Maharashtra scraps post-MBBS service bond; junior doctors’ group welcomes move

In a landmark decision, the Maharashtra government has scrapped the mandatory post-MBBS bond service rule. However, students who have already joined the bond service will have to complete it, while those who haven't will be exempted.

According to the government order, due to a limited number of posts available in medical departments and an increased number of medical colleges and MBBS graduates in the state, it has become impossible to offer students opportunities within the prescribed period.

Also, many students face difficulties in fulfilling the eligibility criteria for PG admissions; despite possessing the academic qualifications, as they have not completed the mandatory service bond. It was also observed that many take the service bond solely to become eligible for PG admissions, the GR added.

Moreover, some MBBS graduates do not provide medical services to their full potential or often lack the competence to handle emergency medical services effectively.

Therefore, the government has decided to scrap the mandatory one-year social responsibility service required after completing the MBBS course at government, municipal corporation, government-aided, and private unaided medical colleges in the state.

Academia360 has earlier reported the possibility of the Maharashtra government scrapping the post-MBBS service bond rule due to a sufficient number of doctors available.

In July 2025, a CM-led meeting submitted a proposal to reconsider and abolish the policy requiring one year of social responsibility service after the completion of the medical degree course. However, in the meeting, it was proposed that mandatory service after PG and super-speciality (SS) should be continued.

Maharashtra: Post-MBBS service bond

Accordingly, as per the Maharashtra government order, the mandatory one-year social responsibility service required after completing the MBBS course from government, municipal corporation, government-aided, or private-aided medical colleges in the state is cancelled.

Consequently, the provisions regarding this service required in previous GRs have also been cancelled, subject to the following conditions:

• Students who are eligible for service but have not yet been allotted a posting, or who could not complete the service for any reason, are no longer required to complete the service.
• Those currently undergoing service are mandatorily required to complete the service duration.
• Candidates who have allotted service via the online portal before the date of issuance of the GR and who already reported for duty at the assigned location are mandatorily required to complete the service.
• If a candidate has not yet reported for duty, they are not required to complete the service.

Notably, those who have previously obtained an exemption from the service bond by paying the prescribed penalty amount, in accordance with the provisions of GRs, are not entitled to any refund of the penalty amount.

“The online portal established by the Directorate of Medical Education and Research for the allocation of Social Responsibility Service following medical degree courses must be shut down immediately,” the GR reads.

MARD: Junior doctors' welcome move

The Indian Medical Association Junior Doctors Network (IMA JDN) and Central MARD Maharashtra have welcomed the move, calling it a progressive and long-awaited decision.

The doctors' group has now urged the state government to focus on strengthening Maharashtra’s healthcare infrastructure rather than merely increasing the number of MBBS seats.

Recently, the National Medical Commission (NMC) published the number of seats offered for MBBS admission. A total of 6,000 MBBS seats in government medical colleges and 7,099 seats in private medical colleges have been offered for the academic year 2026-27.