NMC Demands Probe into Alleged MBBS Exam Leak at Bihar Medical Institute

The National Medical Commission (NMC) has formally requested a state-led investigation into allegations that the second-semester MBBS examination at Bihar's Indira Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (IGIMS) was leaked in December 2024. The move follows a complaint filed by social activist Vikash Chandra from Patna, who claims a large-scale examination scam involving college staff compromised the supplementary exam.

In a letter to the Director of Medical Education, Bihar, a deputy secretary of the NMC cited written complaints and an internal inquiry panel's preliminary finding of irregularities. The NMC has urged the state government to conduct a thorough probe and take appropriate action.

This development occurs amid heightened scrutiny of medical entrance and examination processes in India. Recent protests over leaks in the NEET-UG examinations led to the resignation of Union Education Minister Dharmendra Pradhan, underscoring public concern over the integrity of the country's medical education system.

According to Chandra's complaint, the alleged leak affected the December 2024 supplementary exam for second-semester MBBS students at IGIMS. He has accused unnamed college staff of involvement in the scam. The NMC has not yet commented on the specifics of the allegations.

The Bihar government has not publicly responded to the NMC's request. The state's medical education department is expected to initiate an inquiry as per the commission's directive.

IGIMS, a premier medical institute in Patna, has not issued a statement on the matter. Efforts to reach the institute's administration for comment were unsuccessful.

The NMC, as the apex regulatory body for medical education in India, has the authority to recommend or oversee inquiries into irregularities at medical colleges. Its intervention in this case highlights the seriousness of the allegations.