The Centre told the Rajya Sabha that the FMGE June 2026 pass rate was 12.78%.
Nearly 88% of FMGE June 2026 candidates were repeaters, while over 35% of first-time candidates passed.
The government said differences in medical education, candidates' knowledge, and examination performance affected FMGE results.
The Centre told the Rajya Sabha that the overall pass rate in the Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) June 2026 was 12.78%, attributing the low success rate in part to the high proportion of repeat candidates. Responding to a question raised by Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai on July 28, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said in a written reply that more than 35% of first-time candidates passed the screening test, while around 88% of candidates in the June 2026 session were repeaters.
Rajya Sabha MP IS Inbadurai sought details on whether the low FMGE June 2026 pass rate was linked to the quality of foreign medical education, the examination's screening standards, and whether the Centre planned reforms such as syllabus alignment and support for Indian students studying abroad.
In a written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Minister of State for Health and Family Welfare Anupriya Patel said, "The pass rate in FMGE depends on multiple factors, including the quality of medical education imparted, individual candidate's level of knowledge and performance in the examination." She added that while the overall pass percentage stood at 12.78%, more than 35% of first-time candidates passed the examination, even as around 88% of candidates in the June 2026 session were repeaters.
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) is conducted by the National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences (NBEMS) under the Screening Test Regulations to assess whether foreign medical graduates possess the knowledge and competence required to obtain provisional or permanent registration from the National Medical Commission (NMC) or State Medical Councils and practice medicine in India.
In her written reply in the Rajya Sabha, Anupriya Patel said undergraduate medical curricula vary across countries, particularly in public health priorities, national health programs, and disease patterns. She added that the National Medical Commission reviews matters related to the eligibility criteria, syllabus, and regulatory framework for foreign medical graduates from time to time in accordance with statutory provisions and stakeholder requirements.
Responding to questions on possible reforms, the Centre said any changes related to FMGE eligibility criteria, syllabus, or the regulatory framework governing foreign medical graduates are considered by the National Medical Commission (NMC) from time to time in accordance with statutory provisions and stakeholder requirements. However, the government did not announce any immediate changes or timeline for reforms.
(Rh/TP/MSM)