NMC Issues Advisory Against Fake Medical Colleges
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an advisory dated November 6, 2026, cautioning students, parents and the general public against medical institutions offering MBBS and other medical courses without obtaining the requisite statutory recognition, approval or permission from the competent regulatory authorities.
The Commission stated that certain institutions were allegedly making misleading representations through advertisements, websites, social media promotions and unauthorised admission offers. Students and parents have been cautioned against relying on such representations without independently verifying the institution's regulatory status.
The advisory has been issued pursuant to directions of the Supreme Court of India in the ongoing case of Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida & Ors., in which regulatory authorities, including the NMC, were directed to caution students and parents against taking admission in educational institutions without first verifying their authenticity.
Supreme Court's Intervention
The Supreme Court took cognisance of the issue in the context of a reported instance involving a purported fake medical college allegedly operating from a farmhouse while claiming to offer various courses.
Following the Court's directions, the NMC issued the advisory to protect students and parents from fraudulent admission practices and prevent financial losses arising from enrolment in unauthorised institutions.
Verification of Medical College Recognition and Approval
The NMC has advised students seeking MBBS admission to verify whether the concerned institution appears in the official list of medical colleges published by the Commission.
Candidates must also independently confirm whether the institution has obtained the requisite permission or approval to admit students for the particular academic year.
The Commission has clarified that the mere inclusion of a medical college in an official list or its previous operation does not automatically establish that it is authorised to admit students in subsequent academic years.
Students must verify the specific course, approved intake capacity and permission status for the relevant academic year through the official records of the NMC and its Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB).
Warning Against Fake Admission Offers and Documents
The Commission has cautioned students against relying exclusively on brochures, prospectuses, websites, advertisements and social media posts circulated by medical institutions or their representatives.
Particular caution has been advised regarding purported Letters of Permission, approval letters, recognition certificates and other regulatory documents.
Where doubts arise concerning the authenticity of such documents, students and parents should verify them directly with the concerned regulatory authority through its official communication channels.
Admissions Through Official Counselling Channels
The NMC has advised candidates to follow the prescribed counselling and admission procedures applicable to medical courses.
Students should verify the institution and seat allotted through the authorised counselling bodies, including the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC), wherever applicable, or the competent State or Union Territory counselling authority.
The Commission has emphasised that admission-related representations made by institutions, agents or intermediaries cannot substitute for compliance with the prescribed admission procedure.
Verification of Infrastructure and Institutional Facilities
Students and parents have also been advised to exercise caution when institutions make extraordinary claims concerning medical education, clinical training, hospital facilities and admission opportunities.
The NMC has clarified that the mere existence of a building, office, website or advertisement does not establish that an institution is legally authorised to impart medical education.
Candidates should therefore examine the authenticity of the institution and its actual facilities before proceeding with admission.
Caution Against Unauthorised Payments
The advisory further warns students and parents against making admission-related payments to unauthorised agents, personal bank accounts or unverified intermediaries.
The Commission has advised candidates to verify the requisite statutory permissions and follow the applicable admission procedure before making any financial commitment.
Different Courses Require Approval From Different Regulatory Authorities
The NMC has also clarified that approval, affiliation, registration or recognition granted by one authority for a particular purpose cannot automatically be treated as permission from the National Medical Commission to conduct an MBBS course.
Further, courses such as pharmacy, nursing, Ayurveda, allied and healthcare programmes and other professional qualifications fall within the jurisdiction of different statutory or competent regulatory authorities.
Accordingly, the regulatory status of such courses must be independently verified with the authority responsible for regulating the particular course. The present advisory does not determine the recognition or approval status of courses falling exclusively within the jurisdiction of other regulatory bodies.
Reporting Suspected Fraudulent Medical Institutions
The NMC has advised students, parents and members of the public to report suspected fake medical colleges, unauthorised MBBS courses, forged permission letters, fraudulent admission offers and misleading representations through the Commission's official website or communication channels.
Such complaints may also be brought to the attention of the concerned State or Union Territory Department of Medical Education, the competent regulatory authority and the local police, wherever appropriate.
The Commission has advised complainants to preserve relevant advertisements, payment receipts, correspondence, website details and other supporting documents that may assist in examining the alleged fraudulent activity.
NMC Emphasises Student Protection and Standards of Medical Education
The Commission has urged the public to remain vigilant and verify the regulatory status of medical institutions before seeking admission, enrolling in a course or making any payment.
The advisory seeks to prevent students from suffering financial losses, curb the misuse of the names of statutory regulatory authorities and protect the standards and integrity of medical education in India.
The NMC has also advised students and parents to rely on its official website and the relevant regulatory and counselling portals for authentic and updated information.
The advisory has been issued with the approval of the Competent Authority of the National Medical Commission.
