NO MBBS in Hindi: Medical Council of India Rejects Bhopal-based Universitys Request

Bhopal: In an unfavourable decision towards medical aspirants who are constantly struggling due to the domination of English language on medical examinations, the Medical Council of India (MCI) has rejected the request of the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi Vishwavidyalaya, Bhopal to teach MBBS in Hindi language.

The matter has been in the news for many years now. Set up in 2011, the university had demanded from the apex Medical regulator to give an option to students pursuing MBBS degree course to write their exams in Hindi, as long as it is not possible for it to have Hindi as another medium of instruction.

Following the same, a proposal was submitted by Bhopal-based Atal Bihari Vajpayee Hindi University which sought permission from the council to start MBBS courses in Hindi in 2016. The proposal was brought up in the executive council meeting of MCI, with the view that if books and medical journals are available then there is no issue in granting permission to allow the varsity to start MBBS course in Hindi as MCI conducts medical entrance examination in Hindi too. The council responding to the same sought a detailed report from the varsity on the availability of books, journals and resources in Hindi.

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However, it seems that the council now is not favouring the offering of the course in Hindi. The MCI has examined the matter of imparting medical education in Hindi as a medium of instruction and decided against it, citing "paucity" of adequate teaching and learning resource material in the language while observing that English gives graduates a global exposure.

"In an era of internationalization and information and communication technology ruling the roost, it is difficult to conclude and recommend that situation is ripe and appropriate to avail Hindi as a medium of instruction for undergraduate medical education."

The apex medical council cited several constraints that the medicos would have had to face if they opt for writing medical courses examinations in Hindi including:

• Paucity of adequate learning material in Hindi language- "Bulk of the learning resource material on the said count is handy and mostly available in English which facilitates the timely incorporation and required dispensation in teaching and learning at undergraduate medical education."


• English more acceptable abroad for its refusal to grant permission- On the international front too, the language availed as a medium of instruction for medical education is English. Examples of developed, developing as well as neighboring countries having English as a medium of instruction for medical education were also given. "It is precisely on the strength that medium of instruction in India is English, the Graduates in a realistic sense have international opportunities open and available to them in a handy manner which adds to their exposure, experience and update as well in a roundabout manner."

Saying that it has to be borne in mind that the quality centricity of medical education has to keep pace with the scientific and technological advancement which is galloping as of now at a very fast pace, the medical council added,

"It is inevitably required to ensure that these advancements are appropriately incorporated in the curriculum and syllabi in a timely manner, so as to keep a proper pace with it."

The MCI expressed fear on the repercussions that it would have to face if it allows the mother tongue language in a multilingual country. It said,

"As such the Committee feels it imperative to place it record that in a multilingual country where official languages are included in a specific schedule appended to the constitution and the states having been reorganized on the linguistic basis, configuration of Hindi alone as a language as medium of instruction in medical education would not suffice. There would be demands from the States to have their respective state languages to be availed as a medium of instruction for medical education which would add to the multiplicity to the issue at hand."

As such taking into consideration the realities that operate as of now, including the diligent concern for the future of the medical graduates and Postgraduates that have been churned out of the educational system in the country, the Committee considered,

"The earlier recommendations made to the effect that during the pendency of generation of adequate teaching learning resource material for imparting medical education which could include text books, reference books, journals and enabling supporting learning resource material in Hindi, through structured mechanism which ought to be standing in character so that it does not turn out to be a one-time generating mechanism but operates in an open ended continual manner. It would not be wise and prudent to avail Hindi as a medium of instruction at undergraduate medical education at this juncture."

Of the total 450 medical colleges across the country, only 150 colleges are in the Hindi-speaking States while the remaining are in the Southern States.

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