PGMER 2023 FAQs — Part 3: Faculty, Examinations & Penalties
PGMER 2023 FAQs — Part 3: Faculty, Examinations & Penalties
More commonly searched questions on NMC's Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 — this time covering faculty rules, exam/examiner procedure, and penalty provisions.
who legally counts as "faculty" in a pg department?
Only Professor, Associate Professor and Assistant Professor count as faculty, and must be full-time. In government institutions, someone holding an Additional Professor post who meets all Professor requirements is deemed a Professor for all purposes, and a Reader meeting Associate Professor requirements is similarly deemed an Associate Professor.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 7.1
what is the difference between a junior resident and a senior resident in pg training?
Students pursuing a broad-specialty course (MD/MS) are called Junior Residents. Students pursuing a super-specialty (DM/MCh) course are called Senior Residents, and must already hold a PG degree in the relevant broad specialty.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 7.1
can a dnb trainee train in the same unit as an md ms student?
No — PG courses run by any other body, such as NBEMS (DNB), are not permitted to use the same units, teaching staff, and infrastructure as courses recognised under PGMER 2023.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 7.1
is there a separate research methodology course apart from the thesis?
Yes — every PG student must complete a separate online Research Methodology course (registered on the designated training-institution portal) in the first year and pass its certification exam. This certificate is a mandatory prerequisite for the final exam, distinct from the thesis requirement.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 5.2(xi)
does my college or the university conduct my final pg exam?
The medical college/institution conducts the Formative Assessment; the University conducts the Summative Assessment (the actual final exam). Both include Theory, Clinical/Practical, and Viva Voce components.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 8.1
how often can i attempt my pg university exam in a year?
The university can't hold more than two examinations a year for any subject, and there must be a gap of at least 4 and not more than 8 months between the two attempts.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 8.1
how many examiners assess a pg final exam, and can they all be internal?
A minimum of 4 examiners is required, of which at least 2 must be external, and at least one external examiner must be from a university outside the state. All examiners need at least 3 years' experience as a recognised PG guide.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 8.2(a)-(b)
can the same examiner be reappointed to examine a college's pg students every year?
No — an examiner cannot be appointed for more than two consecutive regular examinations at the same institution.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 8.2(c)
what happens if two examiners give very different marks on my pg answer script?
Every script is valuated twice; if the two evaluators' marks differ by 15% or more of the paper's total marks, it goes for a third valuation, and the average of the best two of the three totals (rounded off) is used for the final result.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 8.4(b)
can i request revaluation of my pg exam answer sheet?
No — once results are computed and declared, revaluation is not permitted under any circumstances.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 8.4(c)
are grace marks given in md ms pg exams?
No — no grace mark of any kind is permitted in postgraduate medical examinations, for either theory or practical.
Source: PGMER 2023, Evaluation Criteria, Ch. VIII, note (5)
does the pgmer 2023 dissertation marks weightage apply even if i started my course before the regulation came out?
Yes. NMC has clarified this marking scheme applies to all students appearing in the upcoming PG examination, regardless of when they began the course.
Source: NMC Clarification on PGMER 2023
how big a fine can nmc impose on a college for violating pg regulations?
A monetary penalty of up to Rs 1 crore for every single violation or act of omission committed by the institution.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 9.2(b)
can an individual doctor or hod be personally fined for false pg records?
Yes — up to Rs 5 lakh can be imposed on faculty, HOD, Dean, Director, or a doctor for submitting a false declaration, document, or record (including patients' records). They can also be separately charged with misconduct under the Professional Conduct Regulations.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 9.2(c)
do pg students in physiology or pharmacology still have to do animal experiments?
Yes, animal experimentation continues to be part of the required curriculum in these subjects, though non-animal, human-relevant teaching methods are encouraged wherever possible. Any animal use in research or thesis work must comply with the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, 1960.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 10.2
is the old pgmer 2000 regulation still valid now?
No — PGMER 2023 has formally repealed the Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2000, and the related 2000 rules on opening new PG courses/increasing seats. Actions already taken under the old rules remain protected under a saving clause.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 11.2-11.3
if the english and hindi versions of pgmer 2023 disagree, which one is legally binding?
The English version prevails in case of any doubt about interpretation.
Source: PGMER 2023, note following Clause 11.3
how is a pg student's stipend amount decided — can a private college pay less?
No — PG students in every institution, government or private, must be paid a stipend at par with the stipend paid to PG students in State or Central Government medical institutions located in that same State/UT.
Source: PGMER 2023, Clause 5.4
Related NMC Regulation FAQs
For more on PGMER 2023 and other NMC regulatory frameworks, see also:
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This article is for general informational purposes based on our reading of the notified regulations and does not constitute legal advice. Requirements can be amended by NMC from time to time — please verify current rules directly with the National Medical Commission before making decisions.