Accommodate dental grads of Agra University set to lose a year: DCI appeals to health ministry

LUCKNOW: The dental council of India (DCI) has made formal plea to the Union ministry of health and family welfare to extend the internship cut-off date from March 31 to June 30 for dental graduates of Agra University, who are likely to lose a year as they do not fulfil the eligibility criteria for NEET MDS set by the national board of examinations in medical sciences (NBEMS).

The final year exam results of 2018 batch students should have been released by March 31, 2023, but Agra University declared the results on April 5, 2024 "due to Covid pandemic".

Had the university declared the results timely, the internship of the 2018 batch would have culminated by March 31, 2024. However, many universities across India affected by Covid pandemic ensured to complete the internship by December 31, 2024 at least.

The step from DCI was taken after TOI reported about 150 Bachelor of Dental Surgery (BDS) students of the 2018 batch, at Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, running pillar to post for extension of internship cut-off date, as their university delayed completion of its academic session.

For majority of students at KD Dental College and Hospital, Mathura, and DJ College of Dental Sciences and Research, Ghaziabad, formerly affiliated to Dr Bhimrao Ambedkar University, Agra, their 12-month internship is likely to end by April 30 or by May end. It should have ended ideally a year earlier.

In a written statement to a TOI query, exam controller of Agra University said, "Due to Covid-19 pandemic, we conducted the examination of 2018 batch from Jan 11-24, 2024, and declared the result in April 2024."

According to NBEMS, those who wish to appear for NEET MDS (master's in dental surgery) 2025, have their internship completed by March 31. The last date to fill up the online form for National Eligibility cum Entrance Test (NEET) is March 10 (Monday).

Mukesh Kumar, secretary of DCI said, "Considering the gravity of the situation, we have already informed the Union ministry of health and family welfare and have sought extension of internship cut-off date. We are hopeful that the ministry will extend the cut-off date. Further, the ministry might extend the last date of filling forms for NEET MDS from March 10 to a further date."

"The DCI also has shared a Google spreadsheet with all dental colleges in India, asking them to share the details of students whose internship will culminate post March 31, making them ineligible for NEET MDS 2025," he added.