NExT exam for 2020 MBBS batch: Health Ministry forms Committee to examine preparedness of medical colleges
New Delhi: In a new development on the National Exit Test (NExT), the Health Ministry has constituted a seven-member committee to look into the preparedness of states and medical colleges for the implementation of the exam for final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch.
According to a recent report by PTI, the health ministry said in an order issued on Tuesday, "It has been decided to constitute a committee with approval of the Ministry for Health and Family Welfare Mansukh Mandaviya to examine the implementation and preparedness for NExT."
The committee will examine the relevant regulations to understand changes proposed under NExT from the existing system.
“The committee will examine the application of NExT as a final year examination, PG entrance and licentiate exam and if there is a need to limit its application. It will examine the preparedness of the states, universities and medical colleges for implementation of the proposed system for the batch 2020 and suggest measures for preparations and provide a roadmap for operationalisation of NExT for batch 2020 or later,” an official said quoting the order, as per PTI.
The committee has been asked to submit its recommendations within two weeks from its constitution.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) on July 13 deferred the NExT for the final year MBBS students of 2019 batch. The NMC in its National Exit Test (NEXT) regulations 2023 issued in June had stated that the exam will be held in two phases with the NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 exams being held twice in a one-year period.
According to the NMC, the NExT shall form the basis of certifying the eligibility of the medical graduate to register to practice the modern system of medicine in India and serve as a licentiate examination.
It will also form the basis for determining the eligibility and ranking for the purpose of admission of those desirous of pursuing further postgraduate medical education in the country in broad medical specialities.
Medical Dialogues had earlier reported that NMC NExT Regulations, 2023, were published in the official Gazette on June 28, 2023. "These Regulations shall come into force at once from the date of their publication in the official Gazette," mentioned the apex medical commission.
In fact, a mock test for NExT exam was scheduled to be held on July 28 and it was decided that the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi would conduct the mock test.
However, opposing the decision of conducting the NExT exam for the 2019 batch, the students and doctors termed it to be a violation of the NMC Act, 2019. Referring to the 2019 Act, the doctors pointed out that the 2019 MBBS batch started on August 1, 2019, i.e. the batch started before the publication of the NMC Act 2019. Therefore, the doctors argued that conducting NExT for the 2019 batch would be a violation of the NMC Act 2019.
Even though NMC had announced that the NExT exam would be implemented from the 2019 MBBS batch, the Union Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya announced at an event at AIIMS Raipur that there will be no NExT Exam for the 2019 MBBS Batch and the exam will not replace the final MBBS examinations.
Consequently, on the basis of the directions and advice of the Union Health Ministry, NMC deferred the NExT examination until further notice from the Ministry. "All the stakeholders are hereby informed that the National Exit Test (NExT) examination is deferred on the advice of the Ministry, dated 11.07.2023, till further directions from the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare," stated the letter issued by NMC Secretary Dr. Pulkesh Kumar.
However, the notification issued by NMC did not address the issue of conducting NExT for the 2019 MBBS Batch and did not give any clarity regarding conducting NExT in the coming few years.
Later, the NExT mock test scheduled to be held on July 28, 2023, was also cancelled and since then there has been no intimation from the side of the NMC regarding the issue of conducting NExT, the common exit cum licentiate examination.
In September, the National Medical Commission (NMC) integrated the National Exit Test (NExT) as a prerequisite for PG medical admissions while adding that NEET PG will continue till the first batch of NExT becomes eligible. This came through a Public Notice wherein the Postgraduate Medical Education Board (PGMEB) of the National Medical Commission (NMC) released the draft Post-Graduate Medical Education Regulations (PGMER) 2023.
Also Read:NExT exam likely to be held in August 2025: Report
