The National Medical Commission has decided to postpone the National Exit Test (NExT) and will conduct multiple rounds of mock examinations before its implementation. This step aims to evaluate the preparedness of medical colleges and students, standardize assessment methods, and ensure smooth transition to a single national exam that will serve as both an MBBS exit test and a postgraduate entrance assessment.
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has postponed the implementation of the National Exit Test (NExT) and announced that the examination will be introduced only after conducting a series of nationwide mock tests to assess preparedness.[1] The implementation of NExT has already been postponed multiple times over the past several years as discussions continue regarding readiness across medical institutions.
Despite being announced in 2020, there is still no clear, concrete roadmap for NExT which includes covering syllabus, marking schemes, and exam structure. It is not clear whether AIIMS, the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS), or NMC would be the conducting body. The Commission may not be ready to conduct it effectively even in the next five years. A well-implemented NExT could enhance medical education standards and patient safety by filtering underprepared graduates; however, a premature implementation could lead to confusion, corruption, and stress among students.Dr Rohan Krishnan, National Patron, FAIMA Doctors Association
NExT is planned as a single examination serving three major functions. It will act as the final MBBS qualifying exam, determine eligibility and ranking for postgraduate medical admissions, and function as the licensure test for foreign medical graduates who wish to practice in India.[2] By replacing the current final-year MBBS exams and the NEET-PG entrance test, NExT aims to establish a uniform assessment standard nationwide.
NExT was originally planned to begin in August 2025. The decision came after a meeting between NMC Chairperson Dr. Abhijat Sheth and members of the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA).
"The Commission plans to conduct multiple rounds of mock tests to evaluate the structure, difficulty level, logistics, and digital readiness of the examination process.
These mock tests will help identify systemic gaps, infrastructural limitations, and regional disparities in medical education and training.
Feedback from institutions, students, and faculty will be collected to refine the exam model and ensure fairness across government and private medical colleges.
While the idea of holding mock tests for NExT had been proposed earlier, there are currently no concrete plans in place to conduct them.
Mock tests were initially part of the earlier draft model, but they were later withdrawn as students and other stakeholders felt the transition was too abrupt,” Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairman, NMC, told Education Times.
Faculty members, medical students, and professional bodies raised concerns regarding differences in infrastructure, clinical exposure, and evaluation methods across medical colleges. Many institutions follow varying curricula and teaching patterns, which may affect student readiness for a common national test. In response, the NMC has planned to introduce NExT After Mock Test examinations to gather data on performance, teaching quality, and system capacity before the exam becomes mandatory.
Many students currently see NeXT as an additional burden rather than an improved evaluation system. The goal is to ensure that NeXT is seen as a better, more structured, and transparent examination than NEET PG, and for this, adaptability and acceptability among students, faculties, and institutions are crucial. Before implementation, the NMC plans to gather broad-based feedback through consultations with state universities, the Indian Medical Association (IMA), and other stakeholders. It also plans to conduct nationwide workshops and issue public notices to spread awareness. NMC is focusing on ensuring that the exam framework is feasible, well-planned, and capable of being conducted smoothly.Dr Abhijat Sheth, Chairman, NMC
The mock tests will be conducted through a centralized digital platform. These tests are expected to identify differences in training quality and infrastructure. Performance data will be analyzed and shared with colleges, guiding adjustments in teaching methods, clinical exposure opportunities, and assessment patterns. The approach aligns with a competency-based model that emphasizes clinical reasoning and practical skills.
The phased approach aims to ensure that students become familiar with the examination format and that medical colleges have adequate time to align with standardized teaching and assessment methods. Reports suggest that the complete rollout may require approximately three to four years, depending on the outcomes of the mock test phases.
The NMC’s strategy focuses on introducing NExT gradually to ensure consistent educational standards and clinical competency among medical graduates. By evaluating readiness through mock examinations, the aim is to support institutions and students in adapting smoothly to a unified national assessment system.
(Rh/Eth/SS/MSM)