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New Delhi dated the 13th February,2002

No. MCI-203 (9)/2001-Regn/

In exercise of the powers conferred by section 33 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 (102 of
1956), the Medical Council of India, with the previous sanction of the Central Government, hereby
makes the following regulations, namely: –

In these Regulations, unless the context otherwise requires,-

“Act” means the Indian Medical Council Act,1956 (102 of 1956);
A) “Council” means the Medical Council of India constituted under section 3 of the Act;
b) “Permanent Registration” means registration for the purpose of enrolment on any State Medical
Register or Indian Medical Register after obtaining the Primary Medical qualification followed by
completion of such practical training as prescribed either in India or abroad as per the provisions
of the Act;
C) “Prescribed” means prescribed by regulations made under this Act;
D) “Prescribed Authority” means a medical institution or any other examining body authorized by the
Central Government/Medical Council of India to conduct Screening Test.
E) “Primary Medical qualification” means a medical qualification awarded by any medical institution
outside India which is a recognized qualification for enrolment as medical practitioner in the
country in which the institution awarding the said qualification is situated and which is equivalent
to MBBS in India;
F) “Provisional Registration” means provisional registration in a State Medical Register or Indian
Medical Register for the purpose of undergoing practical training in India as prescribed and for no
other purpose by an Indian citizen possessing any primary medical qualification but has not
undergone such practical training after obtaining that qualification as may be required by the rules
or regulations in force in the country granting the qualification;
G) “qualifying examination” means the examination to be qualified to become eligible for admission to
MBBS course in India as prescribed in the Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 1997.
H) “registration” means either Provisional Registration or Permanent Registration.

It is brought to the notice of all Indian Citizens possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by
any medical institution outside India who are desirous to getting Provisional or Permanent
Registration with the Medical Council of India or any State Medical Council on or after 15th
March,2002 that they shall have to qualify a Screening Test which will be conducted by the National
Board of Examinations, Ansari Nagar, New Delhi-110029, as per the provisions of the Indian Medical
Council Act,1956 (as amended) and the Screening Test Regulations,2002, which has been notified in
Part III Section 4 of the Gazette of India Extra-ordinary issue dated the 18th February,2002. The
Amendment Act and the Screening Test Regulations are available for reference in the MCI Website :
www.mciindia.org. The Screening Test will be conducted twice a year as per the Schedule of
Examination to be announced by the National Board of Examinations, New Delhi. There shall be three
papers of Multiple choice questions in pre-clinical, para-clinical and clinical medicine and its allied
subjects including Obstetrics. & Gynaecology. The language of the test shall be English. The test for
each paper will be of three hours duration. A candidate has to obtain a minimum of 50% marks in
each paper separately for passing the Screening Test. A candidate may avail of maximum of 3
chances (actual appearance) and if he does not qualify in the 3rd chance/appearance in the test, such
candidate will not be eligible for registration by the Council. No candidate shall be allowed to appear
in the Screening Test unless:

A) he/she is a citizen of India and possesses any primary medical qualification, either whose name and
the institution awarding it are included in the World Directory of Medical Schools, published by the
World Health Organisation; or which is confirmed by the Indian Embassy concerned to be a

recognised qualification for enrolment as medical practitioner in the country in which the
institution awarding the said qualification is situated;
B)  he/she had obtained ‘Eligibility Certificate’ from the Medical Council of India as per the Eligibility
Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a Foreign Medical
Institution Regulations,2002’. This requirement shall not be necessary in respect of Indian citizens
who have acquired the medical qualifications from foreign medical institutions or have obtained
admission in foreign medical institution before 15th March,2002.
This press note is published for general information. Further details may be obtained directly from the
office of the Medical Council of India, New Delhi.
Sd/
DR. M. Sachdeva
Secretary
Medical Council of India
MCI-203(9)/2001-Regn./

A) These regulations may be called the Screening Test Regulations, 2002.
B) They shall come into force on the date of their publication in the Official Gazette.

