NBE expert committee responds to FMGs' demands as doctors continue to protest
Doctor
New Delhi: The expert committee set up by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) has responded to the demands and concerns raised by Foreign Medical Graduates (FMGs) in the FMGE June 2026 exam, as the doctors are still continuing to protest in Delhi.
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.
Protests by Foreign Medical Graduates:
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.
Consequently, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) constituted an independent three-member committee to examine all the issues raised by the candidates.
The doctors are still continuing their protest in Delhi, demanding Immediate review of FMGE 2026 irregularities, grant of compensatory marks for the unannounced format changes, release of answer keys and response sheets, and a transparent re-evaluation process for affected candidates.
NBEMS Expert Panel:
The Expert Committee is chaired by Air Marshal (Dr.) Pawan Kapoor (Retd.) and includes 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.
Demands Raised by AIMSA:
In its representation submitted before the panel, AIMSA (All India Medical Students' Association) had requested appropriate compensation and grace marks for the introduction of video-based questions and 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.
NBEMS Panel Response Students' Demands:
The Expert Committee has acceded to the requests raised by AIMSA representatives regarding (C) reduction in the examination fees, (D) Need for transparency and release of answer key, (F) conduct of FMGE screening test thrice a year. Further, it also responded to the grievances regarding (B) poor examination centre facilities, (G) candidates obtaining identical marks in consecutive sessions, and (E) the students' demands for doing away with the previous roll number requirement in the exam application form.
"The committee acceded to the requests of the representative at S. No. C, D, F and suitably redressed the grievances at S. No B, E, G above. However, for the request at S.No A, the Committee did not find sufficient evidence to conclude that the video-based questions or the difficulty level of the examination had caused any material adverse impact in the examination result. Further, the legal framework governing the qualifying cut-off criteria of FMGE (Orders of Hon’ble Supreme Court in the matter of Sanjeev Gupta & Ors. vs Union of India & Ors. WP (Civil) 604 of 2002) does not provide for any grace marks. Accordingly, the request at S. No. A has not been acceded to by the expert committee," NBEMS mentioned in a letter addressed to AIMSA.
Recommendations made by NBEMS Expert Committee:
The Expert Committee has made the following recommendations to NBEMS:
(1) The proportion of questions at the lower difficulty level may be increased from approximately 20% to 30%, with a corresponding reduction in moderate-difficulty questions, while retaining approximately 20% questions at the higher difficulty level. The proposed distribution may therefore be: Low : Moderate : Difficult = 30 : 50 : 20. The committee recommends a mean difficulty level not exceeding 5.5 and a median difficulty level not exceeding 5 on a scale of 1 to 10. This would imply that 151 questions will be of difficulty level of 5 and below that will give a better chance of qualifying the examination.
(2) The feasibility of conducting FMGE at least three times a year may be examined so that candidates have more frequent opportunities to appear for the examination.
(3) The examination fee may be reviewed by the competent authority with a view to determining whether a reduction is feasible, particularly considering the financial burden on candidates who require repeat attempts.
(4) While publication of the complete question paper and answer key may not be feasible within the existing confidentiality and legal framework, a mechanism may be introduced from the next examination session, subject to necessary technical and legal safeguards, whereby candidates can view their recorded responses, the corresponding correct answers, and the marks awarded for individual questions.
(5) The technology partner of NBEMS may be required to undertake a comprehensive review of environmental conditions at examination centres, particularly in areas likely to experience extreme temperatures. Appropriate contractual provisions may also be enforced where deficiencies attributable to the service provider recur despite the prescribed requirements.
(6) Where video or other multimedia-based questions are used, their nature and functionality should be apprised sufficiently in advance of the examination so that candidates have an opportunity to familiarise themselves with the interface. Re-introduction of video based questions in FMGE may be deferred to at least one year.
(7) The prescribed qualifying standard should continue to be applied uniformly in accordance with the applicable regulatory & legal framework. No compensatory marks are recommended on the grounds examined by the Committee, as the available evidence does not establish a material impact on the examination outcome.
(8) Noting the concerns of the students with regard to biometrics, an additional time of 3 minutes may be given to complete these formalities during the examinations, as may be permissible within the applicable framework of the computer-based platform.
(9) The dilemma of repeaters appearing in FMGE, and having a low pass percentage in comparison to freshers, needs to be addressed at an appropriate level.
(10) In order to address the perceived discrimination of FMGs the Committee recommends expeditious implementation of proposed NExt by the competent authority to create a level playing field.
Also Read: FMGE June 2026 row: NBE forms probe panel, answer key to be released after review
Meanwhile, protesting doctors continue their peaceful agitation in Delhi.
