NEW DELHI — In a major recommendation aimed at making medical education more “student-friendly,” the Department-related Parliamentary Committee on Health and Family Welfare has suggested increasing the number of permissible attempts for the first professional MBBS examination. In its 172nd report presented to Parliament on April 9, 2026, the panel proposed increasing the limit from the current four attempts to six attempts.
Key Recommendations for Academic Flexibility
The committee noted that the foundational year of MBBS can be “overly stringent” as students struggle to adjust to the high intensity of medical subjects. The proposed changes include:
- Attempt Increase: A jump from the National Medical Commission (NMC) mandated four attempts to six for the 1st Professional Examination to prevent capable students from being forced out due to early setbacks.
- Course Duration Cap: The panel opined that while attempts should be flexible, the total duration to complete the undergraduate medical course should be capped at 10 years from the date of admission, up from the current nine-year limit.
- Mental Health Support: The recommendations aim to provide a more “humane framework” to reduce academic pressure and student stress.
Addressing Existing Bottlenecks
Currently, under NMC’s Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER) 2023, students are strictly barred from continuing the course if they fail to clear the first year in four attempts. The panel’s suggestion follows appeals from various medical associations, such as the United Doctors Front (UDF), which had sought “mercy attempts” for batches whose studies were disrupted by the pandemic.
Broader Reforms Suggested
The report also touched upon several other critical areas for the Ministry of Health:
- NExT Implementation: Reiteration of the need for the National Exit Test (NExT) to ensure uniform standards across all medical colleges.
- Infrastructure & Faculty: Urging the expansion of government medical colleges and addressing chronic faculty shortages to improve teaching quality.
- Allied Healthcare: Recommending that AIIMS Delhi establish a dedicated school for allied and healthcare professions.
