NExT Exam (National Exit Test): 2026 Status Explained

The National Exit Test (NExT) is the single licensing examination that India's National Medical Commission (NMC) plans to introduce for every MBBS graduate, Indian and foreign alike, eventually replacing NEET-PG, INI-CET, and the FMGE screening test. As of mid-2026, that replacement has not happened: the National Exit Test remains deferred, FMGE continues to operate as the active screening exam for foreign medical graduates, and NMC's own academic calendar now sets NExT Step 1 for February 2028, for the MBBS batch that began its course in 2023-24.

Key Takeaways

• The National Exit Test remains deferred as of mid-2026: FMGE is still the operative screening exam for foreign medical graduates, and NEET-PG/INI-CET still govern most postgraduate admissions.

• NMC's 2023 Competency-Based Medical Education (CBME) regulations set NExT Step 1 for February 2028 for the MBBS batch that started in 2023-24, with Step 2 following in February 2029.

• A planned mock run of the National Exit Test was cancelled after nationwide student protests, and NMC has since described further rollout as postponed "till further notice."

• The National Exit Test is designed in two stages: Step 1, a 540-MCQ theory paper spanning six clinical subjects, and Step 2, a practical, clinical, and viva-based exam across seven disciplines.

• FMGE pass rates stayed low through 2026, at 25.40% in January and 12.77% in June per NBE data, which is exactly why foreign MBBS graduates should plan around FMGE now rather than wait on the National Exit Test.

What Is the National Exit Test (NExT)?

The National Exit Test is a proposed common licensing exam, introduced through the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, meant to replace the final-year MBBS examination, NEET-PG, INI-CET, and the FMGE exam with one standardised assessment. Every MBBS graduate, whether trained in India or abroad, would need to clear the National Exit Test to obtain an Indian medical licence and, separately, to compete for postgraduate seats.

When Will the National Exit Test Be Held?

No National Exit Test has been conducted as of mid-2026, and none is scheduled before 2028. NMC's CBME regulations, released in 2023, specify that NExT Step 1 will be held in February 2028 for the MBBS batch admitted in 2023-24, with NExT Step 2 to follow in February 2029 after the mandatory internship year. A planned mock test ahead of an earlier, more ambitious timeline was scrapped after student protests over preparedness and fairness concerns, and NMC has not announced any date earlier than the 2028 CBME schedule since.

Is FMGE Still Required in 2026?

Yes, the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination remains the mandatory screening test for Indian students who complete MBBS abroad and want to practise in India in 2026. The National Exit Test has not replaced FMGE for this cohort, and FMGE continues to run twice a year through the National Board of Examinations (natboard.edu.in). Pass rates have stayed low: 25.40% of candidates cleared the January 2026 session, and just 12.77% cleared the June 2026 session, underlining why serious, structured preparation still matters for graduates returning from an MBBS abroad programme.

How Will the National Exit Test Replace NEET-PG and FMGE?

The National Exit Test is built to absorb the syllabus and purpose of both NEET-PG and FMGE into one two-part exam once it goes live. NExT Step 1 would substitute the final-year MBBS theory exam and set the benchmark for PG seat allocation, while Step 2, a clinical and practical assessment, would double as the licensing gate that FMGE currently serves for foreign graduates and that the internship-completion process currently serves for domestic graduates. Until NExT actually launches, NEET-PG, INI-CET, and FMGE all continue to run exactly as before.

What Is the National Exit Test Exam Structure?

The National Exit Test is split into two sequential stages:

1. NExT Step 1: a computer-based exam of 540 multiple-choice questions across six subjects — Medicine and allied disciplines, Surgery and allied disciplines, Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Paediatrics, Otorhinolaryngology, and Ophthalmology — drawn from the final years of the MBBS course.

2. Mandatory internship: candidates who clear Step 1 must complete a 12-month clinical internship before attempting Step 2.

3. NExT Step 2: an in-person practical, clinical, and viva-based exam conducted by state health universities, covering seven disciplines, adding Orthopaedics and Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation to the six from Step 1.

Candidates get unlimited attempts at NExT Step 1 provided they clear it within 10 years of joining MBBS, and a Step 1 score stays valid for two years for PG seat allocation purposes.

Who Will Conduct the National Exit Test?

AIIMS Delhi, not the NMC directly, is currently designated to administer the National Exit Test once it launches, a change from the original plan that had the NMC itself running the exam. NMC retains regulatory oversight of the syllabus, eligibility rules, and academic calendar, while AIIMS Delhi is expected to handle exam delivery, question design coordination, and result declaration.

What Happens If a Student Fails the National Exit Test?

A candidate who does not clear NExT Step 1 cannot begin the mandatory internship or complete the MBBS degree that year, and must reattempt in the next annual cycle since NExT Step 1 is held only once a year, with a supplementary sitting for students who fail specific subjects. There is no cap on the number of attempts, only a 10-year window from MBBS enrolment within which Step 1 must be cleared.