Maharashtra Scraps One-Year Rural Service Bond for MBBS Graduates
The Maharashtra government has abolished the mandatory one-year Social Responsibility Service (SRS) bond for MBBS students from medical colleges in the state, citing a shortage of government hospital positions for graduating candidates.
A Government Resolution (GR) issued on July 23 stated that the bond was originally introduced to enable MBBS graduates to repay society through service in return for subsidised medical education. However, with limited vacancies in government departments for SRS postings and the increasing number of medical colleges leading to a rise in graduates each year, the government decided to scrap the policy.
“Many candidates have been facing difficulties in fulfilling the eligibility criteria for admission to postgraduate medical degree courses. It has also been observed that newly passed candidates are completing social responsibility service only to qualify for postgraduate courses and are not providing medical services to their full capacity at the place of appointment. Besides, as freshers, they are not competent enough to provide emergency services,” the GR stated.
The government said the decision aimed to address challenges such as delays in service allotment, difficulties in pursuing postgraduate education, and administrative bottlenecks.
MBBS graduates whose SRS is currently underway will be required to complete their tenure. Medical graduates who have already paid penalties to opt out of SRS will not receive refunds. The GR also instructed the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) to close the online portal for SRS.
The policy change followed discussions at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on July 9 at Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai, where the Public Health Department submitted a proposal to reconsider the bond.
The SRS bond, introduced in 1960, required medical graduates from government medical colleges and students from private colleges who received fee concessions or scholarships to serve for one year at rural or government healthcare facilities before practising independently. Those who failed to complete the service or opted out had to pay penalties.
Doctors had opposed the bond, arguing it prevented them from pursuing higher studies without first completing a year of service. Several doctors’ associations, including the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), had raised concerns about the mismatch between the number of graduating students and available bonded posts.
“We welcome the move and request the government to improve primary health centre infrastructure and ensure the availability of residential facilities to encourage doctors to serve at PHCs. Even though there is no bond now, I request budding doctors to serve at the village level to strengthen our health system,” said Dr. Zeeshan Bagwan from ASMI.
The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) unit of MARD noted that MBBS seats had increased from around 4,500 in 2006 to over 11,000 in 2025, while government bond postings had not increased proportionately. In recent recruitment drives, only about 15-25% of applicants were recruited, leaving the majority of eligible doctors without government appointments despite their willingness to serve.
“This landmark decision will provide relief to thousands of MBBS graduates whose postgraduate education, employment and career progression were delayed due to the non-availability of bond postings,” Dr. Rutuja Raut, MARD president, said in a statement on July 25, 2026.
