Do not charge for NExT Mock Test: Health Ministry directs NMC

New Delhi: Amid the backlash from the medical fraternity against the huge fees for appearing in the mock test examination for the National Exit Test (NExT), the Union Health Ministry has asked the National Medical Commission to consider waiving the same.

After this direction from the Union Health Ministry, deliberations have begun at the apex medical education regulatory body NMC, adds PTI.

The mock test for NExT will be conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), Delhi, on July 28. Final year MBBS students of the 2019 batch will be allowed appear in the examination.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that after addressing apprehensions regarding the conduction of NExT, NMC released the information brochure for the mock/practice test of the NExT exam.

According to the Information Brochure, the Mock Test is going to be conducted on July 28, 2023, and the registration for this started on 28th June. The application fee for the test is Rs 2,000 for the candidates belonging to the General and OBC Categories. For the applicants belonging to SC, ST, and EWS categories, the application fee is Rs 1,000. Persons with Disabilities are not being charged any fees for appearing in the mock test.

Soon after the Information Brochure was published, the medical students who are going to appear in the NExT exam and the doctors expressed their disappointment with this rule of charging fees for appearing in the mock test.

The aspirants and the doctors slammed NMC and alleged that charging such huge fees was another way for the authorities to earn money. They were demanding that the mock/practice examination should be free of charge and the aspirants should be allowed to appear in it from their homes.

Also Read: Rs 1000 to Rs 2000 for NExT Mock Test: Doctors, Students Slam NMC for Charging Huge Fees

Bringing good news to the aspirants, now the Union Health Ministry has reportedly asked the NMC to consider waiving the fees for the mock NExT exam and consequently deliberations have begun at NMC.

AIIMS, Delhi has been entrusted with the job of conducting the mock test. It will be a computer-based examination consisting of multiple-choice questions, sources said.

The aim of conducting the mock test is to familiarise the prospective candidates with the computer-based test, software interface and process flow at the examination centres.

The NMC issued the NExT (National Exit Test) Regulations, 2023 on Friday, stating that the exam will be held in two phases, with the NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 exams being held twice a year.

In a gazette notification, the NMC said the NExT shall form the basis of certifying the eligibility of a medical graduate to register to practise the modern system of medicine in India and therefore, serve as a licentiate examination.

It will also form the basis for determining the eligibility and ranking for the purpose of admission of those desirous of pursuing further postgraduate medical education in the country in broad medical specialities and therefore, serve as an entrance examination for admission to courses of PG medical education.

After clearing NExT Step 1, they will be doing an internship for a year and their NExT Step 1 score will be considered for admission into postgraduate courses.

After the internship, the medical students will have to clear NExT Step 2 to become eligible for getting the licence and registration to practise modern medicine in India.

Foreign medical graduates who want to practise in India will have to appear in NExT Step 1, do the internship and then, clear NExT Step 2 to become eligible for the same.

The sample questions in the mock or practice test will only exemplify the pattern and format of NExT Step 1.

NExT Step 1 will have six subject papers with respective weightage in items and time allocation.

According to the NMC Act, NExT will serve as a common qualifying final-year MBBS exam, a licentiate exam to practise modern medicine and for merit-based admission to postgraduate courses and a screening exam for foreign medical graduates who want to practise in India.

The government, in September last year, invoked the provisions of the NMC Act by which the time limit for conducting the NExT for final-year MBBS students was extended till September 2024.

Also Read: Doctors, students slam NMC for NExT mock test fee