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Online classes and a medical degree from China: India's notices in date order

Sources checked · Unofficial summary

For students from India, the answer depends on which document is cited. India's National Medical Commission has said in a notice dated 8 February 2022 that it does not recognise or approve medical courses done only by online mode. Its FAQs on the 2021 Regulations and of 8 June 2026 set out separate conditions for online study and for compensatory training, and this page describes each document in date order on this register's section page.

The three documents at a glance

Document Date Group it addresses
Notice File No. NMC/US(NMC)/Misc/2022-96, National Medical Commission (India) 8 February 2022 Prospective students seeking admission to universities in China
FAQ on the National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021, Q18 Date not printed on Q18 in the copy used here Foreign medical graduates (FMGs) covered by the 2021 Regulations
FAQ No. U-15024/15/2024-UGMEB(Pt), National Medical Commission (India) 8 June 2026 FMGs whose study was affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or the Ukraine-Russia war

The notice of 8 February 2022

The notice, File No. NMC/US(NMC)/Misc/2022-96, is headed "University admissions in China". Its first paragraph says that a few universities in China had started issuing notices for admission to MBBS programmes for the current and upcoming academic years.

Paragraph 2 describes the position at the date of the notice. It says the Chinese government had imposed strict travel restrictions because of COVID-19 and had suspended all visas since November 2020. It says many international students, including Indian students, had not been able to return to China, and that there had been no relaxation of the restrictions so far. It also says the Chinese authorities had earlier conveyed that courses would be conducted online. This page reports that as the situation the notice described in February 2022.

Paragraph 3 is the rule on online-only courses. It reads: "As per the extant rules, National Medical Commission does not recognize or approve medical courses done only by online mode."

Paragraph 4 advises students to refer to the FMGE Regulations before applying or planning to seek admission in any institutions in China or in foreign institutions. Paragraph 5 advises students to exercise due diligence in choosing where to pursue medical education.

The 2021 Regulations and who they cover

The National Medical Commission (Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate) Regulations, 2021 were published in the Gazette of India on 18 November 2021. Under regulation 5(1)(a) and (b), those regulations do not apply to foreign medical graduates who acquired a foreign medical degree before the regulations came into force, or to candidates who were pursuing their education in foreign institutions before that date. Q2 and Q4 of the Commission's FAQ give 18 November 2021 as the date the regulations came into force. Under regulation 5(2), those people are governed by the erstwhile applicable regulations.

Schedule I, paragraph 2(iii) sets a location condition for a foreign primary medical qualification. It says the entire course, training and internship or clerkship shall be done outside India in the same foreign medical institution throughout the course of study. It also says no part of the medical training and internship shall be done in India, or in any country other than the country from which the primary medical qualification is obtained.

Q18 of the FAQ on the 2021 Regulations

The FAQ carries this disclaimer: "These FAQs are in the nature of explanation for ease of understanding of the general public and cannot be upheld in a court of law. Please refer to the relevant gazette notifications for legal validity."

Q18 asks what the provisions are on online classes. Its answer says that foreign medical graduates "are allowed to undergo online classes of theory subjects only and supplemented by offline practical and clinical training done in the Medical University and its affiliated Hospital during the course of MBBS." It adds that they "are also required to furnish Certificate of successful completion for the same."

Paragraph 3 of the 2022 notice and Q18 address the same subject at different dates. This page gives each with its own date.

The FAQ of 8 June 2026

Its purpose

The FAQ, No. U-15024/15/2024-UGMEB(Pt) of 8 June 2026, was based on queries raised by foreign medical students and State Medical Councils about the Public Notice of 18 March 2026. Q1 says that Public Notice was issued to clarify the implementation of the Public Notice of 7 December 2023. Q1 describes its subject as the verification and recognition of compensatory physical training undertaken by FMGs during the period affected by the COVID-19 pandemic or the Ukraine-Russia war. Q1 also says the Public Notice of 18 March 2026 "does not create any new category of eligibility or confer any additional relief beyond what is already permissible under the applicable regulations and earlier NMC Public Notices."

Q2 says the Public Notice of 18 March 2026 does not supersede the Public Notice of 7 December 2023. It says the later notice "shall be read in conjunction with" the earlier one and other relevant notifications.

The FAQ's disclaimer says its answers "shall not be construed as creating any right, entitlement, exemption, or relaxation beyond the provisions contained in the applicable Acts, Regulations, Guidelines, Public Notices, and decisions of the competent authority." It also says that if the FAQs and the statutory provisions are inconsistent, "the latter shall prevail."

How long compensation must be

Q4 asks whether the compensation classes must be as long as the online classes. Its answer says that appropriate decisions "may be taken by concerned State Medical Councils" under the relevant notifications and guidelines. It then says that the requirement is that "any period of medical course that has been carried out by the FMGs through online mode is required to be compensated." Q4 adds that by "Any period", the Commission intends the period of study through "Online Mode".

The compensation certificate

Q11 asks whether issuing a compensation certificate automatically entitles an FMG to registration. The answer is no. Q11 says a compensation certificate "is one of the documents that may be considered during verification." It says grant of provisional registration, permanent registration, internship, or any other benefit remains subject to compliance with the applicable NMC Regulations and Public Notices and to verification of all relevant records by the concerned State Medical Council.

Questions people ask

What did the notice of 8 February 2022 say about online-only courses?

Paragraph 3 of the notice says: "As per the extant rules, National Medical Commission does not recognize or approve medical courses done only by online mode." Paragraph 4 separately advises students to refer to the FMGE Regulations before applying or planning to seek admission in institutions in China or in foreign institutions.

Does Q18 of the FAQ on the 2021 Regulations allow online classes?

Q18 says foreign medical graduates are allowed to undergo online classes of theory subjects only, supplemented by offline practical and clinical training done in the Medical University and its affiliated Hospital during the course of MBBS. It also says they are required to furnish a Certificate of successful completion for the same.

Does a compensation certificate entitle a student to registration automatically?

No. Q11 of the FAQ of 8 June 2026 says a compensation certificate is one of the documents that may be considered during verification. It says any registration or other benefit remains subject to the applicable NMC Regulations, Public Notices, and verification by the concerned State Medical Council.

Sources

Checked 11 October 2026.

This page is an unofficial summary. It is not legal, medical or professional-licensing advice, it is not published by the bodies named, and it promises no admission, examination or registration outcome. The official text and the regulator's own instructions prevail if they differ.

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