NMC has proposed draft amendments to simplify registration for Armed Forces Medical Services doctors, allowing them to register with one State Medical Council and practice across India. It removes multiple registration requirements, ensures validity of qualifications nationwide, prevents licence lapses due to delays, and sets misconduct jurisdiction rules. Stakeholders can submit feedback by May 7

New Delhi: The National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued draft amendments to the regulations governing registration and licensing of medical practitioners, proposing special provisions for doctors serving in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS), according to a notification.

The draft titled "Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment), Regulations 2026", published in the Gazette on April 7, seeks to amend the 2023 regulations by introducing enabling provisions for greater operational flexibility for AFMS doctors.

According to the proposal, medical practitioners commissioned in AFMS will be allowed to register with any one State Medical Council of their choice at the time of joining service and will be authorised to practise across all states and Union Territories by virtue of their service obligations.

Under the present rules, doctors are required to register and seek a licence in the state where they intend to practice. However, AFMS doctors are frequently transferred which leads to administrative challenges as they have to to undertake multiple registrations, including payment of registration fees.