DCI issues advisory on UG, PG Exams 2021, appointment of External Examiners

New Delhi: Through a recent notice, the Dental Council of India (DCI) has released an advisory on holding UG and PG Examination 2021 by the Dental Colleges/Universities and to appoint External Examiner.

In the advisory to Principal/Dean of all the Dental Colleges, Registrar of all the universities affiliating dental institutions in the country, Principal Secretary (Medical Education/Health & Family Welfare) of all State/UT Governments, and the Directors of Medical Education Departments of all State/UT's, the M.L. Meena, Officiating Secretary to DCI has mentioned that difficulties are being faced in conducting the examinations in UG/PG dental courses, due to the prevailing pandemic.

"Many teachers are unwilling to be the examiners. Consequently, the final year examination of UG/PG Dental Courses, are being delayed in many dental institutions," the advisory mentioned.

Accordingly, the Executive Committee of the DCI, by circulation, on 28.4.2021 has decided that the Colleges/Universities shall conduct their theory examinations for both UG and PG strictly in accordance with the norms prescribed by the DCI without deviating from the existing provisions for the purpose and also maintaining the uniform standard of examination. These theory examinations shall be conducted by such institutions and universities with their due compliance of the advisories, guidelines, instructions, etc. issued by the Government of India, respective State Government and District Administration, from time to time so as to prevent from spreading COVID19. No specific time frame is prescribed for the examination. The examination shall be conducted at a suitable time as and the normalcy in the respective State/District is restored, the advisory read.

It further mentioned, "As per Scheme of clinical and practical BDS Examination, as contemplated/prescribed in the existing Revised BDS Course Regulation, 2007, the practical and clinical examinations should be evaluated by two examiners of which one shall be an external examiner appointed from other universities preferably outside the State, Each candidate should be evaluated by each examiner independently and marks computed at the end of the examination. Similarly, for MDS clinical and practical examination, Regulation 19 of the Dental Council of India, Master of Dental Surgery Course Regulations, 2017, inter-alia, provides for four examiners in each subject. Out of them, two (50%) shall be external examiners and two (50%) shall be internal examiners. Both external examiners shall be from a university other than the affiliating university and one examiner shall be from a university of different State."

Since Dentistry is a clinical and skill-oriented profession and involves patient care, therefore, all the institutions/universities shall make its best efforts to make available the flow of patients to assess the skill and clinical expertise of a student. But, during the clinical and practical examination of the student, the Dental Institution/universities shall comply with all COVID-19 protocols on infection control and patient care. However, certain clinical procedures which load to generate an aerosol can be substituted by using hand instruments, air-motor or micro-motor equipment, but, again with due compliance of the advisories, guidelines, instructions, etc: issued by the Government of India, respective State Government and District Administration, from time to time, it added.

Besides, the DCI has decided to permit the examiners as per the following options:-

(i) External Examiner(s) to be selected from a different University in the State with their compulsory physical presence at the venue of the examinations.

(ii) In case option (i) above is not possible, one of the two External Examiners to be selected from a different University, who would be physically present at the venue of the examinations and the second External Examiner from another different University outside the State who would participate through video-conferencing.

(iii) If option (ii) is also not possible, both the External Examiners may participate through video-conferencing.

Further, the concerned Universities may decide the time and the method of Examination taking into consideration of the pandemic situation in their area.

Accordingly, all the Universities /State Governments, under their prerogative, after making comprehensive assessment of university location and diversity of the colleges, their level of preparedness, residential status of the students, the status of COVID-19 pandemic spread in different regions/state and other factors shall chart out a plan for the examinations.