Parliamentary panel suggests 6 attempts to clear MBBS 1st professional exams, 10 years to complete course

New Delhi: Pointing out that permitting students only four attempts to clear the MBBS first professional examination can be overly stringent for many students adjusting to the demanding nature of medical education, a Parliamentary Standing Committee on Health has suggested increasing the permissible limit to six attempts.

However, the panel has opined that the students must complete the entire MBBS course within a maximum period of ten years from the date of admission. 

These recommendations were presented before the Parliament by the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare in its 172nd report.

As per the existing rules prescribed by the National Medical Commission (NMC), MBBS students are given a total of four attempts to clear their first professional examination.

Also Read: Altogether 4 Attempts to Clear MBBS 1st prof Exams: NMC GMER 2023

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that setting a limit regarding the number of attempts to clear the MBBS examination, NMC had clarified in GMER 2023, "Provided under no circumstances the student shall be allowed more than four (04) attempts for first year (First Professional MBBS) and no student shall be allowed to continue undergraduate medical course after nine (09) years from the date of admission into the course, mentioned the Regulations."

Back in 2023, the Apex Medical Commission granted one extra attempt to the MBBS batches of 2019 and 2020 to qualify for their first professional exam. NMC took this decision because these batches were affected by COVID.

Recommendations by Parliamentary Health Panel: 

Recently, while addressing the rules regarding the permissible number of attempts to clear the first year professional MBBS exam, the Parliamentary Health Panel has suggested increasing the number of permissible attempts from four to six.

"The Committee has been apprised of that under the present regulations of the National Medical Commission, MBBS students are currently permitted a maximum of four attempts to clear the First Professional Examination. Considering the academic intensity of foundational subjects such as anatomy, physiology, and biochemistry, this restriction can be overly stringent for many students adjusting to the demanding nature of medical education. The Committee, therefore, suggested that the permissible limit be increased to six attempts, while ensuring that students complete the entire MBBS course within a maximum period of ten years from the date of admission," the Committee has recommended.

"This balanced approach will maintain academic standards while providing a more humane and student-friendly framework, preventing capable students from being forced to discontinue medical education due to early academic setbacks," it further mentioned in the report.

Earlier this year, the Rajasthan Chapter of the United Doctors Front (UDF) urged the State Medical Education Department to grant one additional Mercy attempt to the MBBS students from the 2021 batch to clear their First Professional Exam, considering the academic disruption caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.

The association highlighted that the students of Batch 2021 went through extraordinary and adverse circumstances, which were different from normal academic sessions. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the association stated regular classes were disrupted, there were technical difficulties in online teaching, and many families faced health-related crises during the year 2020–21. These circumstances directly affected the academic preparation and performance of students, as a result of which many students could not pass the First Professional Year.

Also Read: Doctors' body demands additional exam mercy attempt for MBBS 2021 batch