Published on October 29 , 2025
Delhi, India
The National Medical Commission (NMC) has officially confirmed a significant postponement of the National Exit Test (NExT), a pivotal licensing and postgraduate admission exam for MBBS graduates. Originally slated for rollout in August 2025, the exam’s full implementation is now deferred for three to four years, allowing time for thorough preparation and stakeholder input.
- Key Decision Date: Announced following a high-level meeting on October 29, 2025, between NMC officials and representatives from the Federation of All India Medical Association (FAIMA) at the NMC headquarters in New Delhi.
- Interim Measure: NMC will conduct fully funded mock tests over the next 3-4 years to evaluate feasibility, gather feedback from students and institutions, and refine the exam’s structure.
- Historical Context: Introduced under the National Medical Commission Act, 2019, NExT aimed to replace fragmented state-level exams with a unified national standard; however, repeated delays since its 2023 notification have stemmed from evolving regulatory and logistical hurdles.
- Scope: Affects final-year MBBS students from the 2020 batch onward, who were anticipating the exam as a gateway to medical practice and PG seats.
This strategic pause reflects NMC’s commitment to a evidence-based rollout, prioritizing quality over haste in India’s expanding medical education landscape.
Reasons Behind the Deferral: Addressing Legal and Infrastructure Gaps
The deferral addresses a confluence of challenges that have plagued NExT’s launch, including unresolved legal disputes, inadequate infrastructure, and logistical complexities. Insights from nationwide surveys and expert consultations underscored the need for a more mature framework before nationwide deployment.
- Legal Hurdles: Ongoing Supreme Court petitions from student groups, including pleas for exemptions for the 2019 batch, have created uncertainty around the exam’s mandatory status and fee structures.
- Infrastructure Deficiencies: Many medical colleges lack the digital and assessment resources for a high-stakes national exam, with gaps in faculty training and exam center readiness highlighted in recent audits.
- Logistical and Structural Concerns: Feedback from medical associations pointed to potential disruptions in the academic calendar, uneven regional preparedness, and the need for standardized syllabi aligned with competency-based education.
- Broader Reforms: Discussions also covered integrating research into curricula, upgrading hospital infrastructure, and bolstering mental health support for residents, tying the delay to holistic medical education enhancements.
By opting for mock trials, NMC aims to mitigate these risks, ensuring the exam evolves into a fair, efficient tool rather than a rushed mandate.
Implications for MBBS Students and Medical Education Ecosystem
This deferral offers immediate relief to thousands of MBBS graduates while signaling a shift toward more inclusive reforms in India’s medical sector, which added nearly 8,000 UG and PG seats in 2025 alone. However, it also raises questions about transitional arrangements for licensing and PG admissions.
- Student Benefits: Provides breathing room for focused preparation without the pressure of an imminent exam; mock tests will serve as low-stakes practice, helping build familiarity with the format.
- Career Pathway Adjustments: In the interim, existing state-level screening tests may continue for licensing, with NMC exploring hybrid models to avoid vacancies in PG courses.
- Educational Enhancements: Encourages colleges to invest in infrastructure and teaching quality, aligning with National Education Policy goals for outcome-based learning and reduced dropout rates.
- Potential Challenges: Delays could prolong uncertainty for aspirants, especially in rural institutions, and strain resources if mock tests reveal deeper systemic flaws.
Overall, the move underscores a student-centric approach, fostering a resilient medical workforce amid India’s push for 1.5 lakh additional doctors by 2030.
Key Quotes: Insights from NMC Leadership and Stakeholders
Official statements from the meeting emphasize collaboration and caution, highlighting NMC’s responsiveness to ground-level feedback.
- Dr. Abhijat Sheth, NMC Chairman: “The NExT will not be implemented immediately. For the next three to four years, NMC plans to conduct mock tests, which will be fully funded by NMC to assess feasibility and gather feedback from students and institutions. The final implementation of NExT will be considered only after evaluating the outcomes and responses from these trial runs.”
- FAIMA Representative: “Our nationwide survey revealed critical gaps in readiness; NMC’s assurance to review our evidence-based recommendations for policy inclusion is a positive step toward sustainable reforms.”
- Dr. Sheth on Broader Vision: “We’re committed to strengthening medical education through research integration, better infrastructure, and enhanced well-being for doctors—NExT is just one piece of this larger puzzle.”
These voices reflect a consensus-driven path forward, blending regulatory authority with practical empathy.
Future Plans: Mock Tests and Long-Term Roadmap
Looking ahead, NMC’s strategy focuses on iterative testing and policy refinement to ensure NExT’s success upon eventual launch, potentially post-2028-2029.
- Mock Test Framework: Series of simulated exams starting in early 2026, covering core competencies in medicine, surgery, and allied subjects; results will inform syllabus tweaks and tech integrations like AI proctoring.
- Stakeholder Engagement: Ongoing consultations with FAIMA, Indian Medical Association, and student bodies to incorporate diverse inputs, including accessibility for differently-abled candidates.
- Parallel Initiatives: Acceleration of accreditation drives for 700+ medical colleges, expansion of PG seats to 50,000 annually, and mandatory mental health modules in curricula.
- Monitoring Success: Annual reports on mock outcomes, with a review committee to decide on full rollout; ties into national goals for universal health coverage.