A) possessing a primary medical qualification awarded by any medical institution outside India who
is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with the Medical Council of India or
any State Medical Council on or after 15.03.2002 shall have to qualify a screening test conducted by
the prescribed authority for that purpose as per the provisions of section 13 of the Act: Provided
that a person seeking permanent registration shall not have to qualify the screening test if he/she
had already qualified the same before getting his/her provisional registration.

No person shall be allowed to appear in the screening test unless:
A)  he/she is a citizen of India and possesses any primary medical qualification, either whose name
and the institution awarding it are included in the World Directory of Medical Schools, published
by the World Health Organisation; or which is confirmed by the Indian Embassy concerned to be a
recognised qualification for enrolment as medical practitioner in the country in which the
institution awarding the said qualification is situated;
B)  he/she had obtained ‘Eligibility Certificate’ from the Medical Council of India as per the ‘Eligibility
Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a Foreign Medical
Institution Regulations, 2002’. This requirement shall not be necessary in respect of Indian citizens
who have acquired the medical qualifications from foreign medical institutions or have obtained
admission in foreign medical institution before 15th March, 2002.

A) The purpose of conducting the screening test shall be only to determine the eligibility or otherwise
of a candidate for his or her registration with the Medical Council of India or any State Medical
Council and qualifying the same shall not confer any other right, whatsoever, on a candidate.

A) regarding the Scheme for conducting the screening test and the syllabus of the test shall be
announced by the Medical Council of India from time to time for the information of the candidates.gistration with the Medical Council of India or any State Medical
Council and qualifying the same shall not confer any other right, whatsoever, on a candidate.

A) test shall be conducted twice every year as per the Schedule of examination announced by the
Prescribed Authority. The procedure of conducting the test shall be in accordance with the Scheme
announced by the Medical Council of India in this regard..

A) Be three papers of multiple choice questions in Pre-Clinical, Para-Clinical and Clinical Medicine and
its allied subjects including Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The language of the test shall be English.
The test for each paper will be of three hours duration.

A) Shall be declared as having passed only if he/she obtains a minimum of 50% (fifty percent) marks
in each paper separately. The minimum qualifying marks shall apply to all categories of candidates
without exception.

A) may avail of maximum three chances to appear and pass the test. Actual appearance at the test will
constitute an attempt. If he/she does not qualify even in his/her 3rd appearance in the test, the
candidate will not be eligible for registration by the Council or by any State Medical Council in
India..

A) Authority shall intimate the result of the Screening Test to the candidates as well as to the
Secretary, Medical Council of India and the State Medical Councils. The unsuccessful candidates
shall also be appropriately informed. The candidates who qualify the Screening Test may apply to
the Secretary, Medical Council of India, New Delhi or to any State Medical Council for provisional
registration/permanent registration along with the requisite registration fee in favour of
Secretary, Medical Council of India or the State Medical Council. The Medical Council of India or the
State Medical Councils shall issue provisional registration to such successful candidates, who are
yet to undergo one year internship in an approved institution and issue permanent registration to
such eligible candidates who have already undergone one year internship, as the case may be.
Sd/
DR. M. Sachdeva
Secretary
Medical Council of India

