NExT Exam Update: NMC Received 36,000 Responses on NExT Regulations

New Delhi: In the latest update regarding the much anticipated National Exit Test (NExT) exam, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has received around 36,000 responses on the NMC National Exit Test Regulations, 2023, officials at the Commission informed Medical Dialogues.

While the Apex Medical Commission is considering these responses, it is still unknown when the proposed common exit cum licentiate examination will be implemented.

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that amidst the debate and uncertainty regarding the conduct of NExT exam, NMC made the issue open to all the stakeholders. Recently, issuing a notice, the Apex Medical Commission asked the stakeholders to submit their feedback on the NMC National Exit Test Regulations, 2023, by 07.02.2024. Later, this deadline for submitting feedback was further extended by the Commission by 10 days.

Sharing the feedback form with the stakeholders, the Commission had asked students, faculties, institutes and others various questions on the proposed National Exit Test examination.

They were asked to submit their opinion on whether the NExT exam should replace the conventional MBBS final year exam, held separately in addition to the MBBS final year exam, or be conducted in any other manner.

Stakeholders were also asked to share their opinions on various aspects such as the time manner, pattern, method of the exam including the question time, and syllabus, Further, the feedback form also included questions regarding the number of supplementary chances allowed for the exam (one/two/other), and the number of NExT exams and counselling conducted in an academic year etc.

NMC also told the stakeholders to share their opinions on whether the NExT exam should serve as a qualifying exam for the MBBS final year exam, as a licentiate exam, or as an entrance examination for the PG course. The said form also contains an open-ended feedback field regarding the regulations.

The issue of the NExT exam has been making waves in the medical fraternity ever since its first announcement. Although last year NMC released the NMC NExT regulations 2023 in the official Gazette on June 28, 2023, and announced conducting the exam for the 2019 MBBS batch, it was ultimately put on hold for an indefinite time and the proposed mock test for the exam was also cancelled.

Even though NMC had announced that the NExT exam would be implemented from the 2019 MBBS batch, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced at an event at AIIMS Raipur that there will be no NExT Exam for the 2019 MBBS Batch and the exam will not replace the final MBBS examinations. Consequently, based on the directions and advice of the Union Health Ministry, NMC deferred the NExT examination until further notice from the Ministry.

Thereafter, the Union Health Ministry has constituted a seven-member committee to look into the preparedness of States and medical colleges for the implementation of the exam for the final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch.