Maharashtra MBBS interns seek Rs 30,000 stipend, warn of strike from November 2

Medical interns in Maharashtra have warned that they will go on a statewide strike from November 2, 2026 if the state government does not respond satisfactorily by November 1 to their demand for a higher stipend. The Association of State Medical Interns (ASMI) wants the monthly stipend for MBBS interns raised from Rs 18,000 to Rs 30,000, with a 3% increase every year. Interns held a silent protest at Mumbai's JJ Hospital on Thursday, October 22, 2026 to press the demand, and said emergency services would continue during any strike.

Every MBBS graduate in India must complete a compulsory rotating internship before getting full registration as a doctor. Interns work in hospital wards, casualty and outpatient departments under supervision. The stipend is their only income during this year, and many interns, especially those from other districts, pay for rent, food and travel out of it.

The interns' case is that Rs 18,000 a month is not fair compensation given rising living costs, and that it was last revised in early 2024. They have also asked for a written assurance from the government on the proposed hike. The government has not rejected the demand: the minister has said a hike is under consideration and that it should be in line with increases made recently in other states. But the final amount, and when it would take effect, depend on approval from the finance department.

For students, the dispute is a practical issue as well as a matter of principle. A strike by interns can slow routine work in government hospitals, and it can raise questions about how the missed days count towards the internship, which must be completed before a student can register and apply for postgraduate entrance or jobs. Students now in their final MBBS years will also inherit whatever stipend is decided now.

What should a reader do next? MBBS interns in Maharashtra should follow official notices from their college and the medical education department before November 1, keep a record of their internship postings, and check with their college whether any strike days affect their completion date. Students and families choosing medical colleges can look at the internship stipend each state pays as one of the costs to plan for.

Short-term: If the government does not respond by November 1, routine work in Maharashtra's government medical college hospitals could be affected from November 2, though interns say emergency services will continue.

Long-term: A revised stipend would raise the income of every MBBS intern in the state's medical colleges in coming years, and the outcome may be watched by interns in other states with similar demands.

Who is affected: MBBS interns and final-year students in Maharashtra, patients at government medical college hospitals, the state medical education and finance departments, and families of medical students.

Questions and Answers