The Madhya Pradesh government on Wednesday (September 9, 2026) announced a 50% increase in the monthly stipend of MBBS interns, after three days of protests by hundreds of medical interns in Bhopal and several rounds of discussions between their representatives and authorities.

Two policemen were also attached to police lines in connection with the action against protesters on Monday.

The decision comes amid various doctors’ bodies, including the Madhya Pradesh Junior Doctors’ Association (JUDA), boycotting routine medical services like OPD across the State, and senior doctors and teachers’ groups extending support to the interns. The move brought cheers to the protesters in Bhopal and other parts of the State.

Deputy Chief Minister and Health Minister Rajendra Shukla said on X that the decision was taken after discussions with the representatives of interns, JUDA, and Medical Teachers’ Association (MTA). The current stipend for MBBS interns in the State is ₹14,337 per month.

“Swift decisions with sensitivity in the interest of the youth. After meaningful dialogue with the delegation of interns, JDA, and MTA, a decision was made to increase the stipend by 50%,” he wrote.

Following the decision, the interns called off their sit-in near the Chief Minister’s residence in Bhopal.

Police action

The government has ordered an administrative investigation into the use of water cannon and “disproportionate force” during the Monday (September 7) protest of interns. 

As per an order from the Home Department, Shipla Gupta, Secretary, Home Department, has been appointed as the investigating officer to probe if “more than necessary” force was used during the protest and the responsible officers behind it. She has been asked to submit a report to the government within seven days. 

Before the sit-in was launched, the interns faced police action during their protest in the campus of government-run Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, including water cannons and alleged lathicharge in which at least four interns suffered injuries. The police action received criticism from several medical bodies as well as the GMC management, prompting Bhopal Police Commissioner Sanjay Kumar to launch a probe into the matter. After the police action, interns and doctors from several parts of the State had also joined the protests in Bhopal.

Mr. Shukla said Chief Minister Mohan Yadav was upset over the police action and had directed senior officers for an impartial probe.

Speaking to , Rahul Thakur, president, JUDA, GMC Bhopal, said the demonstration has been called off after the government’s decision.

MTA State president Dr. Rakesh Malviya said, “The increase in stipend was the intern doctors’ oldest demand. An assurance has been given that action will be taken against the police personnel who carried out the lathi charge.”