In a significant move aimed at supporting medical students affected by the disruptions caused by the Covid-19 pandemic, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has introduced a one-time relief measure for MBBS students of the 2020-21 academic year. This provision offers an additional attempt to those who were unable to qualify their first professional examination.
An official notification published on the NMC website outlined the decision, stating, “The National Medical Commission decided to allow one additional attempt (5th attempt) to such MBBS Students who were admitted in medical colleges during the academic year 2020-21 and could not pass their first professional MBBS examination, as this batch was also affected by COVID-19 Pandemic.”
However, it’s emphasized that this concession is a one-time measure and should not set a precedent for future instances, as highlighted in the release.
This latest provision aligns with the earlier relief extended by the commission in May 2023, which granted an additional attempt (5th attempt) to MBBS students who had enrolled in the course during the 2019-20 academic year. This extension aimed to aid those who couldn’t clear their first professional MBBS examination due to pandemic-induced disruptions. The recent announcement extends the same support to students from the 2020-21 batch.
Additionally, the NMC has addressed the situation concerning foreign medical graduates who experienced interruptions in their final year due to the Covid pandemic or the Russia-Ukraine war. These graduates, who completed their coursework online upon returning to India, are mandated to fulfill a compulsory one-year clinical clerkship, as stipulated by the National Medical Commission (NMC).
The commission’s decisions underscore its commitment to easing the challenges faced by medical students amid unprecedented circumstances. The provision of an additional attempt serves as a temporary but crucial measure to support students adversely affected by the pandemic’s disruptions in pursuing their medical education.
It remains imperative to note that while these measures offer respite to the affected students, they are singular, ad hoc measures not intended to establish precedents for future circumstances.
Sources By Agencies