The Gujarat government has officially approved a monthly stipend of ₹21,840 for Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) undergoing mandatory internships in the state. The announcement was made by the Minister of State for Health, Praful Pansheriya. The decision brings the stipend available to overseas medical graduates in line with the amount received by domestic MBBS interns in Gujarat. For years, FMG interns in the state had been working without financial compensation while local graduates received monthly support. This approval addresses that long-standing financial disparity and marks a significant step for foreign medical graduates completing their compulsory internships in Gujarat.
Gujarat Approves ₹21,840 Monthly Stipend for FMG Interns
The approved stipend amount is ₹21,840 per month. The decision applies to FMGs completing their compulsory rotatory internships across Government Medical Colleges and GMERS (Gujarat Medical Education and Research Society) Medical Colleges in Gujarat. Approximately 350 foreign medical graduates are expected to directly benefit from the rollout. The financial support applies to eligible candidates who received internship postings through the Gujarat Medical Council during multiple recent posting windows. The batches specifically covered include candidates who commenced their internships on:
- 15 December 2025
- 1 June 2026
- 1 October 2026
This means that FMG interns from three different batch cycles will now receive the same monthly support that domestic MBBS interns have been receiving.
FMG Internship Stipend and NMC Guidelines
The stipend decision is linked to guidelines formulated by the National Medical Commission (NMC). Students who complete an MBBS-equivalent degree from universities abroad are required to complete a mandatory one-year internship in India to register and practise medicine legally. According to the information provided, NMC guidelines state that FMGs should receive stipends equal to Indian Medical Graduates (IMGs), while implementation at the local level is left to individual state authorities. Gujarat’s decision therefore brings the stipend for eligible FMG interns to the same level as the ₹21,840 stipend received by domestic MBBS interns in the state. This alignment with NMC guidelines gives the decision a strong policy backing and makes it a model that other states may follow in the future.
Ending the Previous Financial Disparity
Before this decision, FMG interns in Gujarat routinely worked without financial compensation, while local graduates were already receiving the ₹21,840 stipend. The difference created a significant financial disparity between foreign medical graduates and Indian medical graduates completing similar internship requirements. Many FMG interns had to manage living expenses and daily costs without any monthly income during their internship year, which added financial pressure at an already demanding stage of their careers. The newly approved monthly payment addresses this disparity for eligible FMG interns covered by the decision, bringing them onto equal footing with their domestic counterparts.
Student Advocacy Behind the Decision
The announcement was welcomed by the All India Medical Students’ Association (AIMSA-FMSW) and the All FMGs Association. The associations described the decision as a significant milestone following years of collective student representations, legal scrutiny before the Supreme Court of India and continued bureaucratic follow-ups. The approval therefore marks an important development for foreign medical graduates completing their compulsory internships in Gujarat. The role of student bodies in pushing for this change highlights how sustained advocacy and legal pressure can lead to policy shifts that benefit a large group of young medical professionals.
What FMG Interns Should Do Next
Foreign medical graduates who are currently interning or have been allotted an internship seat in Gujarat are advised to verify their individual coverage. They can contact the administrative desk or accounts branch of their respective Government or GMERS medical college. FMG interns should also ensure that their banking details and internship allotment letters from the Gujarat Medical Council are updated with their college’s payroll processing unit. These steps are important for eligible interns covered under the approved stipend rollout. Keeping documents ready and following up with the college accounts department can help ensure that the stipend is credited without delays once the rollout begins.
Who Will Benefit From the ₹21,840 Stipend?
The decision covers eligible Foreign Medical Graduates completing compulsory rotatory internships in Gujarat’s Government Medical Colleges and GMERS Medical Colleges. Approximately 350 foreign medical graduates are expected to benefit, with the financial support applying to specified internship batches that commenced on 15 December 2025, 1 June 2026 and 1 October 2026. The approved ₹21,840 monthly stipend brings FMG internship payments on par with the stipend received by domestic MBBS interns in Gujarat. For the affected students, this means a steady monthly income during their internship year, which can help cover accommodation, food, transport and study-related expenses.
Conclusion
Gujarat FMG Internship Stipend approval of ₹21,840 per month for eligible Foreign Medical Graduates addresses the previous difference in financial support between FMG and domestic MBBS interns. The decision applies across Government Medical Colleges and GMERS Medical Colleges and is expected to directly benefit around 350 foreign medical graduates. Eligible interns should verify their coverage with their college’s administrative or accounts department and ensure that their banking and internship documents are updated for payroll processing. The move aligns with NMC guidelines and reflects the outcome of sustained student advocacy, making it an important development for foreign medical graduates pursuing their careers in Gujarat.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q1. What is the Gujarat FMG internship stipend amount approved by the state government?
A1. The Gujarat government has approved a monthly stipend of ₹21,840 for Foreign Medical Graduates undergoing mandatory internships in the state.
Q2. Who is eligible for the ₹21,840 FMG stipend in Gujarat?
A2. FMGs completing compulsory rotatory internships in Government Medical Colleges and GMERS Medical Colleges in Gujarat are eligible. Approximately 350 foreign medical graduates are expected to benefit.
Q3. Which internship batches are covered under the stipend decision?
A3. The batches covered are those that commenced their internships on 15 December 2025, 1 June 2026 and 1 October 2026, as allotted through the Gujarat Medical Council.
Q4. Why was the FMG stipend decision taken?
A4. The decision addresses the previous financial disparity where FMG interns worked without compensation while domestic MBBS interns received ₹21,840. It also aligns with NMC guidelines stating that FMGs should receive stipends equal to Indian Medical Graduates.
Q5. What should FMG interns do to receive the stipend?
A5. FMG interns should verify their coverage by contacting the administrative or accounts branch of their Government or GMERS medical college and ensure that their banking details and internship allotment letters from the Gujarat Medical Council are updated with the college’s payroll processing unit.