New Delhi, November 01, 2025: In a major decision that brings clarity to thousands of medical students across India, the National Medical Commission (NMC) has confirmed that the much-anticipated National Exit Test (NExT) will not be implemented immediately. Instead, the commission will hold mock tests for the next 3-4 years to evaluate feasibility and gather feedback before fully rolling out the examination.
This announcement came following a meeting between Dr. Abhijat Sheth, Chairman of NMC, and a delegation from the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA), one of India’s most prominent resident doctors’ associations.
Why the Delay?
The NMC’s decision comes after widespread consultations with medical associations, students, and institutions. Several stakeholders had raised concerns regarding infrastructure readiness, academic uniformity, and mental health implications for students if the test were introduced prematurely.
Officials emphasized that the delay aims to ensure a smooth, transparent, and fair implementation process. Conducting nationwide mock exams will allow authorities to test technical systems, question formats, and evaluation models before the final version of NExT is launched.
What Is the NExT Exam?
The National Exit Test (NExT) was conceived under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, with the objective of serving as a common national assessment for all MBBS graduates. Once implemented, NExT will function as:
- A licensing examination for medical graduates to practice in India.
- A qualifying exam for postgraduate admissions, replacing the existing NEET-PG.
- A screening test for foreign medical graduates, currently known as FMGE.
Through this unified assessment, the NMC aims to standardize medical education evaluation, ensure consistent quality among graduates, and promote merit-based selection for postgraduate courses.
How the Decision Impacts Medical Students
For now, medical students can breathe a sigh of relief. The delay means that existing exams such as NEET-PG and FMGE will continue until NExT is officially introduced.
Here’s what this decision means for students:
- Current MBBS students will not have to appear for NExT immediately after graduation.
- NEET-PG aspirants can continue to prepare under the current format for at least the next few years.
- Foreign medical graduates (FMGs) will still take the FMGE to obtain a license to practice in India.
- Colleges and universities now have additional time to upgrade academic and technical infrastructure to align with the upcoming changes.
While the deferment provides relief, it also means that students must stay alert for updates regarding mock test schedules, changes in the exam pattern, and revised timelines.
FAIMA’s Recommendations and NMC’s Response
During the meeting, FAIMA presented a nationwide survey highlighting challenges faced by medical students, including academic stress, inconsistent training quality, and limited mental health support. The association urged the NMC to ensure that reforms focus equally on student welfare and educational standards.
Dr. Abhijat Sheth reportedly appreciated FAIMA’s evidence-based approach and assured that the commission would carefully evaluate all recommendations while shaping future policies. The NMC reaffirmed its commitment to making medical education student-centric, inclusive, and competency-based.
Looking Ahead
Over the next few years, NMC’s mock NExT examinations will serve as trial runs to assess the effectiveness of the system. These will be completely funded by the commission, ensuring equal opportunity for participation across both government and private medical colleges.
Based on the outcomes and feedback from these mock tests, NMC will finalize the structure, syllabus, and evaluation model of the actual NExT exam before implementing it nationwide.
