NExT Mock run to be conducted in 2022: Govt

New Delhi: Mock run for National Exit Test ( NExT) is being planned and will be conducted in 2022, a recent release by the central government has stated. 

The decision to this effect was taken during a review meeting chaired today by Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya and National Medical Commission (NMC) to discuss the important issues of medical education.

The NExT, a common exit exam envisaged by the government to standardize medical education across the country, was proposed by NMC as a part of the bill passed in the year 2019. The exam is set to replace the NEET PG and FMGE exams.

In the meeting, the authorities also discussed that the results of NExT (Step 1 and 2) will then be used for qualifying the Final MBBS exam, to get a license to practice Modern Medicine in India as well as for the merit-based allocation of PG seats in Broad specialities.

In other words, the NExT exam would not only serve as a licentiate exam for those who have done MBBS in India as well as abroad but would also serve as a gateway to admission to the postgraduate broad-speciality medical education in the country. Moreover, MBBS graduates will have to complete their final internship to earn the license for practising as a doctor in India. Besides, Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) have to qualify through the exam after it becomes operational in order to get registration with State Medical Councils for practising as a doctor in India. 

In addition, to get admission to MD, MS, DM, MCh programs, the doctors will have to qualify for the NExT instead of NEET PG once it initiates.

Efforts underway to ensure National Exit Test ( NExT) is conducted as per the roadmap in the first half of 2023

As apprised by officials of NMC in the meeting, efforts are underway to ensure that the National Exit Test ( NExT) will be conducted in the first half of 2023 as per the roadmap.

NExt Mock run is being planned in 2022

To test the procedure and remove anxiety among medical students, a Mock Run is also being planned and will be conducted in 2022.

Govt is committed to creating quality Medical Education, Transparent Examination infrastructure and Health Services

During the review meeting, ways to make NExT an examination of the world-class standard was also discussed and deliberated.

The importance of the NExt Exam lies in the fact that it will be the same for everyone whether trained in India or any part of the world and hence it will solve the problem of foreign medical graduates (FMGs) / Mutual recognition.

While addressing the meeting, Shri Mansukh Mandaviya emphasised that the Government of India is committed to creating quality medical education and transparent examination infrastructure and health services and is relentlessly working with all stakeholders to achieve this objective.