National Medical Commission proposes single licence for doctors to practice across India

Governance & Social Justice (Health) · 21 August 2026 · Based on The Hindu (original report)

2-minute summary

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed the draft 'Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026'. The core reform is a unified registration system where a medical practitioner, once registered with a State Medical Council and allotted a Unique Identification (UID) number, can practice nationwide without needing separate state licenses. The system will be managed through a central portal under the NMC's Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB). While State Medical Councils will continue to process applications and maintain primary disciplinary jurisdiction, automatic electronic synchronization will link state registers with the National Medical Register (NMR). Licenses will remain valid for five years, with a three-month grace period for renewal, failing which the status becomes 'inactive'. The draft also streamlines the appeal process for rejected applications and updates provisions for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs).

Why it's in the news

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has notified the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026. This draft proposes a landmark 'One Nation, One Licence' system for doctors to practice across India using a Unique Identification (UID) number.

Background and context

Historically, medical registration in India has been highly decentralized. Under the Indian Medical Council Act, 1956, doctors were required to register with individual State Medical Councils (SMCs) to practice within specific state boundaries. Relocating or practicing across state borders necessitated fresh registrations, leading to administrative delays, duplicate fees, and a lack of a centralized, real-time database of active doctors. To address these inefficiencies and reform medical education, the National Medical Commission (NMC) Act, 2019, was enacted, replacing the Medical Council of India (MCI). The NMC was mandated to maintain a National Medical Register (NMR). The proposed 2026 amendment regulations aim to fully operationalize this mandate by introducing a single-licence system linked to a UID, ensuring seamless doctor mobility and enhanced transparency.

Constitutional provisions

• Seventh Schedule (List III - Concurrent List, Entry 26) — Covers 'Legal, medical and other professions', giving both the Union and State governments the power to legislate on and regulate medical practice.
• Article 19(1)(g) — Guarantees the right to practice any profession, or to carry on any occupation, trade or business across India, which this reform facilitates by removing state-level barriers for doctors.

Committees and reports

• Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health and Family Welfare (92nd Report) — Highlighted systemic failures in the Medical Council of India (MCI) and recommended a complete restructuring of medical regulation, which laid the groundwork for the creation of the NMC and centralized registration.

Government schemes

• Ayushman Bharat Digital Mission (ABDM) — The National Medical Register (NMR) acts as a core registry within the digital health ecosystem, ensuring that only verified medical professionals provide services under ABDM.

Mains practice: The National Medical Commission's proposal for a single nationwide license for doctors is a step towards 'One Nation, One Register'. Analyze the potential benefits and challenges of this reform on India's healthcare delivery and federal structure.

The National Medical Commission's (NMC) draft Regulations, 2026, propose a unified registration system where a doctor allotted a Unique Identification (UID) number can practice nationwide without separate state licenses. This shift from a fragmented state-by-state licensing system to a centralized framework carries significant implications.

**Potential Benefits:**

• **Enhanced Mobility and Ease of Practice:** Doctors can practice across state borders or offer telemedicine services nationwide without undergoing tedious, repetitive registration processes and paying multiple state fees.

• **Real-Time Centralized Database:** The National Medical Register (NMR) will act as a single source of truth, tracking active/inactive licenses, blacklisted practitioners, and disciplinary actions, thereby reducing quackery and improving transparency.

• **Cooperative Federalism:** The model balances central coordination with state execution. State Medical Councils (SMCs) retain the primary power to scrutinize applications, grant registrations, and exercise disciplinary jurisdiction.

• **Better Healthcare Distribution:** It facilitates the seamless deployment of medical professionals to underserved or disaster-hit states during emergencies.

**Key Challenges:**

• **Federal Friction:** Some states may perceive the centralized UID and the overriding powers of the NMC's Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) in appeals as an encroachment on state autonomy.

• **Digital Infrastructure Integration:** Seamless, real-time electronic synchronization between diverse state databases and the central NMR is critical and requires robust IT infrastructure.

• **Disciplinary Coordination:** Managing cross-border disciplinary actions, where misconduct occurs in a state other than the primary registering state, may lead to jurisdictional friction.

**Conclusion:**

The 'One Nation, One Register' initiative is a progressive reform that streamlines medical practice in India. To ensure its success, the Union government must work collaboratively with State Medical Councils to build robust digital infrastructure and address federal concerns, ensuring a transparent and highly mobile medical workforce.

Prelims practice questions

Q1. Regarding the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, consider the following statements: 1. Once a doctor is allotted a Unique Identification (UID) number, they do not require separate registration to practice in another State. 2. The primary disciplinary jurisdiction over professional misconduct remains with the National Medical Commission rather than the State Medical Councils. Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

1. 1 only
2. 2 only
3. Both 1 and 2
4. Neither 1 nor 2

Answer: A. Statement 1 is correct as the draft proposes a single nationwide license. Statement 2 is incorrect because the draft leaves disciplinary jurisdiction primarily with the State Medical Council in whose territorial jurisdiction the alleged professional misconduct or negligence occurred.

Q2. Under the proposed NMC regulations of 2026, what is the validity period of a license to practice medicine, and what is the grace period for renewal before the registration is marked 'inactive'?

1. 3 years validity, 6 months grace period
2. 10 years validity, 1 year grace period
3. 5 years validity, 3 months grace period
4. Lifetime validity, no renewal required

Answer: C. The proposal retains the five-year validity of a license. If a doctor does not apply for license renewal within three months of expiry, the registration will be marked inactive.

Q3. Which of the following bodies is empowered to allot the Unique Identification (UID) number to medical practitioners under the proposed NMC draft regulations?

1. Medical Assessment and Rating Board (MARB)
2. National Board of Examinations (NBE)
3. Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB)
4. State Medical Council of the respective state

Answer: C. According to the draft regulations, the Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB) of the National Medical Commission is responsible for allotting the Unique Identification (UID) number.

Revision flashcards

• What is the primary objective of the draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations, 2026? To establish a unified national registration system (UID) allowing doctors to practice nationwide without needing separate state licenses.
• Which organ of the National Medical Commission (NMC) is responsible for allotting the Unique Identification (UID) number to doctors? The Ethics and Medical Registration Board (EMRB).
• Under the proposed 2026 regulations, which body retains the primary disciplinary jurisdiction in cases of professional misconduct or medical negligence? The State Medical Council within whose territorial jurisdiction the alleged misconduct or negligence occurred.
• What happens if a doctor fails to renew their medical license within three months of its five-year expiry date? The registration is marked as 'inactive' in the National Medical Register, and the practitioner is not entitled to practice medicine.
• Under the Seventh Schedule of the Indian Constitution, which list governs the regulation of the medical profession? List III (Concurrent List), Entry 26, which allows both the Centre and States to legislate on legal, medical, and other professions.