No NExT yet, why one combined exam? Telangana doctors urge KNRUHS, NMC to split MBBS exam into 2 phases

Hyderabad: Raising concern about the conduct of III MBBS Part II (Phase IV) University Final Examinations for the 2022-23 batch, a doctors' body in Telangana has requested Kaloji Narayana Rao University of Health Sciences (KNRUHS), Warangal, to split the exams into two phases instead of holding a single consolidated examination covering all subjects.

The Telangana Junior Doctors Association (TJUDA) has submitted a formal representation dated May 16, 2026, to the Vice Chancellor of KNRUHS, requesting that the university consider restructuring the exam pattern and also forward the proposal to the National Medical Commission (NMC) for approval or clarification.

In its letter, TJUDA said students of the 2022–23 MBBS batch are currently expected to prepare for around 12 subjects at once during Phase IV, including major clinical subjects such as General Medicine, General Surgery, and Obstetrics & Gynaecology. The association said this combined exam system places an "extraordinary academic and psychological burden" on students.

Therefore, the association has proposed conducting the exams in two parts:

Phase I (Sept/Oct 2026): ENT and Ophthalmology

Phase II (April/May 2027): General Medicine, General Surgery, Obstetrics & Gynecology, Pediatrics, Orthopaedics + PMR, Dermatology, Psychiatry, Respiratory Medicine, Radiodiagnosis & Radiotherapy and Anaesthesiology

According to the association, this model would reduce academic pressure and align with the spirit of GMER 2019 and the revised 2024 NMC curriculum while remaining fully feasible within the existing Phase IV academic schedule.

"As per the NMC Curriculum Timetable (TIME TABLE – CURRICULUM: III MBBS PART II / PHASE IV), students of the 2022-23 batch are presently required to simultaneously prepare for theory examinations in 12 subjects, including three major clinical subjects — General Medicine, General Surgery, and Obstetrics & Gynecology — each carrying 210 hours of prescribed curriculum content. The cumulative academic load imposed by simultaneous preparation of all major and allied clinical disciplines creates an extraordinary academic and psychological burden on students," the association said in the letter. 

TJUDA also highlighted that students who appeared under a similarly consolidated examination structure experienced significant academic and psychological difficulties, including prolonged examination schedules extending nearly 1 to 1.5 months, severe mental exhaustion and burnout due to continuous back-to-back examinations, difficulty retaining and revising content across all disciplines simultaneously and reduced quality of clinical preparation and learning outcomes.

As per the NMC academic calendar:

* Phase IV Duration: 1st December 2025 to 15th May 2027

* Approximate Duration: 17.5 months

* Teaching Time Available: Approximately 57 weeks

* Total Teaching Hours Available: Approximately 2,223 hours

On this, the association said that this extensive duration clearly demonstrates that conducting university examinations in two phases is academically and logistically feasible without affecting the prescribed curriculum.

As per the clinical posting schedule prescribed by NMC, ENT and Ophthalmology clinical postings begin during III MBBS Part I (Phase III) and continue into Phase IV. However, T-JUDA said that by the time final Phase IV examinations are conducted in 2027, students would have completed significant portions of ENT and Ophthalmology training more than 18 months earlier, making meaningful revision difficult while simultaneously preparing major clinical subjects.

Under the heading “KEY CHANGES FROM GMER 2019,” the NMC circular specifically states that theory sessions of ENT and Ophthalmology were shifted to the final phase and clinical postings were restructured to facilitate learning for the proposed National Exit Test (NExT).

"Thus, the consolidation of ENT and Ophthalmology into the final Phase IV examination was specifically introduced as a NExT oriented transitional arrangement," the association said. 

Referring to the fact that NExT has not been implemented for the 2022-23 Batch, the association said that the National Exit Test (NExT), which formed the basis for restructuring the examination schedule, has not been implemented for the 2022-23 batch. Therefore, retaining the consolidated examination pattern despite the absence of NExT imposes an avoidable and inequitable burden on students without serving its originally intended purpose.

"The revised curriculum for the 2024 MBBS batch has once again placed ENT and Ophthalmology university examinations in III MBBS Part I, similar to the GMER 2019 structure. This clearly indicates that the Phase IV consolidation was transitional and NExT-specific and was never intended as a permanent examination model since the NMC itself has recognized the educational appropriateness of conducting these examinations closer to the teaching period. The 2022-23 batch is therefore placed at a distinct disadvantage compared to subsequent batches," the letter read. 

Highlighting the impact on student Mental Health and Academic Welfare, the association said that the current consolidated examination structure contributes to excessive mental stress, academic burnout, reduced preparation quality, compromised clinical learning and prolonged examination fatigue. A two-phase examination structure would substantially reduce unnecessary stress while improving focused learning and clinical competency, added T-JUDA.

Following this, the association requested the university to 

1. Consider conducting III MBBS Part II (Phase IV) University Examinations for the 2022-23 batch in two separate phases.

2. Forward an official representation/recommendation from the University to the National Medical Commission (NMC) requesting permission/clarification for the implementation of a two-phase examination pattern.

3. Request the NMC to consider suitable amendments/relaxations in the academic schedule for the 2022-23 batch considering that the original NExT-based rationale is no longer applicable.

4. Take necessary steps in the interest of student welfare, mental health, and academic effectiveness.

In support of the students, Healthcare Reforms Doctors Association (HRDA) Telangana has submitted a representation to the National Medical Commission (NMC) recently, requesting the same. 

HRDA highlighted that the present system places an excessive academic and psychological burden on students by forcing simultaneous preparation of multiple major clinical subjects. Conducting exams in two phases would reduce mental stress, prevent burnout, improve focused preparation, enhance clinical competency, and ensure better academic outcomes for MBBS students.

The association also pointed out that the current consolidated pattern was originally introduced for NExT alignment, but since NExT has not been implemented for this batch, continuing the same pattern causes unnecessary hardship to students. HRDA requested NMC to issue suitable directions to all Health Science Universities in the interest of student welfare and medical education standards.

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