FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

(FAQs) WITH REGARD TO

IMPORTANT ISSUES OF NEW NMC
GUIDELINES 2020
AND
TEACHER ELIGIBILITY
QUALIFICATIONS

Compiled By

DR K. KIRAN PRAKASH MD (PSM), DA, (DNB)

Assistant Professor of Community Medicine,

NMC Coordinator & Faculty Member of Medical Education Unit,
GOVERNMENT MEDICAL COLLEGE MAHABUBNAGAR (T.S)-509001

drkkiranprakash@gmail.com 8886733374/9849449849
Dear Doctors greetings…..

This document contains the compilation of Frequently Asked Questions

(FAQs) in various topics of, NMC regulations & Guidelines 2020,

Undergraduate & postgraduate NMC inspections, Teacher Eligibility

Qualifications, Medical Education, committees in Medical College etc.

Information collected from various MCI/NMC gazettes, FAQs from time to

time available on the NMC website.

I have just created some important FAQs for the convenience & general

information for our medical fraternity working in Medical Colleges. Hope

this document can be helpful to all like my other previous documents.

Like to hear your feedbacks and suggestions..

Thank you.

Regards,
Dr Kiran Prakash
Q. What is the annual MBBS intake that is permissible for establishment
a new medical college?
Ans: As per the new NMC regulations 2020, new NMC medical colleges can be
established with annual MBBS intakes of either 100 or 150 students only.

Q. For which medical colleges are new NMC regulations for Annual
M.B.B.S. Admissions Regulations, 2020 applicable?

Ans: The new regulations are applicable to the following medical colleges:

a. All new medical colleges that are applying to establish a new medical
college from the Academic Year 2021-22 onwards

b. Established medical colleges that are applying for increase in annual

MBBS intake from the Academic Year 2021-22 onwards.

Q. Which regulations will apply during assessments for medical colleges

which are due for renewal or recognition assessments from academic
year 2021-22 onwards?

Ans: All medical colleges in various stages of renewal/recognition, including

those granted LOP for the academic year 2020-21, will be governed by the
relevant regulations of the erstwhile Medical Council of India prior to the
NMC notification dated 28.10.2020.

Q. If the applicant has a 300 bed hospital functional for less than 2
years will they be eligible for applying for establishing a new medical
college for the AY 2021-22?

Ans: NO, All applicants would be required to have a 300 bed fully functional
hospital for at least 2 years at the time of submitting their applications for the
AY 2021-22 and at the time of LOP an additional 30 beds of Emergency Medicine
should also be available.

Q. Is the Rule of 2 years' functional hospital applicable as on the date of

application for a new college or date of grant of LOP?

Ans: The rule will be applicable as on date of application.

Q. Our hospital has 300 beds & is functional for last 40 years but all the
beds are only for maternity & children & ICUs. There were no beds for
Medicine or Surgery. Are we eligible to apply for establishment of a new
Medical College?

Ans: It should be a multi-specialty hospital catering to all specialties and be

in existence for at least 2 years and hence you will not be eligible to apply.
Q. For medical colleges already in existence prior to the notification of
the new NMC regulation, which staff norms will apply?

Ans: For the Medical colleges already in existence prior to the NMC notification
dated 28.10.2020, the staff norms will be in accordance with the relevant
regulations of the erstwhile Medical Council of India, unless they are
making an application for increase in annual MBBS intake for the academic year
2021-22.

Q. Does the college have the option to choose between the existing
regulations and the new NMC regulation 2020 for its assessment?

Ans: Colleges do not have the option to choose between the two
regulations. If the colleges had been granted permissions prior to the new NMC
2020 notification, the assessments will as per the regulations of the erstwhile
MCI and those granted permission for the academic year 2021-22 will be
assessed as per the new NMC 2020 regulations.

Q. Books and Journals requirements as per new NMC guidelines 2020?

Ans:

Books: There shall be at least 30 (Thirty) books per annual intake of students
comprising all subjects with at least 5 copies of each of the text books for the
various subjects in MBBS curriculum.

Journals: The minimum number of journals for various annual intakes of MBBS
students shall be at least 1 percent of the minimum books prescribed.

