MBBS Student's Tragic Death in Kalyani Under Investigation Amid Exam Stress Concerns
The mysterious death of Pulak Haldar, a final-year student at the College of Medicine and JNM Hospital (CoMJNMH) in Kalyani, near Kolkata, is currently under investigation by authorities. Sources from the campus have indicated that Haldar was experiencing tremendous study pressure in the lead-up to the final MBBS examinations, which are scheduled to commence on March 5.
Mental Health Struggles and Academic Reluctance
According to insider reports, Haldar was reluctant to write the upcoming examinations and had recently consulted a mental health expert for symptoms of depression. This tragic incident has brought renewed attention to the mental well-being of medical students, who often face intense academic demands and high-stakes assessments.
Increased Academic Burden Due to NMC Syllabus Changes
This academic year marks a significant shift for final-year MBBS students, as they are now required to write examinations for six critical clinical subjects: medicine, gynaecology, surgery, paediatrics, ENT, and ophthalmology. Notably, ENT and ophthalmology are two additional subjects this year, which were previously part of the MBBS third-year curriculum.
Final-year MBBS students have revealed to sources that in previous academic sessions, they were allotted 18 months to complete four subjects. However, changes introduced by the National Medical Commission (NMC) have compressed this timeline. The NMC had initially proposed replacing the final MBBS exam with a new concept called the National Exit Test (NExT) starting this year. Although this plan was ultimately put on hold due to legal, infrastructure, and logistical challenges, it has left students with only 11 months to prepare for six clinical subjects, significantly increasing their academic workload.
Enhanced Examination Security Measures
In response to these changes and to maintain integrity, professional MBBS exams across all medical colleges are now conducted with heightened security. Examinations are live-streamed from halls, and every student undergoes frisking by security personnel, ensuring a controlled and monitored environment.
This combination of increased academic pressure, syllabus modifications, and stringent exam protocols has created a challenging atmosphere for medical students, highlighting the need for balanced support systems and mental health resources in educational institutions.
