The National Medical Commission (NMC) has clarified that research papers or poster presentations made by postgraduate medical students at National or State-level Indian Medical Association (IMA) conferences will be recognized as valid academic contributions for eligibility to appear in university examinations.
This clarification was issued by NMC Chairperson Dr. Abhijat Sheth in response to a query raised by the Indian Medical Association (IMA) regarding a perceived restriction in the Postgraduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023.
IMA Gujarat Raises Concern
On August 5, 2025, the Gujarat State branch of IMA wrote to Dr. Sheth, highlighting that IMA and its state branches frequently organize large-scale conferences attended by thousands of delegates and faculty members. These conferences, the association argued, offer postgraduate students and junior doctors significant opportunities to present their research.
The letter pointed out that under the previous Medical Council of India (MCI) guidelines, presentations at IMA conferences were considered valid for university exam eligibility. However, the PGMER 2023 notification issued by NMC on December 29, 2023, seemed to restrict recognition only to specialty conferences.
IMA Gujarat cited Clause 5.2 of PGMER 2023, which states that postgraduate degree students must fulfill at least one of the following criteria to qualify for their final examination:
- Poster presentation at a national, zonal, or state-level conference in their specialty;
- Podium presentation at a national, zonal, or state-level conference in their specialty;
- Publication or acceptance of a research paper in a journal of their specialty as first author.
The association, therefore, urged NMC to formally recognize research presentations at IMA-organized conferences, noting that these events serve as vital platforms for medical students.
NMC’s Clarification
Responding to IMA Gujarat President Dr. Mehul J. Shah, NMC Chairperson Dr. Sheth confirmed that the PGMER-2023 provisions are specialty-specific rather than organization-specific.
In his letter dated August 27, 2025, Dr. Sheth wrote:
“Your request was examined in the concerned Board of the National Medical Commission. It has been clarified that as per PGMER-2023, the amendment is only specialty-specific and not organization-specific. Hence, if a student presents a research paper or poster at a National or State IMA conference in their specialty’s allotted session, it will be considered valid for university exam eligibility.”
This clarification ensures that postgraduate medical students can continue to present and publish their work at IMA’s conferences without affecting their eligibility for final examinations.