(Ex: For 150 seats intakes 4500 Books and 45 Journals are minimum
requirements)

The journals shall be either in print or electronic form, provided that there
shall be at least 1(one) print journal of each major specialty departments
for MBBS training – Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pathology,
Pharmacology, Microbiology, Forensic Medicine &Toxicology, Community
Medicine, Medicine, Paediatrics, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine,
Surgery, Orthopaedics, Otorhinolaryngology, Ophthalmology, Obstetrics &
Gynaecology, Anaesthesia, Radio-diagnosis, Dentistry, Emergency Medicine,
Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation. Provided that only journals that are indexed
in the following databases i.e. Medline, Pubmed Central, Science Citation index,
Science Citation Index Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open access
journals (DoAJ) will be considered. There shall be evidence for a full annual
subscription for all these journals.

Q. Department Demo rooms and Museums requirements as per new NMC

guidelines 2020?

Ans: Now the new nomenclature for Demo rooms is “teaching rooms” in the
medical college for Pre- and Para-Clinical Departments, these are two types 25
seating capacity and 50 seating capacity (each teaching room shall provide at
least 1.2 sq.M/student):

For various intake of MBBS students annually to be shared by all departments,

shall be as indicated below

i. For 100 seats: 2 (25 seating) + 1 (50 seating)

ii. For 150 seats: 4 (25 seating) + 4 (50 seating)
iii. For 200 seats: 7 (25 seating) + 7 (50 seating)
iv. For 250 seats: 9 (25 seating) + 9 (50 seating)

The teaching hospital shall have at least 1 (one)teaching room for each of the
Clinical teaching departments with a capacity to accommodate at least 30
students (as prescribed for the medical college) for clinical cases
discussions/demonstrations.

.Museum: There shall be at least 3 museums in the college i.e.

1 (one) for Anatomy,

1 (one) to be shared by Pathology and Forensic Medicine,

1 (one) to be shared by Pharmacology, Microbiology and Community Medicine.

Q. Bed strength requirements in teaching hospitals as per new NMC

guidelines 2020?

Ans: The bed strength of the teaching hospitals at time of recognition for various
annual intakes of MBBS students shall be at least 4 beds/MBBS student intake
annually.

i. For 100 seats: 430/20 Beds/Units

ii. For 150 seats: 630/28 Beds/Units
iii. For 200 seats: 830/34 Beds/Units
iv. For 250 seats: 1030/37 Beds/Units

Q. Department of ‘Emergency Medicine’ in teaching hospitals as per new

NMC guidelines 2020?

Ans: The Department of Emergency Medicine shall be mandatory for all Medical
Colleges with effect from the academic year 2022-2023 onwards, with extra
30 beds to minimum bed strength.
Q. Non-medical teacher requirement as per new NMC guidelines 2020?

Ans: In department of Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, non-medical teachers

may be appointed to the extent of 15% of the total number of posts in the
department subject to non-availability of medical teachers. The above mentioned
non-medical teachers and the Statistician in the department of Community
Medicine should possess qualification in that particular subject from a recognized
university as per requirements in Teacher Eligibility Qualification Regulations.

Q. Non-medical teacher requirement in the departments of Microbiology

and Pharmacology has been deleted and the proportion of permissible
non-medical teachers in the Departments of Anatomy, Physiology and
Biochemistry has been reduced in the new 2020 NMC regulations. What
will the status of already employed non-medical teachers?

Ans: The status of non-medical teachers appointed prior to the notification of the
2020 regulations will not be affected. They shall all be accepted and counted
during assessments for renewals or recognition. However, in new medical
colleges being established from the academic year 2021-22 onwards, non-
medical teachers will be accepted and counted as per the new regulations.
However, in existing medical colleges, appointment of new faculty staff after
28.10.2020 in the above mentioned departments should be in accordance with
the new NMC regulations.

Q. Teachers appointed as faculty in super-specialty departments can be

counted against the complement of teachers required for under
graduate medical education in broad speciality departments?

Ans. NO, However, teachers appointed in a broad speciality department who

also have super-speciality qualifications shall be counted against the
complement of teachers required for under graduate medical education in the
concerned broad speciality department.

