Fact Check: Viral notice claiming NExT exam from 2022 MBBS batch onwards is FAKE
New Delhi: The viral notice, allegedly issued by the National Medical Commission (NMC), which claimed that the much-anticipated National Exit Test (NExT) shall be applicable from the 2022 MBBS batch onwards, is a fake, an NMC official has clarified.
When the Medical Dialogues team raised the query regarding the authenticity of the concerned viral notice dated 01.04.2026, the official from the Apex Medical Commission confirmed it to be a fake and added that a clarification in this regard will be issued by NMC soon.
The Claim:
Recently, a copy of a public notice, allegedly issued by the NMC, started doing the rounds on social media platforms, including WhatsApp, X, etc. Through this notice, medical colleges and undergraduate MBBS students were informed about the phased implementation of the NExT exam.
The notice claimed that, "As per the revised roadmap and in continuation of previous communications, it has been decided that the NExT examination shall be applicable to all MBBS students admitted from the 2022 batch onwards."
Apart from this, the notice reiterated the details about the NExT exam. It added that NExT shall serve as a final year MBBS qualifying examination, a licentiate examination for medical practice in India, and a single entrance examination for postgraduate (PG) medical courses, replacing NEET-PG.
It also mentioned that the NExT exam shall be conducted in two steps- Step 1: Theory-based examination (Final MBBS level) and Step 2: Clinical and Practical assessment after internship. All institutes were directed to align their academic schedules, teaching methodologies, and assessment systems accordingly.
Further, the notice added that failure to qualify for NExT Step 1 will render the candidate ineligible for internship and further progression. It also mentioned that detailed operational guidelines shall be issued shortly.
Fact Check:
The claim is FALSE.
When the Medical Dialogues team reached out to NMC regarding the veracity of the viral NMC notice, an official from the Commission confirmed it to be a fake.
"It is fake. NMC is going to issue a public notice," the official told Medical Dialogues.
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 see implementation for the next couple of years till the National Medical Commission (NMC) perfects the model for the exam.
Medical Dialogues Final Take:
The claim that the NExT examination shall be applicable to all MBBS students admitted from the 2022 batch onwards is FALSE, and an NMC official has confirmed the same.
Hence, the claim is FALSE.
Also Read: NExT exam deferred for few years till NMC perfects the model
