The Institute of Medicine (IoM) has said the MBBS entrance exam on December 2 will be held under tight security.

According to Dr Jagdish Agrawal, dean of the IoM, apart from strict security checks, jammers and metal detectors will also be in place.

The IoM is re-conducting the MBBS entrance exam after annulling the earlier test held on October 14 following confirmation from police and the Tribhuvan University’s investigations that question papers were leaked. 

The exam will be held from 10am to 12pm at seven centres which will be guarded by Nepal Police. 

No students will be allowed to leave the exam halls during the 10am-12pm period. 

“We have asked all the examinees to be present at their respective exam centre an hour before the exam given the lengthy security procedure,” said Dr Agrawal. 

No electronic devices—watch, mobile phones, calculator, tablets and earphones among others—will be allowed in the examination hall, he added. Even pens for the examinees will be provided by the IoM.  

The exam will be held at Little Angles’ School and College, Hattiban; DAV School and College, Dhobighat; Institute of Engineering, Pulchowk; Advanced College of Engineering and Management, Kupandole; Bhanubhakta Memorial Secondary School, Panipokhari; and Maharajgunj Medical Campus, Maharajgunj. 

International examinees will have to take their exam at Maharajgunj Nursing Campus, Maharajgunj. 

According to the IoM, 8,731 Nepali students have applied for the exam. 

To keep fake examines at bay, Dr Agrawal said, admit cards will be tallied with the original records kept at the IoM, which will ensure no one can enter the exam hall with a photoshopped ID.

Fifteen persons were arrested after they were found using electronic devices to cheat during the earlier exam.

Though it has been confirmed by the police and TU that question papers were leaked, it is not clear yet as to how it happened.

For Saturday’s test, the IoM is planning to invite office bearers from the TU and Nepal Medical Council as observers.

Police said people who were arrested with wireless devices had received phone calls when the entrance examination was being held.

Also, some of the answers that were circulated through Viber were later confirmed to be correct.

Police say they do not have evidence to show IoM officials’ involvement in question leak.