On 05-11-2026 the National Medical Commission (NMC) issued an advisory to students, parents and the general public. It asks everyone to check that a medical college is genuine, and that it has the approval it needs, before taking admission or paying any money. The advisory was issued by NMC’s Under-Graduate Medical Education Board (letter No. U-15024/10/2026-UGMEB) and signed by a Deputy Secretary of NMC.
This is one of the clearest warnings NMC has given about fake colleges and unauthorised admission offers. Below we explain, in plain words, what the advisory says, why it was issued and what you should do before you pay any fee.
Why NMC issued this advisory
NMC says it has come to know that some institutions are offering medical and allied courses without the recognition, approval or permission they legally need. Students and parents can be misled by advertisements, websites, social media promotions, unauthorised admission offers and false claims made by such institutions, their agents or middlemen.
The Supreme Court of India, in an ongoing case titled Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida & Ors., took note of this problem. It directed all regulatory bodies, including NMC, to caution students and parents against taking admission in, or dealing with, any educational institution without first checking that it is genuine. The direction came after a reported case of a fake medical college said to be operating from a farmhouse and claiming to offer various courses. This advisory is NMC’s response to that direction.
The eight checks NMC asks you to make
The advisory lists eight precautions. Each one is explained below.
1. Check that the college is genuine
Before taking admission to an MBBS course, check that the college appears in the official list of medical colleges published by NMC, and that it has permission or approval for the academic year you are joining. A name on a banner or a website is not enough.
2. Check the approved seats and the academic year
NMC makes an important point here. A college appearing in a list, or having admitted students in earlier years, does not by itself prove that it has permission for every later year or for more seats than approved. The permission status, the course and the number of seats approved for that academic year must be checked separately in official NMC and MARB (Medical Assessment and Rating Board) records.
3. Check that admission offers and documents are real
Do not rely only on brochures, prospectuses, websites, advertisements, social media posts or “Letters of Permission”, approval letters and certificates handed out by a college or its representatives. If you have any doubt about a document, check it directly with the regulator through its official channels.
4. Use official counselling and admission channels
Where admission is through a set counselling process, follow that process. Check the college and the seat allotted to you through the official counselling authority, such as the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) or the State/UT counselling authority.
5. Check the campus and facilities
Be careful when a college makes extraordinary claims about its teaching, clinical training, hospital or admission chances that do not match the size and nature of the course. NMC says clearly that a building, an office, a website or an advertisement does not by itself prove that an institution is legally allowed to teach medicine.
6. Be careful before paying
Do not make admission-related payments to unauthorised agents, into personal bank accounts or to unverified middlemen. No promise from an agent or a college can replace checking the legal permission and the proper admission procedure yourself.
7. Know the difference between approvals
An approval, affiliation, registration or recognition given by one authority for one purpose is not permission from NMC to run an MBBS course. Each regulator’s requirements must be met separately.
8. Report suspected fraud
A suspected fake medical college, unauthorised MBBS course, forged permission letter, fraudulent admission offer or misleading claim can be reported to NMC through its official website and communication channels. It can also be reported to the State/UT Department of Medical Education, the relevant regulator and the local police. NMC advises keeping copies of advertisements, payment receipts, messages, website details and any other proof.
Courses that NMC does not regulate
NMC also clarifies that institutions offering courses such as pharmacy, nursing, Ayurveda, allied health and other professional programmes come under different regulators. Their status must be checked with the authority that regulates that course. The advisory is not NMC’s decision on the recognition of courses that fall only under other authorities.
Where to get official information
NMC asks students and parents to use its official website, nmc.org.in, and the official regulatory and counselling portals for correct and up-to-date information. If what you hear from an unofficial source does not match the records of the relevant authority, clear it up with that authority before you take admission or pay anything.
NMC ends by asking the public to stay alert and not be misled by false claims, unauthorised institutions or forged documents. In its words, checking in time and reporting suspected fraud protects students from financial loss, stops misuse of the names of official bodies and protects the standard of medical education.
A simple checklist for parents
Based on the advisory, here is a short checklist you can follow before you pay any admission fee:
- Find the college in NMC’s official list of medical colleges.
- Confirm its permission and approved seats for your academic year in official NMC/MARB records.
- Do not trust a document only because a college or agent shared it. Check it with the regulator.
- If your admission is through counselling, confirm the college and your seat on the official counselling portal.
- Be wary of claims that sound too good to be true.
- Pay only through proper channels. Never pay into a personal bank account.
- Keep every receipt, message and advertisement.
- If something feels wrong, report it.
Common questions
Does this advisory apply to colleges abroad? The advisory is about checking medical colleges and institutions before admission or payment, with examples from the Indian admission system such as MCC counselling and NMC’s list of colleges. The same habits, checking official records and never paying an unverified agent, are just as important when you choose a college abroad.
Is a college’s old approval enough? No. NMC says that being listed earlier, or having admitted students before, does not prove permission for later years or extra seats. Check the year you are joining.
What should I do if I have already paid a doubtful agent? Keep all receipts and messages, and report it to NMC, the State/UT Department of Medical Education and the local police, as the advisory suggests.
How we use this at National Vidya Foundation
Our rule is simple: check first, pay later. Before we suggest a college to any family, we check it against the official records and share those documents with you. If you would like help checking a college, book a free Clarity Call before you pay any fee.
The full advisory from NMC is in the PDF below.