FMGE June 2026 Row: NBEMS Rejects Demand to Lower Qualifying Marks, Proposes Third Exam

The National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has rejected demands to lower the qualifying standard for the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE), stating that the screening test ensures foreign-trained doctors meet the minimum competency required to practise medicine in India. The decision comes amid protests by foreign medical graduates over the June 2026 FMGE, with candidates raising concerns about the examination’s difficulty, transparency and video-based questions. However, an NBEMS expert committee found no material evidence that the paper’s difficulty or video questions adversely affected results and did not recommend grace or compensatory marks.

At the same time, the three-member committee headed by Air Marshal (Dr.) Pawan Kapoor (Retd.) proposed measures to make FMGE more transparent and candidate-friendly. These include examining the feasibility of conducting the examination three times a year, allowing candidates access to their recorded responses and reviewing the examination fee. NBEMS maintained that reforms can improve transparency and accessibility but should not dilute the competency threshold. The board said the qualifying standard remains essential for ensuring patient safety and maintaining minimum clinical competence among foreign medical graduates seeking to practise in India, according to an NDTV report.