Ukraine, China returnees to be given one chance to clear MBBS final exam without enrolling in Indian college: Centre to Supreme Court

In what could be a major relief to medical students who were forced to return mid-way through their MBBS courses from colleges in Ukraine and China, the Central government has decided to give them one chance to clear the MBBS final examinations without enrolling in any Indian medical colleges [Archika v National Medical Commission]..The Central government informed the Supreme Court of this decision in an affidavit filed by it.The government affidavit was filed in response to a plea filed by Indian medical students who had returned from Ukraine in the penultimate year of studies.The students prayed that they should be allowed to continue their studies in India.According to the affidavit, the issue was deliberated upon in several meetings of a committee chaired by the Directorate General of Health Services which comprises the National Medical Council (NMC) and concerned Central Ministries.The committee, after consulting with representatives from various States and Union Territories, made the following recommendations for the students who have been attending online classes since their return:The students may be offered a single chance to clear the MBBS Final, both Part 1 and Part 2 (Theory and Practical) as per the existing NMC syllabus and guidelines without being enrolled in any of the existing Indian medical colleges.Students can give and clear the examination within a period of one year; Part, followed by Part 2 after one year. The students will be allowed to attempt Part 2, after their have cleared Part 1. The theory exam would be conducted centrally and physically on the same pattern as the Indian MBBS examination. The practical exam could be conducted by some designated government medical colleges that are assigned the responsibility.After clearing the two exams, students have to complete the compulsory 2 year rotatory internship, the first of which will be free and the second year will be paid.The affidavit also made it clear that this is a one-time option for the present matter only and that will not be treated as a precedent for issues in the future. .The petitioners in the present case had earlier told the top court that a committee on External Affairs in its report had made a recommendation to the Union Health Ministry to consider allowing Indian private medical institutions to enrol Ukraine returnee students to pursue their education in their institutions as a one-time measure.However, this was not acted upon, leaving the fate of 14,000 odd students in the lurch, the petitioners contended.They also argued that that the NMC had selectively extended relief only to those students who had completed their degrees and had clinical training and internship remaining.The action of the NMC to not extend any benefit to the students currently in the midst of their courses, unlike what the All-India Council for Technical Education had done for other students, is ex-facie arbitrary and discriminatory, it was contended..Have liaised with other countries for Ukraine returnee students to complete medical education: Centre informs Supreme Court