New Delhi: The proposal forms part of the draft Graduate Medical Education (Amendment) Regulations, 2026, which have been published by the NMC for public consultation. Stakeholders have been asked to submit their comments and objections within 30 days before the regulations are finalised.

Under the proposed changes, MBBS students would be allowed up to 10 years from the date of admission to complete both the academic course and compulsory internship. Currently, students are required to finish the programme within nine years.

The draft regulations, however, do not propose any changes to the rules governing the first year of the MBBS course. Students will continue to have only four attempts to clear their first-year examinations, failing which they will be barred from continuing the programme.

According to the NMC, while the additional year is intended to provide flexibility to students facing academic, personal or other challenges, the existing first-year eligibility criteria will remain intact. The commission believes the move could help more students successfully complete their medical education without compromising academic standards.

The proposal comes amid ongoing discussions in the higher education sector, including a recent controversy at Gujarat University over delays in the declaration of recruitment examination results. DeshGujarat