Supreme Court Weighs Guidelines on Rural Service Duty for Medical Students

On October 27, 2026, the Supreme Court said it was inclined to lay down guidelines on compulsory rural service for medical students across India. A bench of Justices P S Narasimha and Alok Aradhe was hearing a challenge to a Karnataka rule that requires one year of public rural service before permanent registration with the Karnataka Medical Council. Noting that the Union government's position remained unclear, the court listed the matter for the following week.

Additional Solicitor General Aishwarya Bhati told the bench that postgraduates already face rotational service, while undergraduates do not. She said health is a State subject, that several States have imposed such bonds, and that a committee had recommended uniform adoption. Amicus Raju Ramachandran proposed guidelines based on Article 21 and the Directive Principles of State Policy.