New Delhi dated the 15th March,2002

It is brought to the notice of Indian (citizens) students who are desirous of joining an Undergraduate
Medical Course (equivalent to MBBS in India) in any Foreign Medical Institution on or after the 15th
March,2002, that all such intending candidates shall have to approach the Medical Council of India,
Aiwan-E-Galib Marg, Kotla Road, New Delhi-110002 for issue of Eligibility Certificate for getting
admission to an Undergraduate Medical Course in any Foreign Medical Institution as per the
provisions of “Eligibility Requirement for taking admission in an undergraduate medical course in a
Foreign Medical Institution Regulations,2002” which has been notified in Part III Section 4 of the
Gazette of India Extra-ordinary issue dated the 18th February,2002. The application form for issue of
the Eligibility Certificate may be obtained from the Council office. The application form alongwith the
details required therein may be submitted to the Council alongwith the demand draft in favour of
Secretary, Medical Council of India, New Delhi, for the prescribed sum. It may be understood that
Eligibility Certificate will be issued by the Council only to such candidates who fulfill the criteria of age
of admission to the medical course and passing of qualifying examination (10+2 or equivalent or
higher qualification) with the required percentage of marks as prescribed in the Graduate Medical
Education Regulations,1997, copies of which are available in the Council office on payment of
Rs.100/-. The relevant extracts from these Regulations are also available on the Council’s Website. A candidate belonging to SC/ST/OBC has to produce a caste certificate from the competent authority.
Only after necessary verification, if the candidate fulfills the eligibility criteria, the Council shall issue
Eligibility Certificate to the candidate certifying that he/she is eligible to join a medical institution
outside India to obtain a primary medical qualification. No candidate who has obtained admission in a
Foreign Medical Institution on or after 15th March,2002 shall be permitted to sit for the Screening
Test, after obtaining the medical degree from abroad, for the purpose of his registration in India,
unless he produces the Eligibility Certificate issued by the Medical Council of India. Further details
may be obtained from the office of the Medical Council of India, New Delhi and also may be seen in
the website of the Council – www.mciindia.org.
Sd/
DR. M. Sachdeva
Secretary
Medical Council of India

New Delhi dated the 15th March,2002

Dated: 26th February,2002.

1. The Ambassador, Indian Embassy
2. The High Commissioner, Indian Embassy
3. Ambassador/High Commissioner of all Foreign Embassies in India Through Ministry of External
Affairs, Govt. of India, South Block, New Delhi.
Subject: Intimation regarding holding of Screening Test for Indian Citizens holding Foreign Medical
Qualifications and issue of Eligibility Certificate to Indian candidates going abroad for joining
undergraduate medical course in a foreign medical institution – Reg. Sir, This is to bring to your kind
notice that the Indian Medical Council Act,1956 has been amended by the Indian Medical Council
(Amendment) Act,2001 under which Regulations have been approved by the Central Govt. and
notified in the Gazette of India which provide broadly for the following.

1. No new primary medical qualification (equivalent to MBBS in India) granted by any medical
   institution outside India shall be included in the Schedules to the Indian Medical Council Act after
   coming into force of the Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act,2001 i.e. 3rd September, 2001.
2. A citizen of India possessing a primary medical qualification as defined in the enclosed Screening
   Test Regulations,2002 {para 2(f)}granted by any medical institution in any country outside India
   and who is desirous of getting provisional or permanent registration with the Medical Council of
   India or any State Medical Council on or after the 15th March,2002 shall have to qualify a screening
   test conducted by the prescribed authority.
3.  An Indian citizen seeking admission in a foreign medical institution for obtaining a primary medical
   qualification as defined in the enclosed Screening Test Regulations, 2002 {para 2(f)} on or after the
   15th March, 2002 shall be eligible to appear in the Screening Test only if he possesses the eligibility qualification as per the regulations framed by the MCI (for admission to MBBS course in India) – Extracts of Graduate Medical Education Regulations are enclosed for reference.
4. Any person who is desirous of joining an undergraduate medical course in any foreign medical institution on or after 15th March,2002 should approach the Medical Council of India, New Delhi for issue of Eligibility Certificate for that purpose as per the Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign Medical Institution Regulations,2002. All such candidates will be allowed to appear in the screening test only if they produce the eligibility certificate, after completion of the medical course abroad and if they are eligible to sit for the screening test as prescribed in the Screening Test Regulations,2002.

A copy each of the following documents are sent herewith for information and necessary action:-

1. Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act,2001 (published in the Gazette of India Extra-ordinary
   issue dated 3rd September,2001).
2. The Screening Test Regulations,2002 (published in the Gazette of India Extra-ordinary issue dated
   the 18th February,2002).
3.  The Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign
   Medical Institution Regulations,2002.
4. Extracts of Graduate Medical Education Regulations – Regarding Eligibility requirement for
   admission to medical course in India.

