New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has asked state authorities and medical colleges to start allocating more than 43,000 internship seats for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs). Along with the directive, the commission has also shared a seat matrix that shows how many internship positions are available in different states and medical colleges for the 2026-27 internship cycle.
This step is expected to help thousands of foreign-trained medical students who return to India after completing their medical degree abroad and need to complete an internship before they can practice medicine in the country.
According to the latest communication from the NMC’s Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB), a large number of internship seats have been identified across medical colleges and associated hospitals in India. The seat matrix provides detailed information about how these seats are distributed among various states and institutions.
State Medical Councils and Directorates of Medical Education have been asked to review the data and begin the process of assigning internship positions to eligible FMGs. The commission has also advised authorities to ensure that the allotment process is carried out properly and in line with existing guidelines.
If any mismatch in seat numbers is found, state authorities have been told to inform the commission so that necessary corrections can be made.
Some states are expected to provide a higher number of internship opportunities because they have a larger number of medical colleges and teaching hospitals. States such as Uttar Pradesh, Karnataka, Telangana, Maharashtra, and Tamil Nadu are likely to accommodate a significant number of foreign medical graduates.
Over the past few years, several new medical colleges have been opened in different parts of the country. At the same time, many existing colleges have increased their MBBS intake. These developments have created more internship positions in hospitals connected to these institutions.
As a result, more FMGs may now get the opportunity to start their clinical training without waiting for long periods.
Foreign medical graduates who complete their MBBS or equivalent medical degree outside India must complete a one-year Compulsory Rotatory Medical Internship (CRMI) in India before they can obtain permanent registration as doctors.
During this internship, graduates work in different hospital departments such as medicine, surgery, pediatrics, community medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology. The training allows them to gain practical experience and understand how the healthcare system functions in India.
Only after finishing this internship can they apply for full registration with the medical authorities.
For many FMGs, finding an internship seat has been a difficult step after clearing the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). In the past, limited availability of internship positions often caused delays for students who were ready to begin their training.
The NMC’s decision to allocate over 43,000 internship seats is expected to reduce this problem and help more graduates start their internship on time.
Experts believe that improving internship access will not only benefit foreign medical graduates but will also add more trained doctors to India’s healthcare system in the coming years.
