The interactions between the Ministry of Health and NMC (National Medical Commission) officials hint that the NExT (National Exit Test) could be held in August 2025, for MBBS students of the 2020 batch, as per sources. Notably, the NMC released the NExT Regulations in June 2023 earlier this year. The regulations underlined that the NExT Step-1 and NExT Step-2 Exams to be held within a span of 12 months. The NMC also announced that the NExT exam shall be conducted for all final year MBBS students studying in several medical colleges/ institutions in various parts of the country.
The NMC has also announced that the NExT examination would also serve as a licentiate examination to certify the eligibility of medical graduates to practice modern medicine in India. Besides its licentiating characteristics, the NExT Exam shall also be used to determine the eligibility of candidates for further postgraduate medical education, therefore also serving as an entrance test for a bunch of postgraduate medical programs.
''Going by the deliberations being held between the health ministry and NMC officials, NExT Step 1 is likely to be held in August 2025 for the final year MBBS students of the 2020 batch,'' an official source was quoted as saying by PTI.
As per data analysis by the Union Health Ministry, nearly 65,000 candidates enrolled for MBBS programmes at several medical colleges across the country. Out of these, around 62,000 candidates would be eligible to appear for the NExT August 2025 again. Owing to the non-uniformity on MBBS course completion period in some parts of the country, around 3000 MBBS students wouldn’t be eligible to appear in the NExT Part-1 Exam. The NExT Step-1 Exam shall be conducted in the online mode, and consist of one or more than one type multiple-choice questions.
As per sources, the NExT Step-2 Exam will be held in February. Those candidates who would be ineligible to appear for the August 2025 Exam shall be eligible to appear for the exam in February. Moreover, candidates who would not clear the NExT Step-1 Exam, or those who wish to improve their scores in the Step-1 Exam shall also be eligible to appear in the Step-2 Exam.
Moreover, candidates will also be able to appear for Medical PG Counselling for the next session, based on their NExT February exam. Also, based on the scores of candidates in the NExT Step-2 Exam, a merit list shall be prepared for admissions into a wide range of PG Speciality programmes.
(With inputs from PTI)
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