Publishing your research article in journals following NMC (MCI) Approved Indexing guidelines has become important for Faculty appointment and promotions in medical colleges in India. In this article we will give you the latest available information until 2021/2022 regarding what to check before submitting your research article to a journal and NMC/MCI guidelines for Indexed journals.
The National Medical Council (NMC), previously called Medical Council of India (MCI) is the ultimate authority in the formulation of regulations and laws regarding the education system at medical schools across the country. It has recommended minimum qualifications that are mandatory to be a candidate for appointment or promotions of faculty members in teaching post. The two primary requirements for promotion are duration of the service as well as the number of publications. This document, dubbed the “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations, 1998” was published with the requirements for publications in the year 2009. Since that time, it has been subject to periodic amendments. The most recent NMC/MCI modification was made through the Gazette Notification No. MCI-12(2)/ 2019-Med.Misc./189334 on February 12, 2020 regarding guidelines on Indexed journals for research article publication.
This table below summarizes NMC/MCI amendments regarding publishing requirements for faculty promotion over the years (scroll to right side to see the full table).
| Year of amendment notification | 2009 | 2010 | 2015 | 2017 | 2019 (circular dated February 2020) |
| Circular date | No.MCI-12(2) / 2009 -Med. Misc. / 56925 | No.MCI- 12(2)/2010-Med. Misc. /33038 | No.MCI-12(1)/2015- TEQ/ 131880 | No.MCI- 12(1)/2017-Med. Misc./115698 | No.MCI-12(2)/2019- Med.Misc./189334 |
| Number of publica tions (assistant to associate professor) | At least two | At least two | At least two | At least two | At least one |
| Nationality of journal | Journals by the National Associations/ Societies | National journal accepted/published | National/international journal | National/interna tional journal | Removed both words |
| Indexing agencies | Choice of index ing services not specified | Choice of indexing services not specified | Scopus PubMed Medline Embase Excerpta Medica Index medicus Index Copernicus | Scopus PubMed Medline Embase Excerpta Medica Index medicus Index Copernicus | Directory of Open access journals (DoAJ) PubMed Central Citation index Sciences citation index Expanded Embase Medline Scopus |
| E-journals | Not included | Excluded | Excluded | Excluded | DOAJ included |
NMC/MCI guidelines on Type of article and level of Authorship
The table below gives information on which type of articles and level of authorship are considered valid to be considered for Faculty promotion depending on the article publication date:
| Date/Year of Publication | Before 24/07/2009 | 24/07/2009- 02/11/2010 | 03/11/2010- 02/09/2015 | 03/09/2015- 07/06/2017 | 08/06/2017- 12/02/2020 (with 02 Yrs Transitory period) |
| Manuscript/ Article type | Original research paper | Original research paper | Original research articles Original research papers | Original research articles Original research papers | Original articles Systematic reviews Meta-analysis Case series |
| Authorship Level | First author | First author, second author | First author, second author | First author, corresponding author | First three authors or the corresponding author |
You can use this tool to assess the validity of your publication as per the latest requirements by the NMC.
What are BCMET & BCBMR Certificates?
If the faculty submits the articles for consideration as per the latest NMC (MCI) Approved Journals Indexing Guidelines for Research Publication dated 12 Feb 2020, he/she is also required to submit the following 2 certificates (both the certificates are mandatory):
- Certificate of Basic Course in Medical Education Technology (BCMET)
- Certificate of Basic Course in Bio Medical Research (BCBMR)
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has published the details of its Online Research Method Course and Medical Education Technology course for Postgraduate Faculty and Students 2021 via its website.
The course is titled “Basic Course in Bio-medical Research” is an online course designed for postgraduate Medical Students as well as Medical Teachers. It is a National Medical Commission (NMC) authorized course in partnership with the ICMR National Institute of Epidemiology as well as SWAYAM NPTEL. The NMC has made available on its official website its Information Bulletin as well as the registration form for the course.
To enhance the research abilities that post-graduate (MD/MS) students as well as medical educators in order to enhance the research abilities of medical teachers and students, medical teachers and students, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has recommended a common research methodology course for all students across the nation. The course online, “Basic Course in Bio-medical Research” will be provided by the ICMR-National Institute for Epidemiology (ICMR-NIE), Chennai. The course will cover the fundamentals of research methodological research. This course is available by the SWAYAM program of the Ministry of Education through SWAYAM NPTEL.
Modifications were introduced in “Minimum Qualifications for Teachers in Medical Institutions Regulations” on 12.02.2020 making it necessary that medical instructors be able to pass the Basic Course in Biomedical Research at a designated Institution(s) to be promoted to different teaching titles.
The course will be available on the website https://swayam.gov.in and ICMR-NIE (http://nie.gov.in/niecer/bcbr/index.htm). Candidates must sign up for the course as soon as enrollment is open for the cycle.
Details of the course are available on NMC official website at the following URLs:
- Online Research Method Course for Postgraduate Students and Faculty
- Information Bulletin for PG Research Methods Course for 2020-21
- Link for Registration for Course
References:
- https://journals.lww.com/ijo/fulltext/2020/68100/amended_criteria_for_promotion_of_medical.110.aspx
- https://www.nmc.org.in/ActivitiWebClient/open/getDocument?path=/Documents/Public/Portal/Gazette/TEQ-17.02.2019.pdf
- http://nicpd.ac.in/ojs-/index.php/njirm/article/view/2745
- https://www.thieme-connect.com/products/ejournals/pdf/10.1055/s-0040-1722382.pdf
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