Kharagpur: Taking a significant step towards expanding its academic offerings in the field of medical education, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Kharagpur has applied to the National Medical Commission (NMC) to launch a postgraduate ‘Doctor of Medicine’ (MD) program.If this proposal receives approval from the NMC, IIT Kharagpur will become the first Indian Institute of Technology to launch a postgraduate medical program.Also Read: IIT Kharagpur set to launch MD programme, awaits NMC approval, MBBS on holdHowever, final approval will be granted by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, as this proposal requires coordination among several ministries. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Education has reportedly supported this initiative.Confirming this development, the institute’s Director, Suman Chakraborty, stated that the application process has already commenced ahead of the March 31 deadline. Therefore, the institute is currently awaiting a response from the concerned authorities, according to the Telegraph.However, the institute has not specified a definitive timeline for its launch; it states that the schedule will depend on the regulatory approval process.Also Read:Retired IIT Bombay medical officer loses Rs 4.62 crore in cyber fraud; Two arrestedMedical Dialogues had earlier reported that the proposed MD program is expected to commence with 20 seats. Students enrolled in this program will receive clinical training at the institute’s healthcare facilities, including the Dr B.C. Roy Multi-Speciality Medical Research Centre and the Shyama Prasad Mukherjee Super-Speciality Hospital. Admissions to this program will be conducted through the National Eligibility and Entrance Test (NEET).Additionally, IIT Kharagpur has already recruited 20 qualified doctors who will be responsible for teaching and training the students enrolled in the MD course. The proposal to launch the MD program was first presented to the Institute’s Board of Governors on September 23, 2025, where it received approval to proceed.Also Read: IIT Kharagpur seeks NMC approval for MD course, plans 20 seats