NMC directs medical colleges to start internship process for FMGs; over 43,000 slots across 797 institutes

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has directed medical institutions across the country to begin the allotment process of over 43,000 Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship (CRMI) slots to eligible Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) for admission to 797 colleges across the country for the academic year 2026-27.

According to the commission, 43,250 CRMI internship slots will be available for FMGs across states and union territories. “The seats are in addition to those allotted in non-teaching hospitals and institutions previously approved by the Medical Council of India to conduct internship programmes,” NMC said.

The medical commission has also prepared a nationwide matrix detailing the availability of CRMI slots across states and institutions, with Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh having the highest number of seats for FMG students for the 2026-27 academic year. While states such as Tamil Nadu and Telangana, others also have a significant share of seats.

Rise in MBBS seats in Telangana, other states

Meanwhile, several states have seen a major increase in MBBS seats between 2022-23 and 2025-26, including Telangana with 4,500 additional seats, Uttar Pradesh 4,372, and Karnataka 3,899, which has contributed to the higher availability of internship slots, according to the seat matrix (college-wise) from academic year 2021-22 to 2025-26 (excluding INIs).

According to the given criteria, about 7.5 % of the permitted intake of interns in medical colleges will be available for FMGs. Moreover, 100% of the CRMI seats in newly established medical colleges and all internship seats created through increased intake between the 2022-23 and 2025-26 academic years in medical institutions will also be reserved for FMGs.

Directing all state medical councils to initiate the process of allotment of the available internship slots to FMGs, the NMC said: “The allotment process shall be carried out strictly in accordance with the applicable Rules, Regulations, Public Notices, and Circulars issued from time to time governing the internship of Foreign Medical Graduates.”