On June 27, 2023, the National Medical Commission organized a webinar aimed at providing information about the proposed NExT examination to final-year MBBS students and medical colleges. The webinar covered various aspects of NExT, such as the exam papers, mock test date, exam schedule, and other significant details. It was disclosed that the first NExT examination would be held for the 2019 batch.
The NExT examination is set to replace the Foreign Medical Graduates Examination (FMGE), which is currently conducted biannually as a licensing exam for Foreign Medical Graduates aspiring to practice medicine in India. Furthermore, NExT will also replace the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test-Postgraduate (NEET PG), which serves as a qualifying and ranking examination for medical students seeking admission to postgraduate medical programs in the country. In essence, NExT will serve as a standardized qualifying examination for both Indian medical students graduating from domestic institutions and those graduating from Foreign Medical Universities.
Quick Highlights
| Objectives | Parameters |
| NExT Examination Phases | NExT Step 1 and NExT Step 2 |
| Number of times NExT Step 1 will be conducted | Twice a year by All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) Delhi, in May and November. |
| Number of times NExT Step 2 will be conducted | Twice a year – June and December |
| NExT Step 1 Pattern | Computer Based – Multiple Choice Questions for 6 subjects. |
| NExT Step 1 Pattern | Practical or Clinical Examination for 7 subjects |
| NExT Step 1 Mock Test Date | July 28th, 2023 |
| NExT Step 1 Mock Test Registration | June 28th, 2023 |
NExT Step 1
The initial stage of the examination will consist of a computer-based test comprising high-quality Multiple Choice Questions (MCQs). NExT Step 1 will cover six subjects, with each subject assigned a specific weightage. Here is the list of subjects and their respective weightages:
| Sl. No. | Subject | No of items | Duration |
| 1. | Medicine and allied subjects | 120 Items | 3 hours |
| 2. | Surgery and allied subjects | 120 Items | 3 hours |
| 3. | Obstetrics and Gynaecology | 120 Items | 3 hours |
| 4. | Paediatrics | 60 Items | 1.5 hours |
| 5. | Otorhinolaryngology | 60 Items | 1.5 hours |
| 6. | Ophthalmology | 60 Items | 1.5 hours |
NExT Step 2
NExT Step 2 will involve a practical or clinical examination, which will take place upon completion of the students’ internship. The examination will assess the students’ proficiency in seven subjects. The subjects that will be evaluated during NExT Step 2 are as follows:
- Medicine and allied subjects
- Surgery and allied subjects
- Obstetrics and Gynaecology
- Paediatrics
- Otorhinolaryngology
- Ophthalmology
- Orthopaedics, Physical Medicine, and Rehabilitation (PMR)
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has stated that comprehensive information regarding the NExT examination will be communicated to the students separately through regulations. Therefore, for the detailed specifics of the NExT examination, students can expect to check the NMC official website for notifications, outlining all the necessary details and guidelines.
