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Madhumitha S vs National Medical Commission (Nmc) on 18 March, 2026

                             के ीय सू चना आयोग
                       Central Information Commission
                          बाबा गंगनाथ माग, मुिनरका
                        Baba Gangnath Marg, Munirka
                        नई िद ी, New Delhi - 110067


 File No: CIC/NMCOM/A/2025/604320

 Madhumitha S                                                 .....अपीलकता/Appellant

                                              VERSUS
                                               बनाम

 CPIO
 National Medical Commission,
 Sector 8 Dwarka, Phase-1,
 Pocket-14, New Delhi
 Delhi-110077                                            .... ितवादीगण /Respondent

 Date of Hearing                     :   16.03.2026
 Date of Decision                    :   16.03.2026

INFORMATION COMMISSIONER :               Jaya Varma Sinha

Relevant facts emerging from appeal:

 RTI application filed on            :   05.10.2024
 CPIO replied on                     :   28.10.2024
 First appeal filed on               :   19.11.2024
 First Appellate Authority's order   :   12.12.2024
 2nd Appeal dated                    :   23.01.2025


Information sought

:

1. The Appellant filed an RTI application dated 05.10.2024(online) seeking the following information:

"I, Madhumitha, hereby submit this application under the Right To Information act (RTI) to request specific information regarding the internship (CRMI) of CIC/NMCOM/A/2025/604320 Page 1 of 6 Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in Tamil Nadu. The details of the information sought are as follows:

(1) Recognized and Approved Government Medical College Hospitals for FMGs Internship:

Kindly please provide a comprehensive list of all recognized and approved government medical colleges and hospitals in Tamil Nadu where FMGs are permitted to undertake their Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI). (2) Clarification on Information Regarding Banned Colleges for FMGs:

I have received certain information from Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DME), Chennai pertaining to certain colleges being barred from allowing FMGs to undertake their CRMI. Please confirm the truthfulness of this information. If the information is accurate, kindly furnish the relevant Government Order (GO) or notification concerning the same and provide a list of the medical colleges that are prohibited from accepting FMGs for CRMI in Tamil Nadu.

(3) Updated Vacancy Seats Availability for FMGs:

In accordance with the norms set by the National Medical Commission (NMC), I request details of the internship vacancies in numbers available for FMGs seats in each of the Tamil Nadu government medical college hospitals for each academic year. Furthermore, kindly provide the details of current vacancies in numbers for the ongoing academic year, as well as the projected vacancies in numbers for the upcoming months.

(4) Stipend for FMGs During CRMI:

Kindly provide the exact amount of the stipend in Rupees per month offered to FMGs during the CRMI period in Tamil Nadu.

(5) Discrepancy in Stipend Payment for FMGs:

As per the regulations issued by the NMC, FMGs are entitled to the same stipend as Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs) in the respective states. However, there is a discrepancy, with FMGs not receiving equal stipend as compared to IMGs. Kindly provide a detailed explanation for this disparity. (6) Addressing Fee Disparities in the CRMI Process for FMGs in Tamil Nadu:

According to the NMC, it is imperative that all State Medical Councils, DME, and Government Medical Institutions refrain from imposing any fees for the CRMI process for all interns (IMGs and FMGs). However, the Tamil Nadu government has demanded extra fees from FMGs to provide them with equal stipends to IMGs. This practice is against the norms set by the NMC. We request that FMGs be treated like IMGs to ensure equitable treatment and access for all graduates."

2. The CPIO furnished a reply to the Appellant on 28.10.2024 stating as under:

"Reply :- With respect to point no. 1,2 & 3: The requisite information sought is available on NMC website at below given link:

https://www.nmc.org.in/all-news/ With respect to point no. 4,5 & 6: All interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institution/ University or State. The provisions for internship are contained in the Compulsory Rotatory Internship Regulation, 2021 dated 18th November 2021, which is available on NMC website i.e. www.nmc.org.in"

3. Being dissatisfied, the Appellant filed a First Appeal dated 19.11.2024. The FAA vide its order dated 12.12.2024, held as under:

"I have gone through the documents/file pertaining to disposal of your RTI application dated 05.10.2024. On perusal of the record, it has been observed that the RTI application was replied by CPIO, UGMEB, through online mode on 28.10.2024.

Further, in this regard you may refer Circular No. U.15024/01/2022-UGMEB dated 09.05.2023, uploaded on NMC website on 10.05.2023 and Public Notice No. U-15026/9/2023-UGMEB, dated 15.05.2024, uploaded on NMC website on 17.05.2024, which is available on NMC's website viz www.nmc.org.in"

4. Feeling aggrieved and dissatisfied, Appellant approached the Commission with the instant Second Appeal.

Relevant Facts emerged during Hearing:

The following were present:-

Appellant: Absent.

Respondent: Ms. Leena George, CPIO-cum-Under Secretary, attended the hearing in person.

