NMC eases norms on selection of external examiners for MBBS exams

Balwant Garg

Tribune News Service

Faridkot, February 4

Five months after allowing relaxations in norms for appointing external examiners for conducting practical examinations in clinical subjects for superspecialty (DM, MCh) medical courses  in view of Covid pandemic, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has now issued the modified guidelines with relaxations in the appointment of these examiners for MBBS exams too.

According the new advisory sent to all medical colleges and universities, in the first instance, the college/university must try to adhere to the existing norms regarding external examiners from other states. If it is not possible then the medical colleges/universities can select the external examiners from a different university in the state. These external examiners have to be physically present at the venue of the examination.

In case of states having all medical colleges under the same university, the State Health University, medical colleges may engage external examiners from any other college under the State Health University. Such external examiners should be physically present during the examination, reads the advisory, sent by NMC secretary Dr RK Vats.

Earlier, the NMC had received the representations from medical universities across the country, wherein the universities had expressed  difficulty in getting external examiners for conduct of exams due to restriction in travel imposed due to the pandemic situation. The representations had sought relaxation in the existing norms for conducting the exams regarding the appointment of external examiners.

Earlier, the Baba Farid University of Health Sciences in Punjab  avoided involving internal examiners as they were often biased in evaluating the answersheets of their students. It is alleged that  to get the favour of internal evaluators, some PG students run after them and even offer them gifts. Sources say sometimes teachers who are annoyed with students over something deliberately fail them in the final examination.