Q. What is the staffing pattern in clinical departments on unit basis?

In Clinical Departments, the Staffing pattern of the departments shall be

organized on the basis of units with each unit having a Professor/Associate
Professor, one Assistant Professor and one senior resident.

Q. What are the current Publication criteria (applicable after

11.02.2022)

Ans: a) Authorship: First three or should be the Corresponding author.

 b) Type of publication: Original research papers, meta-analysis,
systematic reviews, and case series that are published in journals included
in: Medline, Pubmed Central, Science Citation index, Science Citation index
Expanded, Embase, Scopus, Directory of Open access journals (DoAJ).

AND In addition meet the following criteria

i. Should have completed the Basic course in Medical Education

Technology from Institution(s) designated by MCI.
ii. ii. Should have completed the Basic course in biomedical research
from Institution(s) designated by MCI/NMC

Q. Is Subject/ Speciality journal mandatory for publication of research

paper? (Can we publish the papers in journals other than our own
speciality journal?)

Ans: Yes, we can publish in any speciality journals along with any other
speciality authors, the articles need not be published only in the concerned
speciality journals.

Q. Hard copy (Print version of journal) is must for journal in which

research paper is published?

Ans: NO, can be Print/ electronic that is indexed as mentioned in new NMC
guidelines (Gazette notification dated 17.02.2020).

Q. Which criteria are applicable in transition period?

Ans: During transition period both criteria from 08.06.2017-10.2.2022 OR

that from 11.02.2020 can be used.

New criteria Gazette is Published on 11.02.2020, so from that date onwards

new criteria will come into force exclusively. However old criteria which
already exist will also eligible in Transition period.

Q. If the faculty has been promoted from Assistant Professor to

Associate Professor in 2012 without any publications, can one consider
him/her as eligible?

Ans: Yes. The cut-off for publications became mandatory from

a) Associate Professor to Professor from 24.07.2013 onwards.

b) From Assistant Professor to Associate Professor from 24.07.2014
onwards.

Q. If a senior resident is 50 years of age now but was appointed before

45 years of age; can they be considered as eligible?

Ans: No. Senior Resident is one who is doing his/her residency in the
concerned post graduate subject after obtaining PG degree/Diploma
 (MD/MS/DNB/Dip.) and is below 45 years of age. (After 45 yrs SR is not
eligible as a Resident)

Q. In Pre and Para clinical subjects where no Senior Residents are

required, can such teachers be appointed directly as Assistant Professor
after completing their postgraduate degree?

Ans: As per the TEQ, this is not so. One-year SR/Tutorship after post-
graduation in a medical college in the respective specialty is needed.

“Provided that in the disciplines where the post of SR is not prescribed in the
applicable MSR, one year experience as Tutor/ Demonstrator/ Resident/
Registrar after obtaining PG degree in concerned discipline shall be required”
(Gazette publication on 7th June 2019)

Q. Whether such teachers who are working on the post of Assistant

Professor and never done one year S.R. ship are eligible for Associate
Professor after completion of 4 years as Assistant Professor or not?

Ans. Yes, they would be eligible as the amendment notification dated 5th
June, 2017 would be applicable prospectively from the date of notification for
appointment/promotions.

(In other words SR ship not required for Assistant Professors who joined
before 5th June 2017)

Q. Those who are doing post graduation after 45 years of age (because
there is no age bar for PG admissions), what will be their fate in a
medical college. Can they be appointed as assistant professor (with 2
research publications)?

Ans. Those joining/doing PG after 40 years of age will not be eligible for the
post of SR as per Notification dated 5th June, 2017 and again this age limit is
increased to 45years as per amendment dated 16th August 2019.

They cannot be appointed Assistant Professor directly after PG and

promoted to Associate Professor after 5 years of teaching experience as
Assistant Professor.

Q. So far no clarity on the age limits for junior Resident in clinical and
Tutor in Pre & Para-clinical subjects. Can a junior Resident & Tutor
working in Medical College be of more than 45 years of age or not ?

Ans. YES, Notifications have prescribed the age limit of SR only.

Q. Can the postgraduate Diploma holders such as DCH, DGO, D. Ortho,

DA, DDVL etc., after completing one year of experience obtained after
their postgraduate diploma and are below 45 years, be considered as
Senior Residents?
 Ans. Yes. Diploma candidates are now eligible for SRs if they are below
45years as per notification dated 16th August, 2019.

