OUHS 2nd MBBS profs preponed by nearly 2 months, Students demand restoration of November schedule
Bhubaneswar: Second-year MBBS students across medical colleges affiliated with the Odisha University of Health Sciences (OUHS) have raised concerns over the university's decision to prepone the 2nd Professional MBBS examinations by nearly two months.
The students, in a press release shared with Medical Dialogues, stated that OUHS had earlier issued a Master Academic Calendar on November 17, 2025, under which the 2nd Professional MBBS academic curriculum would run for an 11-month (44-week) tenure. The calendar had fixed the university examinations for November 2026, with examination form filling scheduled for the first week of October.
However, the university has now preponed the commencement of theory examinations to 17th September 2026, fixing the final deadline for examination form fill-up as 24th August 2026, which the students said has shortened the academic calendar by nearly eight critical weeks.
Terming the move as 'arbitrary', the students have alleged that it not only compromises the academic training of thousands of future medical practitioners across Odisha but also stands in direct violation of the academic duration prescribed under the National Medical Commission's (NMC) Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) framework.
The students have demanded that OUHS restore the examination schedule originally announced in its academic calendar and conduct the examinations in November 2026.
"Cutting short the session prevents students from completing core competencies, mandatory clinical postings (in clinical wards and outpatient departments), and structured practical laboratory work. Advancing the schedule curtails the statutory curriculum hours mandated by the central regulatory body, directly impacting clinical proficiency and patient safety education," the students said in the media representation.
The students also raised concerns over the completion of internal assessments. They said eligibility for the university examination requires three continuous internal assessments. However, several affiliated medical colleges are yet to conduct or complete the third internal assessment, practical examinations and required logbook sign-offs. The students said asking them to submit examination forms by August 24, before these assessments are completed, could create administrative difficulties for both colleges and students.
The 2nd Professional MBBS course includes major subjects such as Pathology, Pharmacology and Microbiology. Students said that removing nearly two full months allocated for revision, self-study, and integration creates extreme psychological pressure and mental distress among students.
"Adequate preparatory gaps between Paper I and Paper II of these exhaustive subjects have not been accounted for, severely undermining fair and comprehensive assessment," the students stated.
A joint delegation representing students from affiliated medical colleges is scheduled to meet the Vice-Chancellor and Controller of Examinations at the OUHS headquarters in Bhubaneswar on August 17 to present documentary evidence and demand the immediate restoration of the November 2026 examination schedule.
