Medical students from Maharashtra will now be allowed only two attempts for the superspecialty entrance examination for admission to post–graduate courses. Further attempts would be permitted only after the students put in the mandatory oneyear service in rural areas.

Earlier, there was no limit on the number of attempts for the entrance examination. Students would often avoid the rural stint saying they were preparing for the exam.

According to a government resolution (GR) in
2007, a student seeking admission to the MBBS course has to sign a bond of Rs 5 lakh and Rs 50 lakh for postgraduate courses. A student wanting to skip rural service stands to forfeit the bond amount.

Pravin Shingare, director, directorate of medical education and research, said, “Many students skip the one–year rural service by giving the excuse that they are preparing for the entrance for the super specialty post–graduate course. We have now put a ceiling on the number of attempts.”

Ajay Chandanwale, dean, BJ Medical College, said, “Students must accept the government rules and regulations. If they are not able to clear the entrance examination, they must serve in the rural areas for a year. There will be no limit to the number of attempts for the entrance exam after that.”

The state government has clarified that there is no limit on the number of attempts for students not from Maharashtra.