New Delhi: The National Medical Commission has approved a one-time additional attempt for eligible MBBS students admitted from the 2019-20 academic year onwards to clear the First Professional MBBS Examination. This additional attempt seeks to offer relief to students who have exhausted the prescribed four attempts.
According to a public notice issued by the NMC's Undergraduate Medical Education Board on October 15, the decision was taken at the Commission's 18th meeting held on September 23, 2026, following representations from students, universities, and other stakeholders.
The notice said the requests for an additional attempt had been made in view of exceptional circumstances, including disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, health-related issues, and other personal difficulties.
Students admitted to the MBBS course from the 2019-20 academic year and onwards shall be permitted one additional attempt over and above the prescribed four attempts, making a total of five attempts for passing the First Professional MBBS Examination.
The additional attempt will also be available to eligible students who have crossed the prescribed four-year period for completing the First Professional MBBS course, provided their admission remains valid and has not been cancelled by the concerned university or college.
However, the relief will not extend to students who have already availed a mercy attempt and exhausted five attempts under an earlier Commission decision or a court direction. The NMC clarified that such students shall not be entitled to any further mercy attempt under the present decision, and the relaxation would not permit a sixth attempt.
The Commission has also stated that the additional attempt will not extend the maximum overall duration prescribed for completing the MBBS course, including the applicable period of the Compulsory Rotating Medical Internship.
Describing the decision as a limited transitional measure, the notice said the aforesaid relaxation is a one-time exceptional transitional measure intended to provide relief in eligible pending cases before the Commission.
It further clarified that the decision would not be treated as a precedent for subsequent academic batches or as a retrospective application of amended regulations governing the permissible number of examination attempts.
The NMC has advised all concerned universities, medical colleges, and other stakeholders to take note of the decision and process eligible cases in accordance with the conditions specified in the public notice.