National Medical Commission proposes single licence for doctors to practise across India
Once the State Medical Council grants registration and the Ethics and Medical Registration Board allots the Unique Identification (UID) number, a doctor will not require fresh registration or a separate licence to practise in another State or Union Territory
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed a unified licensing system for medical practitioners across India. Under the proposed system, a doctor registered with a State Medical Council and given a Unique Identification (UID) number in the National Medical Register would be able to practice in any State or Union Territory without needing separate registration or a licence.
The draft Regulations, notified by the NMC on August 11, 2026, seek to amend the 2023 rules governing doctor registration and licensing. The system would involve a single online portal for registration and licensing, with information from both the State Medical Register and the National Medical Register updated simultaneously. The UID would combine the State/Union Territory code with the practitioner's State Medical Register number.
The National Medical Register would also track disciplinary actions against doctors. The five-year validity of a licence would remain, with renewal required within three months of expiry or the registration marking inactive. The proposal retains disciplinary jurisdiction primarily with the State Medical Council in the relevant jurisdiction.
An appeal mechanism is also in place for rejected registration applications. The draft also updates provisions for foreign medical graduates, extending temporary registration for postgraduate or super-speciality courses from 12 months to up to 24 months, followed by a one-year cooling-off period.
Written by urgent.news from The Hindu - Sci-Tech's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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