India warns students in Uzbekistan that their medical degrees may not be recognized
India's National Medical Commission and Ministry of External Affairs urged citizens to verify that medical schools in Uzbekistan meet national standards; otherwise the degree may not be recognized in India.
India's National Medical Commission (NMC) and Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) urged citizens pursuing medical (MBBS) education in Uzbekistan to carefully verify that their chosen institution meets India's national medical-education standards. Graduates of programmes that fail to meet these requirements may be ineligible to practise medicine in India.
What are the requirements?
Under the NMC's foreign medical graduate (FMGL) regulations: at least 54 months of study at a single institution, a 12-month internship completed at the same institution, instruction in English, and no change of country or campus during the course. Splitting clinical training across different countries is prohibited.
Which institutions were named?
In its advisory the NMC specifically flagged Bukhara State Medical Institute, Samarkand State Medical University and the Termez branch of Tashkent State Medical University, along with an affiliated campus in India (a 'split-training' arrangement). The core objection is the splitting of study across different countries.
Why it matters
Many Indian students choose Uzbekistan because it is cheaper for MBBS. But on returning home they must pass the FMGE exam and also meet the NMC requirements above. According to The Tribune, this is not a new ruling — the NMC advisory was issued in April 2026, and the MEA reiterated it at a November 3 briefing. Indian enrollment is reported to have fallen from about 2,000 to around 200 (the figure is an estimate cited at the briefing).
