FMGE is still mandatory. NExT has NOT launched and won’t for another 3–4 years (NMC deferred it to roughly 2029–2030, with mock tests running through 2028). If you’re studying MBBS abroad now, you’ll take FMGE — not NExT. No overlap, no risk of getting caught between the two systems.
As of July 2026, FMGE is still the exam you need to clear if you’re an MBBS graduate from abroad who wants to practice medicine in India. NExT has not replaced it. The National Medical Commission (NMC) pushed back NExT’s rollout by three to four years, so for now, FMGE continues exactly as before, twice a year, same pattern, 50% aggregate (150/300) needed to pass.
If you’ve been seeing conflicting things online about NExT “starting in 2026” — that’s outdated or incorrect information still floating around from earlier drafts of the plan. Below is what’s actually confirmed, straight from NMC and NBEMS.
FMGE vs NExT 2026
| FMGE | NExT | |
|---|---|---|
| Status (July 2026) | Active, mandatory | Deferred, not implemented |
| Who it applies to | Indian citizens/OCIs with an MBBS from abroad | Eventually, all MBBS graduates (Indian + foreign) |
| Conducted by | NBEMS (National Board of Examinations in Medical Sciences) | NMC (once launched) |
| Exam pattern | Single paper, 300 MCQs, no negative marking, 50% aggregate to pass | Two steps — Step 1 (theory), Step 2 (clinical/practical) |
| Frequency | Twice a year (June & December) | Proposed twice a year, not yet running |
| Next expected date | FMGE December 2026 — exam tentatively January 9, 2027; registration expected to open around mid-October 2026 (date not yet officially confirmed by NBEMS) | No confirmed date. NMC is running mock tests over 2025–2028 before any real rollout |
Why there’s so much confusion about this
The short version: NExT was announced years ago, almost started, then got pulled back — and every stage of that left behind old articles that are still ranking on Google.
Here’s the timeline in plain words:
NExT was first proposed as India’s plan for “one nation, one exam” — a single test that would replace both FMGE (for foreign graduates) and the final MBBS exam plus NEET-PG (for Indian graduates). The regulations for it were published in 2023, and a mock test was actually scheduled for July 2023.
That mock test got cancelled just before it happened. The Ministry of Health stepped in and told NMC to defer NExT “until further directions” — and that’s more or less where things stayed for a while.
Then in late 2025, NMC gave clearer guidance: NExT is officially deferred for three to four more years. Instead of rushing the rollout, NMC will spend 2025 through roughly 2028 running mock/pilot tests, collecting feedback from students and medical associations like FAIMA, and fixing the logistics before it goes live for real.
So nothing about NExT has actually launched. What you’re reading about it — subject weightage, step-1/step-2 structure, syllabus — is all based on draft regulations for something that’s still years away from affecting anyone.
Meanwhile, FMGE kept running normally the whole time. The June 2026 session was held on June 28, and results came out on July 7. The next one — December 2026 — is already on the calendar (tentatively January 9, 2027).
What this actually means for you
If you’re currently studying MBBS abroad or about to start
Keep your focus entirely on FMGE. There’s no scenario where you’ll be asked to prepare for NExT instead of this year, and realistically not for the next few years either.
If you’re worried you might get “caught in between” the two systems
You won’t. NMC has been clear that graduates already in the pipeline won’t be forced to switch exams midway. Whichever exam is active when you’re eligible to register is the one that applies to you, and right now that’s FMGE.
If you’re choosing a country or university right now
This deferral doesn’t change anything about your planning. WHO/WDOMS recognition of your university still matters, your Eligibility Certificate process still works the same way, and your internship (CRMI) requirement after passing FMGE hasn’t changed either.
If you’re already deep into FMGE prep
Don’t split your study time trying to prepare for NExT “just in case.” It’s not close enough to being real yet to be worth the hours. Put that time into clinical-subject MCQs instead — Medicine and Surgery still carry the heaviest weight on FMGE.
The one thing worth doing is checking NMC’s and NBEMS’s official sites once in a while rather than relying on social media chatter, since a lot of the confusion online is coming from outdated articles rather than anything new.
If you’re planning your MBBS abroad journey and want someone actually to track this stuff for you — university shortlisting, FMGE timelines, eligibility documentation, all of it — USA Overseas Consultancy has been helping students through exactly this process. Book a free counselling session and let’s map out your path without the guesswork.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is NExT replacing FMGE in 2026?
No. As of July 2026, NExT has not been implemented. NMC deferred it by three to four years and is running mock tests through roughly 2025–2028 before any real rollout. FMGE remains the required exam for foreign medical graduates.
Do I need to prepare for NExT if I’m going abroad now?
No, not yet. If you’re starting your MBBS abroad now, you’ll almost certainly still be taking FMGE when you graduate, since NExT’s full rollout is still years away and hasn’t been confirmed even for the mock-test phase’s completion.
When is the next FMGE session?
The next session is FMGE December 2026. The exam is tentatively scheduled for January 9, 2027, with registration expected to open around the second week of October 2026 on natboard.edu.in. The June 2026 session was already held on June 28, with results declared July 7, 2026.
Will I have to take both FMGE and NExT?
No. There’s no plan requiring anyone to sit both exams. Once NExT is eventually implemented, it will fully replace FMGE — it won’t run alongside it.
Where can I check official updates myself?
NMC’s website (nmc.org.in) and NBEMS’s website (natboard.edu.in) are the only sources worth trusting for exam dates and regulation changes. Most of what circulates elsewhere is recycled from older announcements.