Centre considers revision of MBBS internship stipend after cycle break
The Union Health Ministry is examining a proposal to revise the stipend for MBBS interns at central government medical colleges and AIIMS institutions, according to a response to a Right to Information (RTI) application. This follows a break in the two-year revision cycle that had been maintained for the previous six years.
Health Ministry records show that the stipend was revised from Rs 23,500 per month effective January 1, 2018, to Rs 26,300 from January 1, 2020, and to Rs 30,070 from January 1, 2022. No revision has been announced since then, marking the first interruption in the biennial pattern.
In its June 15 reply to the RTI application, the ministry stated: "The matter involves a policy decision and is presently under consideration within the ministry. The proposal is under review, vetting and administrative examination by the competent authorities." The ministry declined to disclose file notings, committee observations and inter-departmental consultations, citing Section 8(1)(i) of the RTI Act, which exempts records related to an ongoing decision-making process until a final decision is taken.
MBBS interns form a critical part of the healthcare workforce in government hospitals, assisting in outpatient departments, emergency services, wards and public health programmes while completing their compulsory rotatory internship training.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has repeatedly flagged concerns over non-payment and unequal payment of stipends across medical colleges and directed institutions to ensure timely payment to interns and resident doctors.
Medical students' groups have long sought periodic revision of stipends, arguing that rising living costs and wide variations in payments across institutions have increased the financial burden on interns despite similar workloads.
Although the ministry has not indicated the likely quantum of any increase or a timeline for a decision, the RTI reply confirms that the issue is formally under consideration within the government.
