Despite repeated praise from Madhya Pradesh Health Minister and Deputy Chief Minister Rajendra Shukla over the State’s push to make MBBS education more accessible through Hindi, the ground reality tells a more complex story. While the initiative was launched with the intention of easing the learning curve for medical students from Hindi-medium backgrounds, students and experts alike are expressing growing concerns about its practicality, especially in a profession where English remains the global standard. Launched in 2022, Madhya Pradesh became the first state in India to introduce MBBS textbooks in Hindi.

 

The move was hailed as historic by the State Government, aiming to democratise medical education and bridge linguistic barriers for students from rural and non-English backgrounds. Nearly three years after its launch, the Hindi-medium MBBS program has seen limited acceptance among students, with most continuing to study and write exams in English. At Gandhi Medical College (GMC), Bhopal, one of the premier government medical colleges in the State, faculty members and students report that the majority still choose to study and write exams in English. Dr Rakesh Malviye, President of the Madhya Pradesh Medical Teachers Association, and a senior faculty member at GMC Bhopal, shared, “We have more than 700 MBBS students at GMC,

 

but I have not come across a single exam copy written in Hindi. While the university claims 10–15% of students are writing answers in Hindi, there is no formal system to track language preference until answer sheets are evaluated. In my experience, I haven’t received any such paper in Hindi.” The Madhya Pradesh Medical Science University, the affiliating body for medical colleges in the State, maintains that some students are indeed studying in Hindi. However, students themselves remain sceptical. Speaking anonymously, several medical students pointed out that medical terminology in English is more precise and easier to grasp than its Hindi translations, which often feel forced or overly complex. One student remarked,

 

“Terms like ‘myocardial infarction’ are universally understood. Its Hindi translation not only sounds alien but also makes it harder to connect with international literature or even standard national textbooks.” Another concern is about career progression. While MBBS in Hindi may be feasible at the undergraduate level, students worry about postgraduate medical education (MD/MS), which is conducted entirely in English. “NEET-PG is a national exam. We may get a seat in South India, Maharashtra, or West Bengal, places where Hindi isn’t used at all in academics or clinical practice,” a student said. “If our foundation in English is weak, we’ll lag behind in PG studies.” Experts also point out the sheer volume and complexity of postgraduate medical education make translation into Hindi extremely difficult, if not impractical. Unlike MBBS, which has limited core subjects,

 

PG courses involve niche specialisations with vast international literature, frequent updates, and research papers, almost all in English. Interestingly, some students credit Artificial Intelligence tools like ChatGPT and translation apps for helping bridge the language gap. “With AI, we can translate any concept instantly and clarify doubts. That’s why sticking to English makes more sense, it’s already the global standard, and now it’s easier to understand than ever,” said a second-year student from GMC. While the Government continues to push Hindi in medical education as a symbol of regional pride and accessibility, on the ground, students are making decisions based on long-term career viability and global relevance.