NMC lowers pass marks to 40% in MBBS to focus on competency-based learning Candidates scoring 40% in theory, 60% in practicals will be declared qualified in the subject

NMC lowers pass marks to 40% in MBBS to focus on competency-based learning Candidates scoring 40% in theory, 60% in practicals will be declared qualified in the subject

Ayushi.Gupta1@timesgroup.com 

Education Times 11.09.2023

The undergraduate medical education board under the National Medical Commission (NMC) has recently reduced the passing marks to 40% in MBBS subjects. This amendment was done under the Competency Based Medical Education Regulation (CBME)2023 guidelines that are responsible for regulating the curriculum, MBBS admission process, and academic calendar among others. As per the latest update, MBBS students should obtain 50% aggregate marks and 60:40 (minimum) or 40:60 (minimum) in university conducted exams separately in theory and in practical (including clinical and viva voce) in order to pass the subjects. 

Dr Somashekhar SP, global director, Aster International Institute of Oncology, says, “The changes have been made by the NMC due to the evolving medical education standards, feedback from medical educators, and the changing healthcare landscape. This formula typically refers to the weightage given to theoretical (written) and practical (clinical) assessments. For example, 40% of the assessment may be based on written exams and 60% on clinical evalua tions or vice versa. This approach aims to ensure that students have a well-rounded skill set.” 

Lowering the pass percentage in the MBBS exam will align the assessment criteria with the CBME approach, which focuses on competency-based evaluation rather than traditional percentage-based grading, adds Dr Somashekhar. NMC aims to increase the number of doctors to manage the increasing healthcare demand. “To maintain the fine balance in society, this will increase the number of primary healthcare providers in villages and smaller cities. 

This model is similar to China’s ‘barefoot doctors,’ who were clinically skilled doctors supporting the people living in the inte riors. This guideline should help in controlling the number of quacks operating in the rural areas,” says Dr Ravi Kant, former vice-chancellor, King George’s Medical University, Lucknow. The students will focus more on clinical training during the degree course, Dr Raj Vardhan, OSD chairman, NIIMS Hospital, Noida International University, says, “Medical students must focus more on gaining comprehensive knowledge and skills rather than just aiming to pass exams. This will encourage a deeper understanding of the subjects,” adds Dr Vardhan, underlining how the guidelines will improve the quality of medical education, aligning it with international standards and addressing specific challenges faced during medical training. 

MBBS students often prefer practising just after completing their degree to enhance their clinical skills, NMC has come up with the 40:60 and 60:40 formula, says Dr Ravi Kant. “Every student who wants to pursue specialisation will be given indepth knowledge about their subjects during the programme. NMC’s focus here has shifted from enhancing students’ theoretical concepts to making them clinically skilled doctors who can serve the primary healthcare as we do not need super specialists everywhere,” he adds.