Attendance of 75 percent for theory, 80 percent for practical training Necessary to Appear in MBBS Supplementary Exams: NMC

New Delhi: In order to appear in the MBBS supplementary examination, now a student must have a 75% attendance in theory and 80% attendance for practical/clinical training, the National Medical Commission (NMC) recently clarified.

The Apex medical education regulatory body further informed that a student with inadequate attendance will be required to take classes with junior batch commencing in the next academic year in order to compensate for the attendance deficit and for the missed classes. In that case, such a student will be allowed to appear in the examination in the next academic year.

Apart from this, the Commission further mentioned that in order to compensate for the attendance deficit, the concerned medical institute may also arrange for additional classes. 

However, NMC informed that "It shall be at the discretion and purview of the college authorities to arrange for making up deficiencies."

This clarification has been issued by the Commission in the recently released Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) related to the Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) course curriculum.

Also Read: NMC releases final regulations on MBBS Curriculum

After releasing the draft in June 2023, the Undergraduate Medical Education Board (UGMEB) of NMC published the final Competency-Based Medical Education Regulations 2023 on August 01, 2023.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that releasing these FAQs, NMC recently addressed everal issues such as the date from when these guidelines will be applicable, which MBBS batch will come under the purview of these guidelines, if a student can appear in the supplementary examination with inadequate attendance in the annual exams etc.

While addressing the question if a student can appear in the supplementary examination with inadequate attendance at the time of the annual examination, NMC clarified, "No, if the student’s attendance is less than 75% for theory and less than 80% for practical/ clinical training, the student cannot appear in supplementary examination following the regular annual examination. Such student is required to take classes with junior batch commencing in the next academic year to compensate for his attendance deficit, especially the course, he has missed. He will be eligible to appear in the examination in the next academic year only."

"However, before the commencement of annual examination, the college authorities may arrange for additional classes to compensate for attendance deficit. It shall be at the discretion and purview of the college authorities to arrange for making up deficiencies," NMC further mentioned in the FAQs.

Apart from these, queries such as whether a student can join classes of the next academic year after appearing in the annual exams, total course duration permitted for MBBS training, how are the 4 attempts counted for the first year MBBS students, what happens if a candidate fails completing the MBBS course and internship within the stipulated time, how many marks have to be allotted for MCQ in the annual examinations, etc had also been addressed in the FAQs.

NMC also answered questions including the requirements of marks in the theory paper to pass the annual examination if there are two papers for a given subject, or the queries related to the grace marks in university exams, number of examiners for annual exams, queries related to the external examiners, questions related to the non-medical faculty members as examiners, implementation of family adoption program, migration of students from one college to another etc.

These guidelines are applicable for all stake holders, i.e. for every student of every batch admitted to MBBS course since 2019, presently pursuing MBBS course in a medical college/institution which is under the jurisdiction of NMC.

Also Read: NMC Releases FAQs on CBME Regulations, Details