Can MBBS Graduates From Pakistan, Bangladesh And Nepal Work As Doctors In India? Here’s What Govt Says – News18

Last Updated:April 07, 2025, 17:43 IST

MBBS degrees from Pakistan are not recognised in India, while those from Bangladesh and Nepal remain valid. Citizens with Pakistani degrees need security clearance to practice in India.

As competition for MBBS seats remains fierce, thousands of aspiring doctors continue to seek medical degrees abroad, often turning to neighbouring countries like Bangladesh, Nepal and Pakistan. However, a recent clarification by the Centre drew a clear line on the validity of these foreign degrees, leaving no ambiguity about which medical qualifications will be recognised in India.

During a recent session of Parliament, a pointed enquiry by Lok Sabha member Aga Syed Ruhullah Mehdi brought the issue into the national spotlight. The MP questioned whether MBBS degrees obtained from Pakistan, Bangladesh, and Nepal would be valid for medical practice in India.

Responding on behalf of the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Minister of State Anupriya Patel firmly stated that MBBS degrees obtained from Pakistan are not recognised in India. As per a notification by the National Medical Commission (NMC) dated April 28, 2022, Indian citizens or Overseas Citizens of India (OCI) who pursue any medical course, including MBBS and BDS, from institutions in Pakistan are  ineligible to appear for Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) or seek employment in the medical sector within the country.

However, the minister clarified that exemptions apply in limited cases. Migrants and their children who have received Indian citizenship and acquired their medical degrees in Pakistan may be permitted to appear for FMGE or NEXT (National Exit Test), but only after receiving security clearance from the Ministry of Home Affairs.

The same exception also applies to citizens who secured admission to Pakistani medical institutions before or after December 2018, provided they obtained the necessary clearance from the Home Ministry.

Bangladesh and Nepal Degrees Remain Valid

In contrast, degrees earned from medical institutions in Bangladesh and Nepal continue to be recognised in India. The government confirmed that students who study in these countries under official agreements, including those tied to SAARC (South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation) frameworks, are eligible to sit for the FMGE or NEXT exams required for medical licensure in India.

This position aligns with earlier advisories issued in 2022 by the University Grants Commission (UGC) and the All India Council for Technical Education (AICTE), which had warned students against enrolling in Pakistani universities. The warning followed inter-ministerial consultations involving the Ministry of External Affairs, Ministry of Home Affairs, and the National Medical Commission.

Media reports at the time had cited security concerns, with officials alleging that Pakistan’s educational sponsorship programs were being misused for activities linked to terrorist financing.