Ministry: 
Law and Justice
  • The Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Ordinance, 2016 was promulgated on May 24, 2016.  The Ordinance amends the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.  The Act provides for the constitution of the Medical Council of India (MCI).  The MCI regulates: (i) standards of medical education; (ii) permission to start colleges, courses or increase the number of seats; (iv) registration of doctors, (v) standards of professional conduct of medical practitioners; etc. 
  • The Ordinance introduces a uniform entrance examination for all medical educational institutions.  This would be applicable at the undergraduate and the post-graduate level.
  • The Ordinance states that in case a state has not opted for the uniform entrance examination, then the examination will not be applicable at the undergraduate level for the academic year 2016-17.  This provision will apply to state government seats in state government and private medical colleges. 
  • The entrance examinations will be conducted in Hindi, English and other languages. 
  • The Ordinance gives the MCI the power to frame regulations with regard to the (i) authority designated with the conduct of the exams, (ii) manner of conducting the exams, and (iii) specifying languages other than English and Hindi in which the examinations may be conducted.