NMC draft keeps FMGE for provisional, NMR registration of foreign medical graduates until NExT exam rollout
NExT Exam
New Delhi: The exact timeline for the implementation of the proposed common exit-licentiate examination for doctors i.e. the National Exit Test (NExT), remains unclear, with the National Medical Commission (NMC) new draft Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine (Amendment) Regulations 2026 continuing to retain the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) as the qualifying examination for FMGs until NExT comes into force.
The NMC has proposed amendments to the Registration of Medical Practitioners and Licence to Practice Medicine Regulations, 2023.
While the 2023 regulations had specified that foreign medical graduates are required to qualify the NExT exam to get provisional registration, in the new Draft amendment, the Commission has reiterated that FMGs will continue to be required to qualify the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), the existing screening test, for provisional registration and registration in the National Medical Register (NMR) until the NExT exam is implemented.
Here's what the Draft mentions regarding the National Exit Test:
(1) Regulation 3 clause (ii) of the 2023 Regulations mentioned-
"(ii) Any person who obtains a foreign medical qualification and qualifies the National Exit Test (NExT) held under section 15 of the Act, and fulfils conditions specified in the Foreign Medical Graduate Regulations, 2021 may also be granted provisional registration for doing internship by the concerned State Medical Council."
However, NMC has now proposed to substitute the same with the following:
"(ii) Any FMG who obtains a foreign medical qualification and qualifies the Foreign Medical Graduate Examinations (FMGE) or until National Exit Test (NEXT) comes into force held under section 15 of the Act, and fulfils conditions specified in the Foreign Medical Graduate Licentiate Regulations, 2021 may also be granted provisional registration for doing internship by the concerned State Medical Council."
(2) Similarly, Regulation 4 clause (ii) under the 2023 regulations mentioned the following:
"clause (ii) - Any person who obtains a foreign medical qualification and qualifies the National Exit Test held under section 15 of the Act, shall also be entitled for grant of registration in NMR, subject to fulfillment of conditions specified in the Foreign Medical Graduates Regulation, 2021."
However, in the new Draft, NMC has proposed to substitute the same with the following:
"(ii). Any FMG who obtains a foreign medical qualification and qualifies the Foreign Medical Graduate Examinations (FMGE) or until the National Exit Test (NEXT) held under section 15 of the Act, shall also be entitled for grant of registration in NMR, subject to fulfillment of conditions specified in the Foreign Medical Graduates Licentiate Regulation, 2021."
The NExT Controversy:
Ever since its first announcement, the issue of the NExT exam has been making waves in the medical fraternity. Although back in 2023, NMC released the NExT regulations and announced conducting the exam for the 2019 MBBS batch, it was ultimately put on hold for an indefinite time.
NMC had deferred the exam after the Ministry intervened following the protests in this regard by the 2019 MBBS batch, who had termed it a violation of the NMC Act, 2019. After announcing the postponement of the NExT exam, NMC had also cancelled the mock test for NExT.
Amidst the debate and uncertainty regarding the conduct of the NExT exam, NMC made the issue open to all the stakeholders. Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that the stakeholders 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.
Further, the stakeholders were asked to share their opinions on various aspects, such as the time and manner, exam pattern, way of conducting the exam, syllabus of NExT, and several other issues.
Last year, NMC Chairperson, Dr. Abhijat Sheth, had pointed out that the proposed licentiate-entrance test, National Exit Test (NExT), may not be implemented for the next couple of years till the National Medical Commission (NMC) perfects the model for the exam.
Also Read: NExT exam divides medical fraternity: Immediate rollout or phased implementation?
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