Q.If supposes one has already worked as an Assistant Professor in some

other education institution and wants to apply, this clause will be a
hindrance as Senior Residency was not a pre-requisite then. So If any
candidate serving as Assistant Professor, who just after post graduation
became Assistant Professor, if want to apply again in any new
institution as Assistant Professor, he/she will not be eligible. So it will
be unfair and a great injustice to them.

Ans. No, since you are already on the post of Assistant Professor and this
amendment of 5th June 2017 would not be applicable. It is only for fresh
appointments. (Any one is appointed and working as Assistant Professor
before 5th June 2017, they may not need 1yr of SR ship and applicable for his
further new appointments also)

Q. Can any Assistant Professor / Associate Professor already appointed

before 5th June, 2017 notification, be promoted to Assoc./Professor
without completing 5 years/8 years post-PG experience respectively but
otherwise fulfilling the eligibility criteria as per notification dated 5th
June, 2017?

Ans. Yes, they can be promoted to Assoc.Prof./Professor.

Q. What about the MBBS degree doctors who has worked as Junior
Resident in any subject and is considered Senior Resident in that subject
after 3 years of Junior Resident in that particular subject whether they
will count as SR in private/govt. Medical college?

Ans. Those who have already been appointed to the post of SR and on that
basis will continue to be counted as eligible in the same institution only.
However, no fresh appointment would be made to the post of SR if the
candidate does not hold the PG degree.

Q. Can a JR (with MBBS qualification) or PG student of that respective

departments be considered as Tutor in pre and para-clinical
department?

Ans. Yes. provided he/she has a valid appointment order, joining order,
salary proof and has filled the faculty Declaration Form.

Q. A candidate did a Diploma in Anaesthesia (DA) from 2008- 2010 by

MCI recognised institute then did 2 years and four month senior
residency from 2010-2012 from MCI recognised institute (Guru Teg
Bahadur and Hindu Rao Hospital, Delhi) after post graduation and after
that did DNB from MCI recognized college 2014-16 (IGIMS, Patna)
which also has MD (Anaesthesia), since the said candidate has done Sr.
Residency before notification dated 05.07.2017 whether Sr. residency of
that candidate from MCI recognized college should be counted for the
post of Assistant Professor as per new notification?

Ans: No. Post DNB/MD/MS degree course in the subject concerned, one year
SR ship is mandatory for the post of Assistant Professor in the subject
concerned.

Q. The candidate was appointed as Assistant Professor or SR after MD in

a private medical college XXXX before letter of permission (LOP) of the
said college. Then he didn’t join anywhere and now he wants to join as
Assistant Professor in YYYY medical college, whether the experience of
previous institute can be consider??

Ans: No, Teaching experience is counted from date of LOP only.

Q. What is a College council in Medical College and its composition?

Ans: Every medical college or Medical Institution shall have a College Council
comprising of the Head of departments as members and Principal/Dean
as Chairperson. The Council shall meet at least four times in a year to draw
up the details of curriculum and training programme, enforcement of
discipline and other academic matters.

Q. What is a UG Curriculum committee and its Composition?

Ans: Curriculum Committee of Medical College ensures that institutional

curricular plan and its delivery aligned to and in accordance to the principals
and requirements. Composition of Curriculum committee will be as follows

a) Professor/ Associate professor of Pre- Clinical Speciality

b) Professor/ Associate professor of Para- Clinical Speciality
c) Professor/ Associate professor of Medical Speciality
d) Professor/ Associate professor of Surgical Speciality
e) Medical Education Unit (MUE) Coordinator of the College
f) Representative of students and interns
g) Dean/ Director/ Principal to act as Chairmen of the Committee.

