
The National Medical Commission recently introduced something completely new: students without biology in Class 12 may now study medicine. It is an important shift in the right direction, much more so as many doctor-wannabes will now be able to pursue medicine while pursuing some other subject during Class 12. Earlier, if one wished to pursue an MBBS degree, biology had to be his compulsorily taken subject. However, under the new set of NMC rules, students wanting to join privatemedical colleges in Kolkata or any other Indian city can take steps towards an MBBS career even if they have no background in biology. Why This Change Matters Until now, there has been no recognized pathway from Class 12 onwards for a student who had not done their biology. The NMC guidance establishes for the first time in history that medical education may well be inclusive and flexible, allowing every student who wants it the chance to progress to a career as a doctor. By dismantling barriers to e...