IIT Kharagpur: Medical Studies to Begin at IIT Kharagpur – When Will the First Session Start?

IIT Kharagpur has become the first IIT in the country to launch a postgraduate medical degree program recognized by the National Medical Commission (NMC). The institute will commence these courses from the 2026-27 academic session.

IIT Kharagpur, the country’s oldest and first IIT, has taken a historic step in the field of medicine. The West Bengal-based institute has become the first IIT in India to introduce a postgraduate medical degree program accredited by the NMC. The institute has announced that it will begin admissions for a total of 12 MD seats across 6 specializations, starting from the 2026-27 academic session. Coming in the 75th year since its establishment in 1951, this initiative marks a significant shift toward integrating medical science, engineering, and artificial intelligence under one roof. Admissions for these courses will be conducted through the second round of the NEET-PG 2026 online counseling process.

Where will the studies take place?

According to Professor Suman Chakraborty, Director of IIT Kharagpur, these postgraduate medical programs will be conducted at the institute’s Dr. B. C. Roy Multispecialty Medical Research Centre. A partnership has also been established with the South Eastern Railway Hospital in Kharagpur to facilitate clinical training.

What is the breakdown of the seats?

A total of 12 seats have been allocated across 6 MD programs at IIT Kharagpur, with two seats designated for each specialization. This includes 2 seats each in General Medicine, Radiology, Physiology, Pathology, Community Medicine, and Biochemistry. In total, the program will commence with these 12 seats. A notable feature of these programs is that the tuition fees for these postgraduate (PG) medical seats, as well as the stipends provided to students, will be structured along the lines of AIIMS (All India Institute of Medical Sciences).

What is the admission process?

Admission to these seats will be conducted through the online process managed by the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC). During the choice-filling phase of the second round of NEET PG 2026 counselling, eligible candidates must select the option: "Dr. B. C. Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre, Kharagpur (under the aegis of IIT Kharagpur)."

Integrating medical education with technology

The primary objective of IIT Kharagpur is not merely to train expert doctors, but to develop "physician-scientists"—individuals who possess both clinical acumen and the capability to conduct research and innovate new technologies. Through this program, medical students will have the opportunity to engage in research across cutting-edge fields such as AI-assisted clinical decision-making, advanced medical imaging, computational pathology, biomedical devices, molecular diagnostics, and precision medicine. This initiative is considered a significant step toward providing affordable, accessible, and technology-enabled healthcare services—aligning with the goal of a 'Viksit Bharat 2047' (Developed India 2047).