**Executive Summary**
This document provides answers to questions raised in Lok Sabha regarding stipends for Master of Public Health (MPH) students, specifically at Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram. It clarifies the government's position on providing stipends, addressing student difficulties related to non-payment, and including MPH students in stipend schemes. The document was answered on 04/02/2026.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Stipend for MPH at SCTIMST:**
* The MPH program at SCTIMST is considered an academic public health program, not a residency-based clinical postgraduate course.
* MPH students do not provide clinical services.
* There are no specific Government Orders or Guidelines mandating stipends for MPH programs.
* **Student Awareness & Support:**
* Students admitted to the MPH program at SCTIMST are aware that it is a non-stipendiary academic program.
* The institute facilitates eligible students in availing financial assistance through existing Government scholarship schemes like E-Grantz.
* **NMC Regulations & Stipends:**
* The National Medical Commission (NMC) Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, mandate stipends only to clinical specialties.
* There is no current proposal to include MPH students under the stipend scheme applicable to clinical postgraduate courses in medical institutions.
* **MPH Programs in Other Institutions:**
* MPH programs across institutions like AIIMS, Central Universities, State Medical Colleges, and other Institutes of National Importance are generally treated as non-stipendiary academic programs.
* Some institutions provide limited support through scholarships and tuition fee waivers (e.g., NIE, NIMHANS, IIPHs).
**Impact Analysis**
**Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram:**
* **Impact:** The institute's MPH program will continue to be treated as a non-stipendiary academic program.
* **Action Required:** Continue to facilitate eligible students in availing financial assistance under existing Government scholarship schemes.
**MPH Students at SCTIMST, Thiruvananthapuram:**
* **Impact:** They will not be eligible for stipends, as the program is not a residency-based clinical course, and there are no Government Orders mandating stipends.
* **Action Required:** Explore and apply for available Government scholarship schemes like E-Grantz and other applicable non-professional course scholarships.
**MPH students in other institutions:**
* **Impact:** They are typically not entitled to stipends, as MPH programs are generally considered non-stipendiary.
* **Action Required:** Inquire about possible opportunities such as scholarships and tuition fee waiver programs.
Key Entities Referenced
Master of Public Health (MPH): A postgraduate program discussed in the context of stipend eligibility.
Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST), Thiruvananthapuram: A medical institute where the stipend for MPH students is questioned.
National Medical Commission (NMC) Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023: Regulations that mandate stipends only to clinical specialties.
Ministry of Science and Technology: The primary ministry responsible for addressing the question on MPH stipends.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 880
ANSWERED ON 04/02/2026
MASTER OF PUBLIC HEALTH STUDENTS (MPH)
880. SHRI N K PREMACHANDRAN:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) whether the Government proposes to provide stipend to Master
of Public Health Students (MPH) in Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for
Sciences & Technology, Thiruvananthapuram treating them
equivalent to the students of various institutes doing the post
graduate course entitled to stipend and if so, the details thereof;
(b) whether the Government analyzed the difficulties of MPH
students studying in Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute for Sciences &
Technology, Thiruvananthapuram due to non-payment of stipend and
if so, the details of action taken to resolve the same;
(c) whether the Government proposes to include MPH students in
the ambit of stipend payment which is available to other post
graduate courses in similar medical institutions and if so, the details
of action taken thereon; and
(d) whether the students in other institutions during MPH is
entitled for stipend and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
(a) The Master of Public Health (MPH) programme at Sree Chitra
Tirunal Institute for Medical Sciences & Technology (SCTIMST),
Thiruvananthapuram is treated as an academic public health
programme and not a residency-based clinical postgraduate course.
MPH students do not provide any clinical services. Clear policy
distinction exists between residency-based clinical postgraduate
courses and academic postgraduate programmes. There are no
specific Government Orders or Guidelines mandating stipend for
MPH programmes.
Page 1 of 2(b) The students admitted to the MPH at SCTIMST,
Thiruvananthapuram, are fully aware that the course is a non-
stipendiary academic program and, as such, there is no issue
regarding non-payment of stipends. However, to address the
difficulties of needy students, the Institute facilitate the eligible
students to avail financial assistance under existing Government
scholarship schemes such as E-Grantz and other applicable non-
professional course scholarships.
(c) The National Medical Commission (NMC) Post-Graduate
Medical Education Regulations (PGMER), 2023, mandate stipends
only to clinical specialties. Currently, there is no such proposal to
include MPH students under the stipend scheme applicable to
clinical postgraduate courses in medical institutions.
(d) In general, MPH programmes across institutions such as All
India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Central Universities,
State Medical Colleges and other Institutes of National Importance
are treated as non-stipendiary academic programmes. However,
limited and selective support in the form of scholarships and tuition
fee waiver is provided in certain institutions like National Institute
of Epidemiology (NIE), National Institute of Mental Health and Neuro-
Sciences (NIMHANS), Public Health Foundation of India (IIPHs) for
students enrolling in MPH course.
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