Only 248 out of 250 MBBS students at Sawai Man Singh Medical College are deemed ineligible for final exams, with only 2 students permitted to appear for the upcoming examinations starting on December 21. The situation has gained attention on social media, raising questions about the eligibility criteria.
SMS Medical College, with 250 MBBS seats, conducts classes in the college and practical training in SMS Hospital. The final-year students, part of the 2020 batch, need to pass all 19 subjects to complete their MBBS degree. Recently, a letter from Avtar Singh Dua, Head of the Department of Community Medicine, declared only one student eligible for the Community Medicine exam, and a subsequent letter allowed only two students to appear for the subject.
According to the Education Department, the eligibility decision is based on low attendance, following the rules of the National Medical Commission (NMC). Students must meet NMC criteria, including 75% attendance in classes and a minimum of 80% attendance in practicals to be eligible for exams and degrees.
However, students argue that the department lacks complete attendance records, especially for the second and third years, as many classes were conducted online during the COVID-19 pandemic. They claim that warnings about low attendance were addressed by allowing additional classes, but despite efforts, 248 students were deemed ineligible due to insufficient attendance.
Dr. Narendra Singh Damor, President of the Jaipur Association of Resident Doctors, criticizes the decision, urging the college administration to reconsider the well-being and future of the affected students. The students face the prospect of being one semester behind, extending the typical six-year MBBS course duration to potentially six years and six months.
