NEET PG Service Bond and Stipend — What the Rules Say

Two PG seats with the same branch can differ a lot in stipend, service bond and seat-leaving penalty. Here is what NMC's regulations say about stipend, what bonds are, where MCC and states publish the terms, and what to check before you lock a choice.

Start Free NEET-PG PracticeView Plans

Last verified: 30 September 2026 against NMC PGMER-2023 and MCC PG Information Bulletin 2025.

Quick Answer

NMC’s PGMER-2023 (clause 5.4) requires every institution to pay PG students a stipend at par with State or Central Government medical institutions in the same state — so the amount is set state by state. Service bonds and seat-leaving penalties are set by states and colleges, not by NMC or MCC. Check both in the state prospectus and the college’s disclosure on mcc.nic.in before you lock a seat.

Why there is no state-wise table here: bond and stipend amounts change often and are published in each state’s own orders and prospectus. We only list figures we can verify from the official source for the current year, and we could not do that reliably for enough states. Use the state counselling authorities list to reach each state’s prospectus.

How is PG stipend decided?

The National Medical Commission’s Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (clause 5.4, “Stipend to Post-graduate Students”) says post-graduate students on degree, diploma and super-speciality courses in all institutions shall be paid a stipend at par with PG students of State Government or Central Government medical institutions in the State or Union Territory where the institution is located.

In practice this means:

  • •The benchmark is the government rate in the college’s own state — a private college in one state follows that state’s rate, not another state’s.
  • •Central institutions pay central rates; state colleges pay what the state notifies. Rates rise when the state revises them.
  • •During the compulsory 3-month District Residency Programme, residents keep drawing full stipend from their parent college.

The same regulations set minimum leave: 20 days of paid casual leave a year, 5 days of academic leave, a weekly holiday subject to work, and maternity or paternity leave as per government rules.

What is a service bond, and how is it different from a seat-leaving penalty?

A service bond is a condition of admission — mostly on state government seats — that you work for the state for a set period after finishing PG, often in government or rural hospitals. If you do not, you pay the amount written in the bond. A seat-leaving penalty is different: it applies if you resign from the course partway through. A seat may carry one, both or neither.

Neither is the same as the MCC security deposit, which you pay when registering for counselling and which is forfeited only if you are allotted a seat from Round 2 onward and do not join (details on the NEET PG counselling page).

Where do you find the terms for a seat?

MCC’s information bulletin states that information on stipend, fee structure, course duration, bond amount and service in rural or tribal areas is provided by the colleges on the MCC website, that MCC takes no responsibility for it, and that candidates should confirm it on the college website or with the college before filling choices — because locked choices cannot be changed.

TermSet byWhere it is publishedWhat to ask
StipendState / Central Government rate (PGMER-2023)College profile on MCC; state notification; college websiteMonthly amount for each year; when it was last revised
Service bondState government (mostly for government seats)State prospectus; college disclosure on MCCYears of service, posting type, penalty if you do not serve
Seat-leaving penaltyState or collegeState prospectus; college admission rulesPenalty if you resign during the course; deadline after which it applies
Tuition and other feesState fee committee / collegeCollege profile on MCC; college websiteYearly fee, hostel, caution deposit, any extra charges
MCC security depositMCCMCC information bulletinSeparate from bonds; forfeited if you do not join a seat from Round 2 onward

What should you check before locking a choice?

  1. Open the college’s profile on the MCC portal (or the state’s seat matrix) and note the declared fee, stipend and bond.
  2. Confirm on the college’s own website or by writing to the college — MCC does not verify these figures.
  3. For state seats, read the bond and seat-leaving clauses in this year’s state prospectus, not an old one.
  4. Compare the total cost of the course (fees minus stipend) and the bond commitment across your shortlist.
  5. Decide before you lock: once choices are locked and a seat is allotted, the terms of that seat apply to you.

Weighing branch against bond? The branch guide covers the other factors. If you plan to improve your rank instead, Kinase has NEET-PG and INI-CET previous-year papers and timed tests — start free.

Frequently Asked Questions

How much stipend do PG residents get?▼
There is no single national figure. Under clause 5.4 of NMC's Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023, PG students in all institutions must be paid a stipend at par with PG students of State or Central Government medical institutions in the same State or Union Territory. So the amount depends on the state, and changes when the state revises it.
Do private and deemed colleges have to pay stipend?▼
Yes. PGMER-2023 clause 5.4 applies to post-graduate students "in all the institutions", and ties the rate to what government institutions in that state pay. Check the college's declared stipend on its MCC institute profile and its own website.
What is a service bond in PG admission?▼
A service bond is a condition, usually set by a state government for its government seats, that you serve the state (often in government or rural hospitals) for a period after completing PG, or pay a stated amount instead. Some colleges and states also have a seat-leaving penalty if you quit the course midway. The terms are in the state prospectus or the college's disclosure.
Is the service bond the same in every state?▼
No. Each state sets its own bond — whether one applies, how long the service is, the penalty amount, and whether it covers only government seats. Terms change over time, so read the current year's prospectus rather than relying on old figures.
Where can I find a college's bond and stipend before choice filling?▼
MCC says stipend, fee, course duration, bond amount and rural service conditions are provided by the colleges on the MCC website, and asks candidates to confirm them on the college website or with the college before filling choices. For state quota seats, the state prospectus is the source.
What leave do PG residents get under NMC rules?▼
PGMER-2023 gives every PG student at least 20 days of paid casual leave a year plus 5 days of academic leave, one weekly holiday subject to work needs, and maternity or paternity leave as per government rules. Extra leave extends the course by the same number of days.
Stipend rule quoted from NMC PGMER-2023
No unverified state amounts
Links to official documents

Ready to Start Practicing?

Start Free Practice

No credit card required