The All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Nagpur MBBS students have finally gotten their demand to abolish the uniform clothing rule after months of social media demonstrations. Days after the students and the new executive director, Dr. MH Rao, met to discuss their concerns, the decision was made. The mess, hostel, and campus admission times have also been loosened, allowing students to be up to five minutes late without being suspended, in addition to the alteration in the clothing code.

According to their social media posts, this judgment is the first significant success for students who have been battling these regulations since 2018. After the then-director Major General (ret.) Vibha Dutta, refused to respond to their demands, the students resorted to Twitter in December of last year to vent their complaints.

After Dutta’s stint at AIIMS Nagpur came to an end, Dr. Rao was recently given extra responsibility. He has received appreciation for his handling of student criticism. To make sure the students were at ease and could speak freely, he met with them behind closed doors without the instructors there. The students made long-overdue demands during the meeting, including the removal of the clothing code and an easing of the rigid entry, lodging, and meal schedules.

Boys can now follow the new dress code by donning formal trousers and a full-sleeved shirt, while girls can either wear a salwar kurta with sleeves or formal trousers and a full-sleeved shirt. This change was notified in a note from the dean (academics), Dr. Mrunal Phatak. Every student is required to wear black shoes, socks, and an apron with the institute’s insignia on the half-sleeve.

The opening hours of the learning resource facility have been increased from 7 a.m. to midnight, with campus hours beginning at 11 pm and hostel hours beginning at 2 a.m. Hostel in-timing used to start at 11 p.m. The adjustments are anticipated to increase student comfort and lessen the strain of rigid restrictions, allowing students to concentrate on their coursework and other campus activities.