NExT is future, but it will not be implemented immediately, says NMC

NMC releases seat matrix for MBBS, BDS courses; check region-wise list

“Another two to four years will be given before full implementation, consensus, and adaptability among all stakeholders — including institutions, students, and regulatory bodies — to ensure smooth and effective execution,” said Sheth.

For the government and Commission, NExT represents a national vision to establish a uniform, effective, and widely accepted medical examination system that is aimed at enhancing the quality of medical education in India. Dr Sheth called it a ‘forward-looking medical exit examination model’  that is designed to provide a long-term, sustainable solution that strengthens the national medical assessment system and improves overall healthcare training standards.

The National Medical Commission (NMC) had initially planned to conduct the National Exit Test (NExT) in 2023 for the MBBS batch of 2019. However, the decision was indefinitely deferred following protests from students, who argued that the move violated provisions of the NMC Act, 2019.

Amid ongoing uncertainty, the NMC invited stakeholders — including medical colleges, faculty, and student bodies — to share their views on whether NExT should replace the existing MBBS final examination and NEET PG. Stakeholders were also asked to provide input on the exam’s structure, mode of conduct, and syllabus.

With responses still pending, the NMC has paused the rollout of the NExT exam. Once implemented, NExT is expected to serve as a unified qualifying, licentiate, and postgraduate entrance examination for medical graduates seeking registration to practice medicine in India.

Meanwhile, Rohan Krishnan, who is the chief patron of FAIMA, told indianexpress.com that no authority was taking the responsibility to conduct the NExT because the aim was to implement it pan-India. Proposals were sent to NBE, AIIMS Delhi, but all refused. The charge was then given to the National Medical Commission, which has no infrastructure. Because of this, the exam was put on hold.

“The biggest benefit of NEXT is standardising medical education evaluation & ensuring all doctors meet a uniform competency level & also integrating licensing and PG admission. However, the biggest drawback of this step was the absence of any clarity surrounding it, with NMC making several flip-flops, which added to the chaos,” said Dr Shubham Anand, National Chairman, Global Association of Indian Medical Students (GAIMS).