NMC gives MBBS students admitted since 2019-20 a fifth try at first-year exam
Representative image: u_9p7tw4noz0 / Pixabay
The NMC's October 15, 2026 notice gives eligible MBBS students admitted from 2019-20 one extra, fifth attempt to clear the first-year exam.
What Happened
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has given MBBS students who are stuck at the first-year stage one more chance to pass. In a public notice dated October 15, 2026, issued through its Undergraduate Medical Education Board, the regulator approved a one-time additional attempt at the First Professional MBBS examination for eligible students admitted from the 2019-20 academic year onwards. The move raises the ceiling from four attempts to five and follows a decision taken at the Commission's 18th meeting on September 23, 2026.
Key Facts
- The NMC notice is dated October 15, 2026, and was issued by its Undergraduate Medical Education Board.
- The decision was taken at the Commission's 18th meeting, held on September 23, 2026.
- Students admitted from the 2019-20 academic year onwards are covered.
- The maximum number of attempts at the First Professional exam rises from four to five for eligible students.
- Students who have crossed the four-year window can still use the attempt if their admission has not been cancelled.
- Students who already took a mercy attempt under an earlier NMC decision or a court order, and so reached five attempts, are excluded; no sixth attempt is allowed.
- The 10-year limit to finish the whole MBBS course, including the internship, is unchanged.
Why It Matters
The first year of MBBS covers anatomy, physiology and biochemistry, and it is the stage where many students who struggle tend to get stuck. Under the existing rules, a student gets four attempts to clear the First Professional exam. Those who run out of attempts face losing their seat, which can mean the end of a medical career that began with years of NEET preparation and, for many families, heavy fees. Students in this position had warned of expulsion, and a challenge to the four-attempt cap was dismissed by the Delhi High Court in 2022, which held that the rule was not arbitrary. The new notice does not change that rule for the future. It offers a single extra chance to a defined group.
The Commission has linked the relief to the disruption caused by COVID-19, along with health problems and personal difficulties that students raised in representations. The batches admitted from 2019-20 onwards are the ones whose early years of study overlapped with lockdowns, online teaching and delayed exams. The NMC has described the relaxation as a transitional measure for pending cases and has said it should not be read as a precedent for later batches.
This is not the first such step. In 2023 the regulator allowed a fifth attempt for the 2020-21 batch. The latest notice closes the door on anyone who has already benefited from that or a similar order: a student who has used five attempts, whether through an earlier Commission decision or a court direction, cannot claim a sixth.
| Rule | Before the notice | After the notice |
|---|---|---|
| Attempts at First Professional MBBS | Four | Five, once, for eligible students |
| Students past the four-year window | Out of attempts | Eligible if admission still valid |
| Students with an earlier mercy attempt | Five used | No further attempt |
| Time limit for the full MBBS course | 10 years | 10 years, unchanged |
Impact
Short-term: Eligible students can now prepare for one more sitting of the first-year exam instead of facing removal from their course. Universities and medical colleges have been asked to process eligible cases, so students will need to check with their own college and university about the next exam date and any paperwork.
Long-term: The relief does not buy extra time overall. Because the 10-year limit to finish MBBS, including the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship, still applies, a student who clears the first year late will have less room to repeat later phases. The NMC's statement that this sets no precedent signals that future batches should not expect similar relaxations.
Who is affected: MBBS students admitted from 2019-20 onwards who have not yet passed the First Professional exam and whose admission is still valid, their families, and the medical colleges and health sciences universities that will have to arrange the extra attempt.
Key Takeaway
The NMC has given eligible MBBS students admitted since 2019-20 one final, fifth attempt at the first-year exam, but the 10-year course limit stays and no one gets a sixth try.
Questions and Answers
Who can take the extra MBBS first-year attempt announced by the NMC?
Students admitted to MBBS from the 2019-20 academic year onwards who have not yet cleared the First Professional exam and whose admission has not been cancelled by their university or college. It also covers those who have gone past the normal four-year window for the first year.
How many attempts does a student now get at the First Professional MBBS exam?
The usual limit is four. Under the October 15, 2026 notice, eligible students get one more, making five in total. The relaxation is one-time only.
I already got a fifth attempt through a court order. Can I take one more?
No. The NMC has said students who have already used a mercy attempt under an earlier Commission decision or a court direction, and so reached five attempts, are not eligible, and no sixth attempt will be allowed.
Does the extra attempt give more time to finish the MBBS degree?
No. Students must still complete the whole course, including the compulsory rotating internship, within 10 years of admission. The extra attempt does not extend that limit.
Disclaimer: Prepared by the Peepals newsroom from publicly available sources with AI assistance. Information is accurate to the best of our knowledge at the time of publication and may change. Images may be representative. Not professional advice. Report an error via our contact page.
Sourced and fact-checked by the Peepals Global Editorial Team
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