A copy each of the following documents are sent herewith for information and necessary action:-

1. Indian Medical Council (Amendment) Act,2001 (published in the Gazette of India Extra-ordinary
   issue dated 3rd September,2001).
2.  The Screening Test Regulations,2002 (published in the Gazette of India Extra-ordinary issue dated
   the 18th February,2002).
3.  The Eligibility Requirement for Taking Admission in an Undergraduate Medical Course in a Foreign
   Medical Institution Regulations,2002.
4.  Extracts of Graduate Medical Education Regulations – Regarding Eligibility requirement for
   admission to medical course in India.
   It is requested that wide publicity may please be given to all Foreign medical institutions conducting
   medical courses leading to the award of primary medical qualification as defined in the enclosed
   Screening Test Regulations,2002 {para 2(f)} (equivalent to MBBS) in the foreign country concerned
   as well as the concerned Ministries/departments of the Govt. of the foreign country, the concerned
   Medical Council or equivalent authority for recognition of medical qualifications/grant of permission to
   practice medicine in that country so that all Indian students already undergoing training/medical
   course for obtaining primary medical qualification in any institution in the foreign country are properly
   apprised of the Regulations so that they may approach the prescribed authority for appearing in the
   screening test only if they fulfill the requirements prescribed in the Regulations and the scheme for
   conducting the screening test. It will be appreciated if an acknowledgement is sent to this Council along with a report on action taken, for the information of this Council. The above details are also available in the MCI website: www.mciindia.org.

Yours Faithfully
Sd/
DR. M. Sachdeva
Secretary
Medical Council of India

New Delhi dated the 8th October,2008

The Eligibility Certificate requirement from students passing out from Manipal College of Medical
Sciences, Pokhra and Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhiarahwa, Nepal

On 3.9.2001, the Indian Medical Council Amendment Act was passed by the Parliament incorporating
certain provisions of the Act including Section 13(4)A and 13(4)B providing for issuance of eligibility
certificate before admission of Indian students in medical institutions abroad and qualifying screening
test after obtaining the medical qualification by the candidates coming back with medical qualification
from abroad.
The Central Govt. in accordance with the provisions of the Amendment Act had specified the cut off
date as 15.3.2002 whereof any candidate seeking either provisional or permanent registration under
the provisions of the Act shall be required to qualify in the screening test.
In January 2007, the Ministry of Health, Government of India had asked the MCI to conduct
inspections of the medical institutions in Nepal. Manipal College of Medical Sciences, Pokhra, Nepal
and Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhiarahwa, Nepal had been inspected by the MCI. In the
case of Manipal College of Medical Sciences, it was observed that this college had been recognized
under section 12 of the IMC Act in 2001 for 100 MBBS admissions annually. It transpired that without
seeking any further permission from the MCI/Government of India, this college at Nepal had started
making 150 admissions annually and when it was recognized for 100 MBBS admissions annually. It
was further observed that the infrastructural, teaching and other facilities at both of these colleges at
Nepal had been found to be deficient even for 100 MBBS admissions annually.

Under these circumstances, MCI was compelled to recommend to the Government of India to de-
recognize both these private medical institutions at Nepal and till such time this process of de-
recognition is completed, the candidates from these two colleges will be required to qualify in the

Screening Test.
Candidates from these two private medical colleges had approached the Hon’ble Delhi High Court,
challenging the imposition of the condition of qualifying in the Screening Test, decided by the MCI for
them. It was with reference to the candidates in these two writ petitions who have obtained their
medical qualifications from medical institutions in Nepal, that the Council was required to have a

