NMC Warns Against Fake Medical Colleges: Check Approval and Seats Before You Pay

In short: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an advisory asking students and parents to check that a medical college is genuine and approved for this year before taking admission or paying anything. It follows a Supreme Court direction after reports of a fake medical college run from a farmhouse. This matters to every NEET UG family still looking for an MBBS seat, and to anyone being offered a seat outside counselling.

What happened

NMC's Under-Graduate Medical Education Board issued the advisory on 5 November 2026 (No. U-15024/10/2026-UGMEB). It was widely reported on 10 November.

NMC says some institutions are offering medical and allied courses without the required approval, and that families are being misled through advertisements, websites, social media posts and agents. The Supreme Court, hearing the case Ayesha Jain v. Amity University, Noida & Ors., directed regulators including NMC to warn students and parents. The direction came after a reported case of a so-called medical college operating from a farmhouse.

The advisory lists eight precautions. The most important point is simple: a college being on a list once, or having run in earlier years, does not prove it may admit students this year, or admit more students than its approved seats. That has to be checked separately in NMC's official records.

Before you pay

Six checks from NMC's advisory

1. 1College is on NMC's official list
2. 2Permission is for this academic year
3. 3Your seat is within the approved intake
4. 4Seat came through MCC or state counselling
5. 5No money to agents or personal accounts
6. 6Another body's approval is not NMC permission

For students

If you are still trying for an MBBS seat this year, do these before you accept anything:

1. Find the college on NMC's own website (nmc.org.in), in its list of medical colleges. Do not trust a link someone sends you; type the address yourself.
2. Check the year and the seats. The permission must be for the 2026-27 academic year, and your seat must be within the number of seats approved for that year.
3. Get the seat through counselling. MBBS seats are filled through the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) or your state's counselling authority. Check the college and your allotted seat on that official portal. A "direct admission" offer outside this process is a warning sign.
4. Do not be impressed by a building or a brochure. NMC says a building, an office, a website or an advertisement does not by itself mean a college can legally teach medicine.
5. Courses other than MBBS (nursing, pharmacy, Ayurveda, allied health) are approved by different bodies. Check each one with the body that regulates that course.

For parents

This is mainly about protecting your money and your child's years.

• Never pay an agent, or into a personal bank account. NMC says admission payments should not go to unauthorised agents, personal accounts or middlemen. Pay only the college or counselling authority through official channels, and keep every receipt.
• A letter is not proof. Colleges and agents sometimes show a "Letter of Permission" or approval certificate. NMC says not to rely on such documents alone. If in doubt, confirm with NMC directly through its official contact details.
• Watch for mixed-up approvals. A university's recognition, a state registration or an affiliation for another purpose is not NMC permission to run an MBBS course.
• Be wary of big promises. Claims of guaranteed seats, low cut-offs or unusual hospital training should make you slow down, not hurry up.

“A parent asks

The college showed us an approval letter. Is that enough?

No. NMC says not to rely on letters, brochures or websites from the college. Check permission and seats on official NMC records yourself.

If something looks wrong

NMC asks families to report a suspected fake college, forged permission letter or false admission offer to NMC through its official website. You can also tell your state's Department of Medical Education and, where money has been taken, the local police. Keep copies of adverts, receipts, messages and website pages; NMC specifically asks complainants to preserve them.

Key dates

• 5 November 2026: NMC advisory issued.
• 10 November 2026: Advisory widely reported.

Sources

• National Medical Commission, Advisory No. U-15024/10/2026-UGMEB, 5 November 2026 — checked 11 November 2026
• National Medical Commission website — checked 11 November 2026

Dates can change. Confirm on the official website before you pay or apply.

If a calm second opinion on a seat offer would help, we're here at easyapply.in.