NMC Proposes Restoring 10-Year Limit for Completing MBBS Course

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has proposed restoring the maximum duration allowed for completing the MBBS programme to 10 years, including the compulsory rotatory medical internship, reversing a change introduced in 2023 that reduced the limit to nine years.

The proposal is part of a draft amendment to the Graduate Medical Education Regulations (GMER), 2023, which has been uploaded on the NMC website. The commission has invited comments and suggestions from stakeholders and the public within 30 days before finalising the revised regulations.

According to the draft amendment, students will continue to be restricted to a maximum of four attempts to clear the First Professional MBBS examination. However, those enrolled in the undergraduate medical programme will be allowed to remain in the course for up to 10 years from the date of admission, including the internship period.

The draft states, “Under no circumstances shall the student be allowed more than four attempts for the First Professional MBBS examination, and no student shall be allowed to continue the undergraduate medical course after 10 years from the date of joining the MBBS course, including the compulsory rotatory medical internship.”

The proposed change aligns the Graduate Medical Education Regulations with the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate (FMGL) Regulations, 2021, which already permit a maximum duration of 10 years for completing medical education requirements.

In June 2023, the NMC had reduced the maximum time limit for completing the MBBS course from 10 years to nine years as part of its revised regulations. However, the latest proposal seeks to restore the earlier provision, offering greater flexibility to students facing challenges during their medical studies.

According to officials, the proposed relaxation is expected to benefit students who encounter academic difficulties, health-related issues, personal emergencies, or other unforeseen circumstances that may delay their progress. The extended timeline would allow such students to complete their medical education without losing eligibility due to strict duration limits.

Medical education experts believe the move could provide much-needed relief to students while maintaining academic standards through the existing cap on examination attempts. The final decision on the amendment will be taken after the NMC reviews feedback received from stakeholders, medical institutions, and the public.

If approved, the revised regulation will restore the 10-year completion window for MBBS students across the country.