The NMC has released a draft amendment to the 2023 Registration of Medical Practitioners Rules. The draft, notified on 11 August 2026, seeks a single‑window registration system that would let a doctor registered in any State practice anywhere in the country without a fresh licence.
Key Developments
- All doctors will receive a UID from the NMR after the State Medical Council (SMC) grants registration.
- The UID will be generated by the EMRB and reflected simultaneously in the State and National registers.
- Licences will retain a five‑year validity. Failure to renew within three months of expiry will mark the registration ‘inactive’ in the NMR, barring practice.
- Disciplinary matters remain with the SMC where the alleged misconduct occurred, but outcomes will be auto‑updated in the NMR and the doctor’s primary State register.
- An appeal route: if an SMC rejects an application, the doctor can approach the EMRB within 30 days; the Board’s decision is binding.
- Foreign Medical Graduate (FMG) definition expanded to include Indian citizens and OCI holders with overseas allopathic qualifications; they continue to be eligible for provisional registration.
- Temporary registration for foreign nationals pursuing postgraduate/super‑speciality courses extended up to 24 months, followed by a one‑year cooling‑off period.
- Existing doctors without a UID must update their details on the EMRB portal; the process will be free of charge.
Important Facts
• The draft invites objections and suggestions for 30 days from the date of notification.
• Automatic electronic synchronisation will ensure any change in one register reflects instantly in the other.
• The NMR will also store information on licence status (active/inactive) and any disciplinary action such as suspension, removal or restoration.
Exam Relevance
The proposal touches upon several GS topics. It illustrates the central‑state coordination mechanism (GS2: Polity) and the move towards a unified digital governance framework (GS3: Governance). Understanding the role of the