New Delhi: For thousands of Indian students who fled the bombs in Ukraine or the lockdowns of the pandemic, the dream of wearing a white coat has hit a new, more rigorous reality.

In a major move to "uphold the quality of medical education", the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued a comprehensive public notice clarifying the mandatory requirements for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) who undertook online classes during the pandemic or the war in Ukraine. The latest directive, dated 5 March 2026, reinforces that virtual learning cannot substitute for hands-on clinical training and warns against institutions issuing "compensation certificates" without actually extending the course duration.

Strict rules for online study compensation

The Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) has explicitly stated that online study cannot be compressed into a shorter timeframe of offline study. FMGs who studied any portion of their course online are required to undergo equivalent in-person training to make up for that duration. The Commission noted that foreign institutions issuing compensation certificates without extending the study period are acting in contradiction to the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021.

To ensure authenticity, the NMC now requires that all compensation certificates must specify the subjects, duration, and mandatory clerkships completed. Furthermore, transcripts must be duly apostilled and authenticated by the relevant Indian Embassy or High Commission.

Two-tiered eligibility criteria

The NMC has clarified that eligibility for registration depends heavily on the date of admission:

  • Admissions on or before 18 November 2021: These students are governed by the Screening Test Regulations. They must physically compensate for online classes and complete one year of internship at their foreign institution before being eligible for the screening test in India.
  • Admissions after 18 November 2021: These graduates are governed by the FMGL Regulations, 2021, and are required to undergo one year of mandatory internship in India (CRMI).

War and pandemic-affected students

Special provisions remain in place for students from Ukraine and those affected by COVID-19. Final-year students who returned to India and finished their course online must undergo one year of clinical clerkship in India, followed by the standard CRMI. Those who were in their penultimate year are required to complete two years of clinical clerkship. During the CRMI phase, these students are eligible to receive a stipend equivalent to that of Indian Medical Graduates.

Additionally, the Academic Mobility Program has been extended as a one-time measure for students who joined before November 2021, allowing them to migrate to other countries (excluding India) to complete their degrees.

Verification and deadlines

The State Medical Councils (SMCs) have been granted exclusive responsibility for processing registration applications. They are mandated to verify physical stay abroad through VISA stamping and passport entry/exit records. The NMC warned that any registration granted without following these stringent verification rules will be considered a regulatory violation.

Finally, the Commission reminded all graduates that they must complete their entire journey, from joining the foreign institution to finishing their internship, within a strict 10-year limit.

What are the FMGs left with?

  • No compression: Two years of online curriculum cannot be "covered" in one year of offline study.
  • Documentation: Ensure all certificates are apostilled and specify clinical subjects.
  • Internship Seats: Seats for FMG internships are capped at 7.5% in established colleges, but can be up to 100% in new medical colleges.
  • Stipends: Eligible FMGs must receive stipends at par with local graduates during their CRMI.