closer look at the provisions of the Act, from this perspective and in the background of Section 12 of
the Act.
On behalf of the MCI, it was submitted before the Delhi High Court that the Council was having the
perception as if the provisions of the Eligibility Certificate Regulations and Screening Test Regulations
are applicable to the candidates who secure medical qualifications from institutions abroad which are
included in Part-II of the III Schedule relatable to Section 13 of the Act.
On a further examination of the relevant facts, the provisions of the Act including the amendments
carried out in the year 2001, the provisions of the regulations dated 18.02.2002, i.e., Screening Test
Regulations and Eligibility Certificate Regulations relatable to Section 13(4)A and 13(4)B of the Act, it
has been observed that a careful and correct reading of the provisions of the Act and the regulations
do stipulate that all the Indian citizens who secure primary medical qualification (MBBS) from any
foreign medical institution which is either included in the Schedule-II or included in Part-II of the IIIrd
Schedule shall be required to qualify the screening test under the provisions of the Screening Test
Regulations.
The only exception which has been made is with regard to the temporary permissions which are
granted by the MCI for the purposes of research, medical services for charitable and philanthropic
purposes under the provisions of Section-14 of the Act. It was submitted before the High Court that
there seems to be a bonafide, however, an erroneous understanding of the requirements of the
provisions of the IMC (Amendment) Act, 2001 and the Screening Test Regulations. The requirement
of law gets clear on the proper reading and understanding of the above-mentioned statutory position
under the Act. It would neither depend on the affidavit(s) of any authority, Govt. of India etc. nor would
it be dependent upon the erroneous impression or understanding of any authority including the
Council. In any case, the ultimate analysis and interpretation shall be within the exclusive jurisdiction
of the Hon’ble Courts requiring the concerned authorities to abide by it.
It is the belief of the Council that a bonafide erroneous impression of the correct meaning and
interpretation of the above-mentioned provisions of the Act and the regulations made thereunder
understood and adopted by the Council – can always be put to an alteration / modification on having,
once again, in a bonafide manner, to adopt a different point of view at a later occasion-on account of
better understanding on the same subject and when this understanding appears to be more
appropriate for appreciating the meaning and applicability of a law for achieving the purposes sought
to be achieved.
In view of above, the members of the Adhoc Committee appointed by the Hon’ble Supreme Court and
of the Executive Committee of the Council decided that careful reading of Section 13(4)A – i.e. that “A
person who is a citizen of India and obtains medical qualification granted by any medical institution in
any country outside India recognized for enrolment as medical practitioner in that country after such
date as may be specified by the Central Government under sub-section (3), shall not be entitled to be
enrolled on any Medical Register maintained by a State Medical Council or to have his name entered
in the Indian Medical Register unless he qualified the screening test in India prescribed for such
purpose and such foreign medical qualification after such person qualifies that said screening test

shall be deemed to be the recognized medical qualification for the purposes of this Act for that
person” makes it clear that it is applicable to all the candidates who are Indian citizens and who have
secured a medical qualification from a foreign medical institution and thus it is applicable to all the
candidates acquiring a foreign medical qualification either u/s 12 (Schedule-II) or Section 13
(Schedule-III) of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956.
In so far as the above-mentioned two private medical colleges viz. Manipal College of Medical
Sciences, Pokhra, Nepal and Universal College of Medical Sciences, Bhiarahwa, Nepal, are
concerned, it is clarified that the candidates passing out MBBS from these two colleges will become
entitled for registration under the provisions of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, only upon
qualifying in the Screening Test.
It is further made clear that henceforth all those Indian students who are desirous of seeking
admission in any foreign medical institution, shall be required to obtain an “Eligibility Certificate” from
the MCI under the Eligibility Certificate Regulations 2002, before they are admitted in any foreign
medical institution whether recognized under section 12 or under section 13 of the Indian Medical
Council Act, 1956.
The issue regarding qualifying in the Screening Test for all those candidates who have obtained
medical qualification from the foreign medical institutions recognized under section 12 of the Indian
Medical Council Act decided by the Executive Committee of the Council in March 2008, shall be
placed before the General Body of the Council for seeking its approval for the enforcement of this
requirement.
Accordingly, the earlier Press Note on this website of the MCI, stating that the provisions of Eligibility
Certificate Regulations 2002 and the Screening Test Regulations 2002 will not be applicable to the
foreign medical institutions recognized under section 12 of the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956 –
stands withdrawn with immediate effect.

[Lt. Col. (Dr.) A.R.N. Setalvad (Retd.)]
Secretary, MCI