Q. What is a Medical Education Unit and its Composition?

Ans: MEDICAL EDUCATION UNIT consists of following

a) Officer‐ in‐charge : Dean/Principal/Vice‐chancellor

b) Coordinator : Professor/ Associate Professor (same coordinator to
continue for a minimum of 3 years and any change to be intimated to
Academic Cell of MCI & requires approval of MCI), should have undergone
MCI Basic Course Workshop (pre/revised) in MET & AETCOM at the
allocated Nodal/Regional Centre and Advance Course in Medical Education
at the allocated Nodal Centre, or any other additional qualification like M.
 Med, MHPE, Diploma in Medical Education, FAIMER Fellowship, or IFME,
within such prescribed period as decided by the MCI from time to time.
c) MEU faculty: Minimum 8 core faculty including all cadres of faculty
with the following qualifications:
Have undergone MCI Basic/Revised Basic Course in MET at the allocated
Nodal/ Regional Centre, or in the medical college under MCI observer
ship.
At least 04 (50%) faculty should have received additional educational
qualification or training: eg. MCI Advance Course in ME at MCI Nodal
Centre, or any other additional qualification like M. Med, MHPE, Diploma in
Medical Education, FAIMER Fellowship or IFME, within such prescribed
period as decided by the MCI from time to time.

Q. What are the other requirements of MUE?

Other office and administrative requirements of MUE

a) Supportive Staff: As per Minimum Standard Requirements notified from

time to time.
i. Stenographer / Office Assistant : 1
ii. Office assistant / Computer Operator : 1
iii. Technicians for Audio Visual Aids /Photography : 1
iv. Peon : 1
b) Journals: MEU/ college library should have books on medical education
(10 copies each) and should have access (print or web) to at least two
(02) of the following Journals:
i. Medical Teacher
ii. Medical education
iii. Academic Medicine
iv. The Clinical Teacher
v. BMC medical education
c) Infrastructure and equipments : The Medical Education Unit is to be
housed in an appropriate area which can accommodate around 30
participants in a workshop format and should have the following
equipments:
i. Two Multimedia PCs internet enabled with colour Monitors : 2
ii. Computers will be utilized for the entire media operation, i.e. for
connectivity with printers, digital photography and scanners. It
should have video‐editing facility
iii. Multimedia projector : 2
iv. Screen for projection : As per requirement
v. Scanner + printer + copier : 1
vi. Laptop : 1
vii. Magnetic Board /flip boards : As per requirement
viii. Overhead projector (Optional) : 1
ix. PA system with cordless mikes (2) and Collar mikes (2)
Q. What is a Institutional Ethical Committee and its Composition?

Ans: 1.The Ethics Committee shall have a minimum of seven members and
maximum 15 from medical, non-medical, scientific and non-scientific areas
with at least-

i. One lay person;

ii. One woman member;
iii. One legal expert;
iv. One independent member from any other related field such as social
scientist or representative of non-governmental voluntary agency or
philosopher or ethicist or theologian.

2. The Ethics Committee referred to in sub-rule (1) preferably consist at least

fifty percent of its members who are not affiliated with the institute or
organization in which such committee is constituted.

3. One member of the Ethics Committee who is not affiliated with the institute or
organization shall be the chairperson, and shall be appointed by such institute
or organization.

4. One member who is affiliated with the institute or organization shall be

appointed as Member Secretary of the Ethics Committee by such institute or
organization.

5. The committee shall include at least one member whose primary area of
interest or specialization is non-scientific and at least one member who is
independent of the institution.

6. The members of the Ethics Committee shall follow the provisions of these
rules, Good Clinical Practices Guidelines and other regulatory requirements
to safeguard the rights, safety and well-being of trial subjects.

7. Every member of the Ethics Committee shall be required to undergo such

training and development programmes as may be specified by the Central
Licensing Authority from time to time.

Q. In the Faculty table if the faculty mentions themselves as “Part time”

in the concerned column, should they be included as teacher for head
count or not?

Ans: Only full-time appointed faculty is to be counted. However, please note that
ad-hoc, contractual faculty can be taken in faculty count. Private practice is
permitted but only beyond the duty hours and the letterhead showing the
timings at the clinical attachments are to be attached along with the declaration
form. Part time, honorary faculty and visiting faculty are not to be counted
towards the teaching faculty count.
Q. What is the present Postgraduate teacher – PG Student ratio in
various broad specialities and super speciality subjects?

