NMC restores 30% quota for MSc and PhD faculty in non-clinical medical subjects, easing faculty shortage and strengthening India’s medical education system.
In a move hailed as a significant win for the medical academic community, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially reinstated the eligibility of MSc and PhD holders to occupy up to 30% of faculty positions in non-clinical subjects at medical colleges across India. This long-awaited decision, announced via a public notice dated July 5, 2025, comes after sustained pressure from educators, academic bodies, and aspiring faculty members who had been affected by the 2022 policy shift.
The restored rule allows degree holders with MSc (Medical) and/or PhD (Medical) qualifications to teach in four vital non-clinical departments—Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, and Pharmacology. These subjects form the foundational backbone of medical education and are taught during the initial years of the MBBS program. The NMC’s decision provides clarity and much-needed relief for thousands of aspiring educators who were previously deemed ineligible under the revised Teacher Eligibility Qualifications (TEQ) framework introduced in 2022.
Back in 2022, the NMC had altered the eligibility criteria for teaching positions, restricting recruitment primarily to MBBS and MD-qualified candidates. This change sparked anxiety among MSc and PhD scholars who feared that the new norms would shut them out of academic careers, despite their deep specialization and contribution to foundational medical sciences. Many teaching positions in non-clinical subjects went unfilled, particularly in newer or rural medical colleges, where there is already a scarcity of experienced faculty.
The latest notification reverses that decision, acknowledging the crucial role played by MSc and PhD professionals in medical education. By allowing them to fill up to 30% of the faculty positions in the specified departments, the NMC aims to strike a balance—preserving the quality of education while ensuring adequate faculty strength. Importantly, this quota will be applied on a department-wise basis. For example, if the Anatomy department at a medical college has ten sanctioned teaching posts, three of those can now be filled by MSc or PhD holders.
However, the NMC has also made it clear that this relaxation applies strictly to non-clinical subjects. It will not extend to para-clinical or clinical fields such as Pathology, Microbiology, Community Medicine, or Forensic Medicine, where hands-on patient care experience is often considered indispensable.
Furthermore, the appointments under this policy must still adhere to the broader academic standards laid out in the 2022 regulations. This includes fulfilling the minimum publication requirements, teaching experience, and other qualifications mandated for faculty in medical institutions. Simply being eligible does not mean automatic selection; recruitment must still be based on merit, with institutions ensuring academic rigor and compliance with teaching standards.
This restoration is seen not just as a correction of policy but as an acknowledgment of the deep academic and research capabilities of MSc and PhD holders. These scholars often bring decades of teaching and lab-based research experience, helping medical students build a strong conceptual foundation before they step into clinical practice.
The reinstated quota also comes at a time when India is rapidly expanding its network of medical colleges to meet the rising demand for doctors. With over 700 medical colleges and counting, the need for qualified faculty—particularly in the basic sciences—has never been greater. Institutions have repeatedly voiced their challenges in filling non-clinical posts with only MBBS or MD candidates, leading to delays in course delivery and affecting student learning outcomes.
While educators across the country have welcomed the decision, the NMC has stated that this policy could be subject to review in the future, based on evolving academic and institutional requirements. The commission has urged all medical colleges and state health departments to implement the updated policy without delay.
This balanced approach not only addresses immediate faculty shortages but also helps preserve the integrity and continuity of India’s medical education system—ensuring that students receive quality instruction in every phase of their training.
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