In a major development for India’s medical education landscape, the National Medical Commission (NMC), under the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, has reinstated the 30 per cent faculty quota for medical M.Sc./Ph.D. holders in non-clinical subjects. The decision, formalised through the Medical Institutions (Qualifications of Faculty) Regulations, 2025 dated 30 June 2025 and an amendment notification issued on 2 July 2025, restores eligibility for these faculty members to teach Anatomy, Physiology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Microbiology.
This marks a reversal of the Medical Standard Requirements (MSR) 2020 guidelines, which had significantly restricted the teaching roles available to M.Sc./Ph.D. faculty. The MSR 2020 framework had contributed to staffing shortages in medical colleges while limiting career prospects for non-medical educators.
Dr Arjun Maitra, President of the National M.Sc. Medical Teachers’ Association (NMMTA), welcomed the move and said, “The Ministry has stood by the principles of fairness and meritocracy. We are deeply grateful to the government, and in particular to Hon’ble Union Health Minister Shri J.P. Nadda ji, for delivering on his promise and ensuring justice for thousands of educators.”
Dr Maitra said that the regulatory revision brings much-needed relief to faculty members who were excluded under the earlier guidelines. He added, “This is a clear message that qualified educators will no longer be overlooked due to technicalities. We see this as a milestone in our long and difficult journey toward recognition and respect.”
He also emphasised that the restoration goes beyond regulatory change, highlighting the professional dignity and academic contributions of non-clinical faculty. While NMMTA’s legal challenge to the 2020 regulations remains pending in court, the association has noted that the Ministry’s policy update demonstrates administrative intent to course correct.
Dr Ayan Das, Secretary of NMMTA, called the reform an important step forward but urged the Ministry to clarify the duration and scope of the “transition period” for current faculty. He noted disparities in entry-level qualifications, pointing out that Tutors require only an MBBS degree, whereas Demonstrators must hold both M.Sc. and Ph.D. qualifications—a discrepancy he described as irrational. Dr Das also called for clearer interpretation of UGC norms, arguing that only distance-mode Ph.D. degrees should be considered invalid, not in-service part-time Ph.D. qualifications.
Dr Shridhar Rao, Founder of NMMTA, raised concerns regarding the continued exclusion of M.Sc./Ph.D. faculty from Head of Department (HOD) positions. “Denying HOD positions to highly qualified senior faculty based solely on their degree background is discriminatory and unjust,” he said. He advocated for the introduction of a permanent saving clause to protect in-service faculty from any future policy reversals.
The NMMTA has described the decision as a long-awaited correction that acknowledges the role of medical M.Sc./Ph.D. educators in the country’s academic infrastructure. “This is a collective victory—won through persistence, advocacy, and faith in the system. We remain committed to strengthening and upholding the standards of medical education in the country,” said Dr Maitra.
The association expressed gratitude to the Ministry, the NMC, and all stakeholders who supported the campaign for regulatory fairness. The update is expected to help alleviate faculty shortages and restore institutional equity in India’s medical colleges.