Ans: According to MCI notification on 4th April 2019, the ratio of recognize PG
teacher to number of students to be admitted for the following postgraduate
courses shall be as follows

I) PG Teacher: Student ratios for clinical specialities in Government

College & Non Government college with 15 years of stand
Professor - 1:3
Associate Professor (Unit Head) – 1:3
Associate Professor – 1:2
Assistant Professor – 0
Min. Bed strength in unit – 30
Max. Seats/ Unit – 3 (30 Beds) ; 5 (40 Beds)
II) PG Teacher: Student ratios for clinical specialities in Non
Government college
Professor - 1:2
Associate Professor (Unit Head) – 1:1
Associate Professor – 1:1
Assistant Professor – 0
Min. Bed strength in unit – 30
Max. Seats/ Unit – 3 (30 Beds) ; 5 (40 Beds)
III) PG Teacher: Student ratios for Non-clinical specialities in
Government Colleges
Professor - 1:3
Associate Professor – 1:2
Assistant Professor – 0
IV) PG Teacher: Student ratios for Non-clinical specialities in Non
Government Colleges
Professor - 1:2
Associate Professor – 1:1
Assistant Professor – 0

V) PG Teacher: Student ratios for clinical specialities in Government

College & Non Government college with 15 years of stand for
Anaesthesiology, Radio oncology, Psychiatry and Forensic
Medicine,
Professor - 1:3
Associate Professor (Unit Head) – 1:2
Associate Professor – 1:1
Assistant Professor – 0
Min. Bed strength in unit – 30
Max. Seats/ Unit – 3 (30 Beds) ; 5 (40 Beds)
 VI) PG Teacher: Student ratios for clinical specialities in Non Government
college for Anaesthesiology, Radio oncology, Psychiatry and
Forensic Medicine,
Professor - 1:3
Associate Professor (Unit Head) – 1:1
Associate Professor – 1:1
Assistant Professor – 0
Min. Bed strength in unit – 30
Max. Seats/ Unit – 3 (30 Beds) ; 5 (40 Beds)
VII) PG Teacher: Student ratios for Super specialities in Government
College & Non Government colleges
Professor - 1:2
Associate Professor – 1:2
Assistant Professor – 1:1
Min. Bed strength in unit – 20
Max. Seats/ Unit – 4 (20 Beds) ; 6 (30 or more Beds)
(Note: Medical & Surgical oncology shall have Professor to student
ratio of 1:3 and others are same as above)

Q. Any allotment of PG seats for an Assistant Professor if he is having all

eligibilities for Associate Professor according Teacher Eligibility
qualifications?

Ans: If an Assistant Professor fulfils the all the requirements of Postgraduate

teacher as per Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 as amended,
he shall be considered a Postgraduate teacher and shall be allotted 01 (one)
PG student.

Q. Any extra allotment of PG seats for an Associate Professor if he is

having all eligibilities for Professor according Teacher Eligibility
qualifications?

Ans: If an Associate Professor fulfils the all the eligibility criteria for the post of
Professor as laid down in the “Minimum qualifications for teachers in Medical
institutions, 1998” and fulfils the all requirements of Postgraduate teacher as per
Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000 as amended, but has not
been promoted to the higher post due to administrative non availability of the
post or delay in the filling up of the post in the government organization if
he/she continue to work at the same government organization then such a
Postgraduate teacher and shall be allotted 03 (Three) PG students.
Q. In counting of beds ICCU, ICU, SICU, and NICU are considered or
not??

Ans: Provided that Intensive Cardiac Care Unit (ICCU), Intensive Care Unit
(ICU) beds and Beds of medical super speciality units shall be included in bed
strength of the Medical department if the medical college/ institute not
running DM program in concerned super speciality and is under the
administrative control of the department of Medicine.

Provided that Surgical Intensive Care Unit (SICU) beds and Beds of medical
super speciality units shall be included in bed strength of the Surgical
department if the medical college/ institute not running M.Ch program
in concerned super speciality and is under the administrative control of the
department of Surgery.

Provided that Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), Paediatric Intensive Care
Unit (PICU) beds and Beds of medical super speciality units shall be included
in bed strength of the Paediatric department if the medical college/
institute not running DM program in concerned super speciality and is
under the administrative control of the department of Paediatrics.

Q. What is the Consideration of Additional Professor in NMC inspections?

Ans: Additional Professor is to be equated to a Professor and can be shown

as Associate professor in the same department if there is any deficiency.

*****