The Post Graduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) has issued an important clarification regarding the submission of dissertations and theses for postgraduate (PG) medical students. According to the NMC, PG medical students will not be barred from sitting for their final exams even if they have not yet received approval for their dissertation or thesis from their Head of Department (HoD).
This clarification comes as a relief to many students who were worried about the mandatory nature of thesis approval before being eligible for their final examinations.
Background: Thesis Submission Confusion
The NMC’s clarification, outlined in a letter dated August 28, 2024, addresses concerns raised by medical colleges and institutions. These concerns stemmed from a previous public notice released on June 13, 2024, which had set a deadline for completing the final examinations by December 31, 2024. However, the notice led to confusion among students and institutions regarding whether thesis submission was a mandatory prerequisite for appearing in the final exams.
To address these concerns, an online meeting was held on July 31, 2024. This meeting included stakeholders such as representatives from various health universities, who discussed the thesis submission issue as it relates to the PG Broad Specialty batch of 2021.
Clarification on Thesis Submission Requirement
During the July 31 meeting, it was clarified that the issue of thesis submission should be decided according to the provisions of the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER-23). The NMC letter states, “It was clarified during this meeting that as the agenda of the meeting was on the scheduling of examinations, therefore, the issue of the thesis may be decided according to the provisions of PGMER-2023. Subsequently, the Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik, in a letter dated 01-08-2024 and other stakeholders have sought clarification on this matter.”
Dissertation Guidelines in PGMER-23
In response to the confusion, the NMC referred to the Post Graduate Medical Education Regulations, 2023 (PGMER-23), which were officially published on January 1, 2024. These regulations provide clear guidelines on the role of the dissertation or thesis in the examination process.
Regulation 5.2 (ii) of PGMER-23 mandates that all broad specialty and super specialty students must undertake thesis-related research and write a thesis as part of their academic requirements.
Thesis Marks in Final Exams
The NMC letter further explains that Regulation 8.4 of PGMER-23 specifies that the dissertation or thesis will contribute 5% of the total marks for the clinical, practical, and viva voce examinations. This means that the thesis will account for 20 marks out of the total marks for these components. According to the NMC letter, “External examiner outside the state will evaluate dissertation/ thesis and take viva voce on it and marks will be given on quality of dissertation/thesis and performance on its viva voce.”
HoD’s Approval Not Mandatory for Final Exams
The most significant takeaway from the NMC’s clarification is that PG medical students will not be prohibited from appearing for their final exams if they have not yet received approval from their HoD for their dissertation or thesis. Instead, the dissertation will contribute a fixed percentage of marks to the clinical, practical, and viva voce exams. This ensures that while the thesis is an important part of the examination process, it is not the sole determinant of a student’s eligibility to appear for their final exams.
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