The Maharashtra government has repealed the mandatory one-year Social Responsibility Service (SRS) bond for MBBS students from medical colleges in the State, citing the limited availability of such positions in government hospitals for graduating candidates.

A Government Resolution (GR) dated July 23 stated that the one-year bond was introduced to enable MBBS graduates to repay society through their service in return for receiving subsidised medical education.

However, with limited vacancies in government departments for SRS postings, and the increasing number of medical colleges in the State leading to a rise in the number of graduates each year, the government decided to scrap the policy.

“Many candidates have been facing difficulties in fulfilling the eligibility criteria for admission to postgraduate medical degree courses. It has also been observed that newly passed candidates are completing social responsibility service only to qualify for postgraduate courses and are not providing medical services to their full capacity at the place of appointment. Besides, as freshers, they are not competent enough to provide emergency services,” the GR stated.

The government stated in the GR that it aimed to address several challenges faced by fresh doctors, including delays in service allotment, difficulties in pursuing postgraduate education, and administrative bottlenecks.

MBBS graduates whose SRS is currently underway will be required to complete their tenure. The refund will not be provided to medical graduates who have already paid penalties to opt out of SRS. The GR also instructed the Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER) to close the online portal for SRS.

Following discussions at a meeting chaired by Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis on July 9 at the Cabinet Hall, Vidhan Bhavan, Mumbai, the Public Health Department submitted a proposal to the Medical Education and Drugs Department to reconsider the policy.

The SRS, introduced by the Maharashtra government in 1960, required medical graduates from government medical colleges, as well as students from private colleges who received fee concessions or scholarships in the State, to serve for one year at rural or government healthcare facilities before practising independently. Medical graduates who failed to complete the service or opted out were required to pay penalties.

Doctors had opposed the bond, arguing that it prevented them from pursuing higher studies without first completing a year of service at government hospitals through the DMER. Several doctors’ associations, including the Maharashtra Association of Resident Doctors (MARD) and the Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI), had raised concerns with the State government over the mismatch between the number of graduating students and available bonded posts.

“We welcome the move and request the government to improve primary health centre infrastructure and ensure the availability of residential facilities to encourage doctors to serve at PHCs. Even though there is no bond now, I request budding doctors to serve at the village level to strengthen our health system,” said Dr. Zeeshan Bagwan, associated with ASMI.

The Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) unit of MARD said the number of MBBS seats had increased from around 4,500 in 2006 to over 11,000 in 2025, while government bond postings had not increased proportionately. In recent recruitment drives, only about 15-25% of applicants were recruited, leaving the majority of eligible doctors without government appointments despite their willingness to serve.

“This landmark decision will provide relief to thousands of MBBS graduates whose postgraduate education, employment and career progression were delayed due to the non-availability of bond postings,” Dr. Rutuja Raut, MARD president, said in a statement on Friday (July 25, 2026).

Published - July 27, 2026 01:31 pm IST