National Exit Test

National Exist Test is launched by the National Medical Commission (NMC) to replace the FMGE (Foreign Medical Graduate Exam) and National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test- Post Graduate (NEET PG) exams. The test will also be the final examination before getting the MBBS degree in India. Clearing this test will also be mandatory to get a licence to register for medical practice in India. At the same time it will help decide the merit list for entry into Postgraduate courses in India. It is a measure to check whether the medical graduates, both foreign and Indian, are upto the mark.

In a developing country like India, there is need for proper healthcare infrastructure the pillars of which are doctors. Some students from India even go to study abroad as the government medical college seats are limited in India. To tackle this, Indian government in the 1990s allowed private medical colleges to be setup and also expanded the seats in government medical colleges. However, challenges remain in ensuring upto the mark education and training of doctors in all all these institutions before they enter the workforce. To strengthen this, the NExT exam has been introduced.

NeXT has been introduced to ensure a national pool of qualified medical professionals of the same standard, irrespective of the medical educational background they are coming from (private, foreign, government). It also sought to simplify the examination process by unifying three exams into one, hence reducing the burden of students.

The examination will be key to bring uniformity in testing across the nation. Some of its features, as provided in the National Exist Test Regulations, 2023 are provided below: -

• This test is for the following: -
• Final year exams for MBBS degree
• To prepare merit list for Post Graduate education.
• License to practice medicine in India, replacing previous test for foreign students.
• To be taken within 10 years of qualifying the final year of MBBS.
• The scores from the exam are valid for 3 years.
• This examination can be taken any number of times, there is no limit
• Passing marks will be 50%.
• Step I will be a Written exam with multiple choice questions, conducted once a year.
• Step II will be a practical exam or a viva voce which can be conducted multiple times. It is to test the decision making and communication skills expected of a medical graduate
• NMC to setup ‘Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences’, a specialised testing agency, to administer the examination.

• Different Goals:The demand of the exams for qualifying MBBS and applying for PG are different. While MBBS is a passing requirement, PG exam is competitive in nature and requires extensive study to secure a good rank. For licensing requirements testing of minimum standards is done, instead of asking hard questions.
• Consultation Lacking: The Indian Medical Association (IMA) has stated that there was no need to change the exam pattern and it fits well for the current demands.
• High Chance of Failure: It is being contested that colleges which have comeup in the last couple decades are not upto the mark due to paucity of good teachers, leaving students from these institutions at a disadvantage. This will impact the number of professionals entering the workforce.

National Exist Test (NEXT) presents exciting possibilities for streamlining medical education and licensing in India. However, its implementation requires careful consideration to address concerns and foster its potential for positive impact. Disentangling the minimum competency assessment by tailored sections with the NExT exam can help achieve both objectives effectively. Strengthening faculty and infrastructure in newer medical colleges through mentorship programs and resource allocation will equip all students for academic success in the NEXT exam.

It is a statutory body setup under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019 to improve access to quality and affordable medical education, ensuring adequate and high-quality medical professionals in all parts of India and to provide equitable and universal health care. Its functions include promulgating policies for medical education, regulating medical institutions and professionals, assessing demands of the medical healthcare ecoystem in different partso the country and preparing plans to meet them. It also has appellate jurisdiction over decisions by Autonomous Boards that lay down policies and codes for professional ethics in medical profession.