To support medical interns, the Bihar government has announced an increase in the monthly stipend for students pursuing MBBS, BDS, AYUSH courses, and Foreign Medical Graduates (FMG) undergoing mandatory internships at state-run medical colleges. The new stipend amount has been fixed at Rs 27,000 per month, up from the earlier Rs 20,000.
This enhancement is applicable to interns at various government medical institutions, including Patna Medical College, Patna Dental College, and other affiliated institutes across Bihar. Alongside this, Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy interns will continue to receive a monthly stipend of Rs 20,000 as per the government’s latest declaration.
The decision follows protests by the MBBS interns at Patna Medical College and Hospital (PMCH), who had been demanding a significant raise in their stipend, initially receiving around Rs 20,000 monthly. Their protests included threats to disrupt outpatient services, emphasizing the urgent need for financial relief amidst rising living costs. They had sought a revision up to Rs 40,000 per month, pointing out that the previous increase had occurred in 2022, with a commitment for another revision after three years.
Comparatively, MBBS interns at Bihar’s other government medical colleges earned approximately Rs 19,600 monthly, while those at premier institutes like IGIMS and AIIMS received Rs 30,000 and Rs 32,000 respectively. The disparity was further highlighted by stipend rates in neighboring states, where West Bengal and Odisha interns receive Rs 43,000 and Rs 40,000 per month.
With the latest hike, Bihar aims to improve the financial conditions of its medical interns, although calls for further adjustments to match interstate standards continue.
