NMC warns of fake medical colleges: verify recognition before you pay
By TUF News Desk · Published 11 November 2026 · 4 min read
Fact-checked against 2+ independent sources · Editorial policy
A purported medical college operating from a farmhouse in Uttar Pradesh has pushed the National Medical Commission to warn students across the country. The regulator issued an advisory on November 5, published on its website on November 6, asking students and parents to check a college’s recognition before taking admission or paying any fee.
The National Medical Commission, or NMC, said it had come across institutions offering medical and allied health courses without the required statutory recognition or permission. Students could be misled by advertisements, websites and social media posts, or by admission offers and documents that look official but are not.
What the advisory tells students to check
The advisory lists eight checks, and the first is the simplest. Before joining an MBBS course, verify that the college appears on the NMC’s official list of medical colleges and that it has permission for the relevant academic year. A college can appear on the list, or have run courses in earlier years, and still have no permission to admit students in the current session. The course, the number of seats and the permission for the year must each be verified through official NMC or Medical Assessment and Rating Board records.
Students should also check the admission offer itself. The regulator warns against trusting brochures, prospectuses, websites, advertisements and social media posts on their own, and against accepting letters of permission or approval letters circulated by an institution or its representatives without checking them with the authority that issued them.
Pay only through official channels
Money is where families get hurt most. The NMC has told students not to make admission payments to unauthorised agents, personal bank accounts or unverified intermediaries. No claim by an agent or an institution should be accepted in place of checking the college’s permission.
Admissions must go through the prescribed counselling process. For All India Quota seats that means the Medical Counselling Committee, and for state quota seats the competent state or Union Territory counselling authority. The official MCC counselling portal is where candidates can confirm the institution and seat allotted to them.
Approval, affiliation or recognition granted by one authority for one purpose does not count as NMC permission to run an MBBS course. A building, a website or a hospital on the campus proves nothing on its own. Students applying this year should keep their papers in order; the admission documents checklist covers the scorecard, certificates and registration papers colleges ask for.
Why the warning came now
The advisory follows a Supreme Court direction. The court took note of a newspaper report about a purported fake medical college operating from a farmhouse in Mahmoodpur Nagaria village in Etah district, Uttar Pradesh. The institution claimed to offer pharmacy, nursing, medical laboratory technology, Ayurveda and other healthcare programmes.
The case is Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida and Others. A bench of Justices Ahsanuddin Amanullah and N.V. Anjaria directed the University Grants Commission and all regulatory authorities to issue public advisories asking students and parents to verify the authenticity of institutions before taking admission or dealing with them. The NMC advisory is part of that response.
What to do if something looks wrong
Suspected fake colleges, forged permission letters and fraudulent admission offers can be reported to the NMC through its official website, and also to the state medical education department or local police. The regulator asks complainants to preserve advertisements, payment receipts, correspondence and website details as evidence.
Before committing to a college, the guide to choosing a university in India explains how to check recognition, affiliation and approvals. The cost of skipping that check is high. A student who joins an unauthorised institution risks losing the fees paid, spending years on a course that is not legally recognised, and struggling later to register as a doctor.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if a medical college is genuine?
Check the college on the NMC’s official list of medical colleges, then confirm it has permission for the relevant academic year and that the seats offered fall within its approved intake. Do this on the official NMC website or through the Medical Assessment and Rating Board’s records.
Does a college being on the NMC list mean it can admit students this year?
No. A college can appear on the list or have operated in earlier years and still lack permission for the current academic session. The NMC says permission must be verified separately for each academic year.
Is it safe to pay an admission agent or a personal bank account for an MBBS seat?
No. The NMC has warned students not to pay unauthorised agents, personal bank accounts or unverified intermediaries. Admissions should go through the prescribed counselling process, through the Medical Counselling Committee or the state counselling authority.
Where do I report a suspected fake medical college?
Report it to the National Medical Commission through its official website, and also to the state medical education department or local police. Keep copies of advertisements, payment receipts, emails and website details as evidence.
Frequently asked questions
How can I check if a medical college is genuine?
Check the college on the NMC's official list of medical colleges, then confirm it has permission for the relevant academic year and that the seats offered fall within its approved intake. Do this on the official NMC website or through the Medical Assessment and Rating Board's records.
Does a college being on the NMC list mean it can admit students this year?
No. A college can appear on the list or have operated in earlier years and still lack permission for the current academic session. The NMC says permission must be verified separately for each academic year.
Is it safe to pay an admission agent or a personal bank account for an MBBS seat?
No. The NMC has warned students not to pay unauthorised agents, personal bank accounts or unverified intermediaries. Admissions should go through the prescribed counselling process, through the Medical Counselling Committee or the state counselling authority.
Where do I report a suspected fake medical college?
Report it to the National Medical Commission through its official website, and also to the state medical education department or local police. Keep copies of advertisements, payment receipts, emails and website details as evidence.
Sources: The Hindu, Medical Dialogues, Education Post