NExT exam deferred until further notice, Ministry of Health announces

The new National Exit Test (NExT), which the current final year MBBS batch was to appear for, has been “deferred on advice of the (health) ministry… till further directions,” according to a communication by the apex medical education regulator to all stakeholders. The test, which was mandated under the National Medical Commission act, was to replace the MBBS final exam, act as a licentiate exam for grant of registration to practice medicine, and a basis for entrance to PG courses instead of NEET PG test.

The test was envisioned to ensure emphasis on practical training and uniform quality of education for all medical students. The students graduating during the current year, however, have been demanding that the examination be postponed stating that they did not have enough time to prepare for a new format of examination. The health minister had earlier this month made the announcement that the next batch to pass MBBS would be brought under the ambit of the new examination.

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If the exam is not conducted in the current year, the government will need to notify it in the gazette. The test was required to be conducted within three years of the National Medical Commission act coming into force in 2020. The deadline was extended by a year to 2024 by a gazette notification.

A mock test being conducted by the All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS). Delhi is still likely to take place on July 28. According to officials in the know of the matter, there has been no request from the health ministry or NMC to cancel the mock test for now and the preparations are in full swing.