5. The Appellant did not participate in the hearing.

6. The Respondent submitted that a suitable reply in terms of the provisions of the RTI Act has been given to the Appellant vide letters dated 28.10.2024 and 12.12.2024. She added that the actual implementation, including the rate of stipend, is undertaken by the respective States/UTs in accordance with their financial capacity and budgetary provisions CIC/NMCOM/A/2025/604320 Page 3 of 6

7. A written submission has been received from Ms. Leena George, CPIO- cum-Under Secretary, vide letter dated 05.03.2026, a copy of which has been sent to the Appellant and the same has been taken on record. The relevant extract of the same is as under:

"4. Point wise reply is being furnished below:

The information sought in regard to point 1 is not available in UGMEB, NMC. NMC being a regulatory body have notified CRMI Regulation 2021 which clearly states at clause 3(a) of Schedule-IV of Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI-2021) at page no. 41 that All interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institute/ University or State. And clause 2 (c)(iii) of Schedule-II of Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI-2021) and at page no. 27 of the above regulation it is stated that Medical Colleges or institutions may allow up to 7.5 percent of their permitted quota of interns to accommodate internship by Foreign Medical Graduates.

Further NMC has issued Public Notices dated 7.12.2023 (Copy enclosed) where following information is furnished:

i. 7.5% of the permitted MBBS intake of FMG interns in established medical colleges/institutions;

ii. 100% CRMI seats for FMGs in new medical colleges; Hence the existing regulation already provides for the payment of stipend to interns. However, the actual implementation, including the rate of stipend, is undertaken by the respective States/UTs in accordance with their financial capacity and budgetary provisions. Further CRMI Regulation is applicable to all Medical Colleges recognized by NMC in India for MBBS.

II. NMC is not aware of the information regarding banned colleges for FMG's. III. Seat allocation is governed by regulation and public notice dated 07.12.2023: 7.5% of permitted MBBS intake in established colleges.

100% internship seats in newly established colleges (as per public notice). However, actual vacancy positions are maintained and implemented by respective States/UTs, not centrally by NMC.

IV. In regard to the reply regard exact amount of stipend to be paid to FMG's, NMC has clarified that no decision or fixed amount of stipend for FMGs has been issued by NMC.

As per Clause 3(a), Schedule IV of CRMI Regulations 2021:

"All interns shall be paid stipend as fixed by the appropriate authority applicable to the institute/University or State."

Therefore, stipend rates are decided by the respective State Government/UT administration, including Tamil Nadu.

V. In regard to point 5 of the RTI, the applicant is seeking explanation, which do to form information within the provision of the RTI ACT 2005. As per the Section 2(f) of the RTI ACT, CPIO is required to provide information as available with him in the form of office memorandum, notifications, rules, regulations, orders, letters and circulars etc. Queries/clarifications or interpretation of information is outside the preview of RTI Act 2005. The CPIO is not supposed to create information or to interpret information.

Further due to number of requests/queries received from different State Medical Councils regarding non-availability of seats for FMGs to start their internships at their State/UT especially due to the implementation of the two years' internship for FMGs, as a one One-time Relaxation to Foreign Medical Graduates to complete Internship, it was decided by UGMEB to validate the list of Recognized Non-teaching Hospitals for Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship issued by the erstwhile Medical Council of India, for a period of one year for conduct of internship for Foreign Medical Graduates only. Accordingly a Circular dated 9.5.2023 which was uploaded in the NMC website on 10.05.2023. Further, the same relaxation was granted for two years on 15.05.24 uploaded on NMC website on 17.05.24. The same was intimated while applicant against the first to appeal replying appeal dated 13.12.2024. It is again reiterated that that stipend implementation is done by respective States based on financial capacity.

VI. Addressing Fee Disparities in the CRMI Process for FMGs in Tamil Nadu:

It is stated that no clause in NMC Regulations/Guidelines/Circulars authorizes charging additional fees from FMGs for CRMI and no information is available in NMC.

5. Therefore, it is to bring kind notice the following:

That NMC acts as a regulatory body. States/UTs are responsible for implementation, including the following:

Internship seat allocation (within NMC limits) Stipend fixation Administrative processes NMC does not centrally fix stipend amounts No NMC regulation authorizes differential fee charging for FMGS.

6. Further, it is also conveyed that all the important decisions taken by NMC, which is for the larger interest of public and stakeholder are uploaded in NMC website from time to time for their knowledge.

7. This issues with the approval of Director, UGMEB."

Decision:

8. The Commission after adverting to the facts and circumstances of the case and perusal of the records, observes that a suitable reply based on available records has been given to the Appellant vide letter dated 28.10.2024 and 12.12.2024. Further, the written submission sent by the Respondent vide letter dated 05.03.2026 is more elaborate and is treated as updated reply. Hence, no intervention of the Commission is required in the instant case.

The appeal is disposed of accordingly.

Jaya Varma Sinha (जया वमा िस ा) Information Commissioner (सूचना आयु ) Authenticated true copy (अिभ मािणत स ािपत ित) (Ashutosh Vasishta) Dy. Registrar 011- 26107042 CIC/NMCOM/A/2025/604320 Page 6 of 6 Recomendation(s) to PA under section 25(5) of the RTI Act, 2005:-

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