Last updated: October 15, 2026. Sources: NBEMS result notice for FMGE June 2026, the Health Ministry’s reply in Lok Sabha (August 7, 2026), and the NMC’s FMGL Regulations 2021.
The FMGE June 2026 pass rate was 12.77% of the candidates who appeared. Of about 36,300 test takers, 4,635 passed. The Health Ministry told Lok Sabha that first-time candidates passed at a rate above 35%. MBBS abroad is still a valid route to practise in India, but this result is a reason to choose your university and plan your FMGE preparation with more care.
If you are a student or parent deciding on MBBS abroad this year, this post explains what the number counts, how it compares with earlier sessions, and what to check before you pay a seat fee.
What was the FMGE pass rate in June 2026?
The Foreign Medical Graduate Examination (FMGE) was held on June 28, 2026, and NBEMS declared the result on July 7. A total of 37,448 candidates registered and 36,300 appeared. Of those, 4,635 passed and 31,645 did not. The pass mark is 50%, which is 150 out of 300.
You will see two percentages in news reports. 12.38% divides the passes by all 37,448 registered candidates. 12.77% divides them by the 36,300 who sat the exam. The Health Ministry quoted 12.78% in Parliament. The result is the same in each case. Only the group being counted changes. This post uses 12.77% because it counts the people who took the paper.
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How does 12.77% compare with earlier FMGE sessions?
June 2025: 18.61%
December 2025: 23.9%
June 2026: 12.77%
In the sessions listed on Careers360 since 2021, the pass rate has moved between about 10% and 25%. A low session has happened before, but June 2026 was low enough to draw a student protest and questions in Parliament.
NBEMS has not given a reason for the drop. Candidates pointed to video-based questions, long clinical scenarios and problems at some exam centres. The Health Ministry replied that the demo test released before the exam already had video questions and that the centres were audited. NBEMS formed a three-member panel, which did not recommend grace marks. NBEMS then added an extra session on October 31, 2026, with results due by November 30.
Why the overall pass rate can mislead
The overall figure includes candidates who are taking the exam again. The first-attempt figure, above 35%, is the closer comparison for a student who has not started MBBS yet.
It is still a hard number. It means roughly one in three first-time candidates passed in that session, and the others will need to appear again. A student who plans to practise in India should treat FMGE as the main exam of the degree, not as a step that comes after it.
Is MBBS abroad still worth it after this result?
It depends on the university and the student. The pass rate does not change the rules. To practise in India after MBBS abroad, you need to qualify NEET before admission, complete a course of at least 54 months that meets the NMC’s FMGL Regulations 2021, pass FMGE, and complete the internship required in India.
What the result changes is how much weight you give to teaching quality and exam preparation. A degree abroad costs less only if you clear the licensing exam in a reasonable number of attempts. Each extra attempt delays your registration by months.
What to check before you choose a university
- Ask for FMGE results of Indian students from recent batches: how many appeared and how many passed. Ask for this in writing.
- Ask whether any semester is planned online. The NMC issued notices in March 2026 about physical compensation for online study, and online-only certificates are not accepted for internship or registration in India.
- Confirm that the whole course, including the clinical years, is taught in English, and that the internship happens at the same foreign institution.
- Check that the syllabus covers the subjects the NMC lists, so that FMGE does not test topics you are meeting for the first time.
- Match the university’s legal name and campus against the NMC’s current advisories. The NMC has cautioned students about named colleges.
- Do not choose a university from a country-wise pass-rate table. These tables combine every university in a country, many have no date, and one strong or weak university can move the average. Judge the specific university.
How to prepare for FMGE while you are still studying
Start before your final year. Your university exams test what was taught in class. FMGE is a separate test of MBBS knowledge across all subjects in multiple-choice form, based on the NMC’s competency-based curriculum. Practise with previous papers, and take the NBEMS demo test so the interface and question types are familiar. The June 2026 demo test already had video-based questions.
Check natboard.edu.in for dates. The 2026 schedule changed during the year, so do not rely on older articles.
What happens if you do not pass FMGE?
You cannot register to practise clinical medicine in India until you pass. You can appear again in a later session. Plan your first attempt as if it is the only one, and treat any later attempt as a backup.
Frequently asked questions
Q: What was the FMGE pass percentage in June 2026?
A: It was 12.77% of the candidates who appeared. A total of 4,635 of about 36,300 candidates passed. Some reports say 12.38%, which divides by the 37,448 who registered.
Q: Why do reports show 12.4% and 12.77%?
A: They count different groups. 12.4% uses all registered candidates. 12.77% uses only those who appeared for the exam. The Health Ministry quoted 12.78%.
Q: What was the first-time pass rate in June 2026?
A: The Health Ministry told Lok Sabha that first-time candidates passed at a rate above 35%.
Q: Is FMGE getting harder?
A: Candidates say the June 2026 paper was harder, and the pass rate fell. NBEMS has not given an official reason. Its panel did not recommend grace marks, and the Health Ministry said the exam follows the notified regulations.
Q: How many FMGE sessions are there in 2026?
A: NBEMS held the June 28 session and added a session on October 31, 2026, with results due by November 30. Check natboard.edu.in for any later dates.
Q: Can I practise in India without passing FMGE?
A: No. Indian citizens with a medical degree from abroad must pass FMGE to register as doctors in India.
Q: Does the FMGE pass rate differ by country?
A: Country-wise tables exist online, but they combine every university in a country and often have no date. Look at the results of the specific university instead.
Q: Is MBBS abroad still worth it after the June 2026 result?
A: It can be, if you choose an NMC-compliant university with in-person clinical training and start FMGE preparation early. The result does not change the eligibility rules. It does show that the exam needs serious preparation.
Choosing the university is the step you control. USAC counsellors in Nagpur can go through these checks with you, university by university, before you pay any fee. Book a free session on the contact page.