaedics | Orthopaedics |
The notice makes no exceptions. All Diploma courses, in all specialties, at all NMC-recognised institutions are covered.
Timeline at a Glance
| Academic Year | Status |
|---|---|
| Up to 2025–26 | PG Diplomas running normally |
| 2026–27 | Last year of admissions (NEET PG 2026 batch) |
| 2027–28 onwards | No admissions. Courses cease. |
What Colleges Must Do
Colleges currently running PG Diploma courses have two options:
- Apply to MARB for conversion — Submit an application through the dedicated online portal (to be made operational by MARB on the NMC website) to convert Diploma seats to the equivalent MD/MS degree seats. Grant of permission is subject to meeting NMC infrastructure, faculty, and clinical material standards.
- Do nothing — The Diploma courses cease after the 2026–27 batch completes. Those seats do not automatically become MD/MS seats.
MARB has not yet released the application window or timelines. These will be published separately on the NMC portal at nmc.org.in.
What This Means for NEET PG 2026 Candidates
If you are considering a Diploma seat this cycle
You will be in the last ever national batch of that qualification. There will be no junior batch behind you in that Diploma course at any college. Whether this is a moat (rare qualification) or a concern (declining recognition) depends on the specialty — but the fact itself is material to your decision.
Diploma seats may not all convert to MD/MS
Conversion requires MARB approval and meeting NMC standards. Colleges that cannot meet the standards will lose those seats entirely. This means the total PG seat pool in certain specialties could shrink from 2027–28, potentially making those MD/MS seats more competitive next cycle.
The Diploma vs MD/MS dilemma is effectively resolved
Historically, candidates at the margin debated whether to join a Diploma at a better college or an MD/MS at a lesser one. From 2027–28, that choice disappears — only MD/MS exists. If you are in that position this year, that context is now part of the equation.
No immediate change to NEET PG 2026 counselling
Diploma seats remain in the 2026 counselling pool for this cycle. The seat matrix, allotment process, and MCC/state counselling procedures are unchanged for 2026–27. The effect is on future cycles, not the current one.
Background: Why Is This Happening?
The NMC's stated rationale in the notice:
- Standardise postgraduate medical education nationally
- Enhance the quality and recognition of specialist training
- Align postgraduate qualifications with contemporary educational standards
- Optimise utilisation of existing institutional capacity
Many institutions were running both Diploma and MD/MS courses in the same specialty side by side — a situation the NMC observed as sub-optimal given that the infrastructure already existed for degree-level training.
Official References
- NMC Public Notice + PGMEB Notice (Merged PDF) — 22 June 2026
- NMC — PG Medical Colleges information
- National Medical Commission official website
Application window for college conversions has not yet been opened by MARB. This page will be updated when timelines are published.