AFMC Pune PG Medical Bond: 57.5 lakh Penalty, 5 Years Service

AFMC: In a significant move reinforcing the dedication required from postgraduate medical students, Armed Forces Medical College (AFMC), Pune, has implemented a bond agreement for candidates admitted to its MD/MS/DNB programs. This agreement requires candidates to serve as Medical Officers in the Armed Forces Medical Services (AFMS) for five years upon successful course completion.

This policy aims to meet the specialist requirements of AFMS while fostering a sense of responsibility toward national service. The terms apply to civilian candidates admitted under the Priority-V category for the academic session 2024-27, ensuring a mutually beneficial arrangement for the candidates and the nation.

Bond Obligations and Penalty

Upon admission, candidates must execute a bond agreement committing to serve AFMS for five years post-completion of their postgraduate course. If a candidate declines the offered commission or fails to meet the eligibility criteria, they are liable to pay a penalty of ₹57.5 lakhs.

Candidates crossing 35 years of age before completing the course are deemed ineligible for commission and categorized as Non-Service Liability (NSL). These candidates must also fulfill the bond repayment obligations.

Eligibility and Conditions for Priority-V Candidates

The Priority-V category includes civilian candidates willing to serve in the Armed Forces. Key eligibility criteria for these candidates include:

• Medical Fitness: Candidates must meet stringent health standards required for commissioning in the AFMS.
• Age Limit: Applicants must be under 30 years of age as of December 31, 2024.
• Service Agreement: Candidates must commit to serve as Short Service Commission (SSC) officers for five years, aligning with Army Instruction 75/78 and subsequent amendments.

Provisional Admissions and Final Commissioning

The allotment of seats during MCC counselling is provisional. Final admissions depend on the candidate meeting age and medical fitness requirements. After completing their PG degree, candidates must report for commissioning as directed by the Director General of Armed Forces Medical Services (DGAFMS).

AFMS PG Bond Recovery for Early Resignation

Post-commissioning, candidates seeking release from service before completing their five-year tenure are required to repay the bond money at a pro-rata rate of ₹11.5 lakhs per incomplete year of service. This ensures accountability and reinforces the commitment to serving in the Armed Forces.

It further specifies that if a postgraduate student departs from the institution without finishing the course for any reason after the deadline for admission to the postgraduate programs, a fee of Rs. 19,16,667/- will be charged per year or any portion thereof for the education at the institution, in accordance with existing regulations, contingent upon the stipulations outlined in the following paragraphs.

DNB Admission has been started, know more details about Counselling process 

Delhi: Regarding this year’s DNB admissions, the Medical Counselling Committee (MCC) has published all the information related to the NEET PG counselling allotment process for All India Quota (AIQ), deemed universities, and central state quotas, in addition to MD, MS, and PG Diploma programs.
As per the information bulletin published on its official website by the MCC, individuals who have passed NEET PG 2024 can apply for DNB seats, and the MCC will not hold counselling for in-service candidates.

DNB Counseling Process

The MCC conducts the counseling for DNB courses, which are domicile-free and of All India character. The counseling will take place over four rounds:

1. Round 1
2. Round 2
3. Round 3
4. Stray Vacancy Round

These rounds will be conducted by the MCC of DGHS, Ministry of Health and Family Welfare (MOHFW). Candidates who have qualified NEET PG conducted by National Board of Examinations (NBE) are eligible to participate in this counseling process.

In-service Seats and Non-MCC Counseling

It is important for candidates to note that the counseling for in-service seats under the DNB program is not conducted by the MCC of DGHS, MOHFW. Therefore, candidates seeking in-service seats should refer to the appropriate authority for guidance.

Admission Fee Payment

Once the seat allotment is made by the MCC of DGHS, the admission fee is collected by the NBE authorities. Candidates should direct any queries regarding the admission fee or payment process to NBE, as the MCC will not entertain any requests for refunds.

Reservation Policy for DNB Seats

1. Private DNB Colleges/Institutes:
   There is no reservation in private DNB colleges or institutes.
2. Government Institutes/Colleges:
   For government institutes/colleges that contribute seats to the DNB program under the Central Government, the following reservation policy will apply:
   • SC (Scheduled Castes): 15%
   • ST (Scheduled Tribes): 7.5%
   • OBC (Other Backward Classes – Non-Creamy Layer): 27% (as per the Central OBC list)
   • EWS (Economically Weaker Section): 10% (as per Central Government norms)
   • PwD (Persons with Disabilities): 5% Horizontal Reservation (as per NMC norms)

Eligibility for PwD Reservation

Candidates who wish to avail themselves of the 5% PwD reservation in PG seats at Government/Central medical institutions must obtain a Disability Certificate issued by designated disability centers (listed in Annexure-2). The certificate must be issued as per the 21 Benchmark Disabilities outlined under the RPWD Act 2016. Certificates from other hospitals or boards will not be accepted.

Eligibility Conditions for DNB Courses

• NEET PG Qualification: Candidates must have qualified the NEET PG exam conducted by the NBE to be eligible for counselling and admission to the DNB program.

Roster Application

The roster for Govt. DNB Institutes/Colleges will be applied by the MCC of DGHS, MOHFW as per the reservation norms outlined above.