FMGs call off strike after NBE agrees to reduce difficulty level of FMGE screening test

New Delhi: The foreign medical graduates (FMGs) agreed to call off their strike after the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) agreed to reduce the difficulty level of the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE).

The main issue raised was the pendency of more than 50,000 FMGs awaiting the FMGE screening test. Dr. Jaswant Singh Yadav, Dr. Ashish, Dr. Apurv Dalvi, and other representatives of AIMSA-FMSW met with the NBE officials on 27th August 2026. 

NBE agreed to reduce the difficulty level of the FMGE screening test by including 30 percent simple questions, 50 percent moderate questions, and only 20 percent severe-difficulty questions to enable more students to qualify. 

It was also agreed upon that the video-based clinical questions that added to the difficulty shall be withheld for the period of one year. Further, to enable more and more students to pass the screening test, NBE has agreed to increase the exam frequency from 2 to 3 times a year, and one additional examination shall be held only this year in late October.

Other demands of the students were also agreed upon, as NBE has agreed to make examination centre facilities more conducive, grant additional time for biometric attendance, and publish the question IDs, correct answer IDs and response IDs marked, along with the marks awarded to each question. The NBEMS Governing Body has also agreed to consider the students' request to include an FMG representative in the grievance redressal committee of NBEMS.

Protest by FMGs:

Medical Dialogues had earlier reported on the agitation by foreign medical graduates over alleged irregularities during the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) June 2026. The All FMGs Association (AFA) and All India Medical Students' Association - Foreign Medical Students' Wing (AIMSA-FMSW) held a protest at the Jantar Mantar on August 3, 2026.

AIMSA had requested appropriate compensation and grace marks for the introduction of video-based questions and a sudden increase in examination difficulty, and raised concerns regarding poor examination centre facilities.

They had also demanded a reduction in the examination fees, need for transparency and release of the answer key, doing away with previous roll number requirement in exam application form, and the conduct of FMGE thrice a year. Further, they expressed concern regarding the candidates obtaining identical marks in consecutive sessions.

Agreement between NBEMS & FMGs: 

As per the MOM of the meeting between NBE officials and FMG representatives on 27.08.2026, "A meeting of representative of the AIMSA-FMSW was held with the Officials of National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences, New Delhi to discuss the issues faced by foreign medical graduate in FMGE June 2026." 

After detailed deliberation amongst the representatives of AIMSA-FMSW and officials of NBEMS, the following has been agreed:

The Expert Committee was chaired by Air Marshal (Dr.) Pawan Kapoor (Retd.) and included Dr. Mahesh Verma, Vice Chancellor, Guru Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Delhi, and Dr. Minu Bajpai, Vice President, NBEMS, as members. After meeting with the AIMSA (All India Medical Students Association) representatives on 03.08.2026 and 18.08.2026, the committee took note of the major demands/concerns raised by them.

The committee went through all relevant records related to the examination and undertook a comprehensive and objective review of the conduct and outcome of the FMGE June 2026, to bring systemic changes in the conduct of FMGE and to bring out changes conducive to the needs and expectations of the FMGs.

While the committee has submitted its recommendations, proposing changes in the examination pattern and conduct of the screening test, the committee did not accept the request for appropriate compensation and grace marks for the introduction of video-based questions and the sudden increase in examination difficulty;.

Requests such as demands for a reduction in exam fees, need for transparency and release of answer keys, and conduct of FMGE thrice a year have been acceded to by the panel.

Protest Called off by AIMSA-FMSW: 

After an agreement was reached between NBEMS and FMG representatives, AIMSA-FMSW called off its protest. In an X post, AIMSA-FMSW mentioned, "The protest for Foreign Medical Graduates has been officially called off by Dr. Jaswant Singh Yadav, Dr. Ashish Sir, and the Association (Platform)."

"We sincerely hope that NBEMS will remain committed to the assurances and commitments made and take all necessary steps in the interest and betterment of Foreign Medical Graduates. We appreciate the unity, patience, and peaceful efforts of the entire FMG community throughout this," it added.

Confirming this development, NBEMS mentioned in an X post, "The All India Medical Student Association (AIMSA), Foreign Medical Student Wing, has called off its protest following the announcement of several candidate-friendly measures relating to the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE). NBEMS remains committed to addressing the genuine concerns of FMGs. As one of the measures announced today, NBEMS shall conduct an additional FMGE by the end of October 2026, providing an early opportunity to eligible candidates."

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