Finalization of NExT Exam Rules: Presentation to NMC Expected Next Month

 Finalization of NExT Exam Rules: Presentation to NMC Expected Next Month

National Exit (NExT) examination for medical graduates will be a combined exam, which will act as the licentiate exam to practice modern medicine. Additionally, it will serve as a standard for the allocation of postgraduate seats in broad specialties based on merit, as well as for evaluating foreign medical graduates seeking to practice in India.

A government official said that the regulations are in the process of being finalized and they will be soon placed before the National Medical Commission. He also said that a meeting for deciding a date to hold the test will be held sometime next month. 

In December of last year, the National Medical Commission released draft regulations concerning NExT for public feedback. The purpose of these regulations is to establish consistency in the summative evaluation process across the country, ensuring that all medical graduates meet the minimum common standards of education and training.

The examination is planned to be divided into two parts: NExT 1, which will focus on theoretical knowledge, and NExT 2, which will be a practical, clinical, and oral examination covering seven clinical subjects or disciplines. Officials have indicated that a mock test is also in the works, intended to be conducted before the final exam is implemented. The purpose of this mock test is to assess the exam procedure and remove any anxiety among students.

The National Medical Commission, which was established on September 25, 2020, through the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, introduced the proposal for a common exit test for medical graduates. The commission is leading the efforts in implementing this initiative.

Initially, according to the 2019 law that came into effect in September 2020, the exam was scheduled to start within three years. However, the National Medical Commission extended the timeline by an additional year through a gazette notification. Since the establishment of the medical commission, detailed discussions have taken place among its members and experts regarding the specifics of the exam.

In addition to the national eligibility-cum-entrance test (NEET), NExT will also be applicable to prestigious institutions of national importance, including the All India Institutes of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). This step aims to establish a common standard for medical education across the country.

Last year Health Minister Mansukh Mandaviya highlighted the significance of the NExT Exam by stating that it will be equally applicable to all medical graduates, regardless of whether they were trained in India or any other part of the world. As a result, the exam will effectively address the challenges related to foreign medical graduates (FMGs) / mutual recognition. 

He also stated that the Government of India is dedicated to establishing quality medical education, a transparent examination system, and healthcare services. The government is actively working with all stakeholders to accomplish these goals.